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Ducks defense prospect Olen Zellweger to make NHL debut Tuesday night

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Mike Gould | Last updated 1/23/24

The Anaheim Ducks have recalled top defense prospect Olen Zellweger from the American Hockey League’s San Diego Gulls, the club announced Tuesday morning.

Zellweger, 20, has eight goals and 25 points in 34 games with the Gulls this season. The Ducks originally selected Zellweger in the second round (No. 34 overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.

Furthermore, according to The Athletic‘s Eric Stephens, Zellweger is expected to make his NHL debut for the Ducks on Tuesday night against the Buffalo Sabres at Honda Center in Anaheim.

Zellweger skated on the Ducks’ top power-play unit alongside Troy Terry, Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, and Sam Carrick during the team’s morning skate on Tuesday.

Roster Move: We have recalled Olen Zellweger from the @SDGullsAHL. #FlyTogether | @EandELaw https://t.co/Y6uQK3hRrj
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) January 23, 2024

Before turning pro with the Gulls this season, Zellweger established himself as a standout defenseman over parts of five Western Hockey League campaigns with the Everett Silvertips and Kamloops Blazers.

The 5’10” left-handed defenseman collected 32 goals and 80 points in just 55 games split between the Silvertips and Blazers during the 2022–23 WHL regular season. He added 11 goals and 29 points in 14 playoff games with Kamloops.

Zellweger is skating in the first year of his entry-level contract with the Ducks. He joins an already very young Anaheim defensive group that also includes Jackson LaCombe, Gustav Lindstrom, Urho Vaakanainen, the injured Pavel Mintyukov, and veterans Cam Fowler, Radko Gudas, and Ilya Lyubushkin.

The Ducks currently rank seventh in the Pacific Division and 30th in the National Hockey League with a 15-30-1 record and 31 points in 46 games this season. They’re just three points up on the San Jose Sharks for last place in the league.

With Zellweger now in tow, the Ducks will look to put an end to their three-game losing streak when they play host to the Sabres at 7:00 p.m. PT.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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