Ducks Make Multiple Roster Moves

The Anaheim Ducks will look slightly different tonight against the Calgary Flames. In their game-day preview, the Ducks confirmed several previously referenced transactions.

On the positive side, Anaheim confirmed they have recalled former first-round pick Roger McQueen from AHL San Diego, as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman previously reported. McQueen, 20, will debut tonight, centering the Ducks’ third line between Frank Vatrano and A.J. Greer.

As exciting as it is to recall a recent top-10 pick, it’s worth mentioning that McQueen is only 11 games into his professional career. He’s played well in those contests, scoring four goals and six points with a net-zero rating. Additionally, he already has the physical makeup of an NHLer, standing at 6’6″ and 203 lbs. There’s no question he has a unique combination of size and skill, but McQueen may need more seasoning in the AHL before he gets his legs underneath him.

Meanwhile, sticking with the positives, the Ducks have also activated defenseman Drew Helleson for his season debut. The three-year veteran has been nursing an undisclosed injury since preseason, costing him the first five games of the 2026-27 campaign.

It’s not the first time Helleson has battled injuries, and it likely won’t be the last. The former second-round pick has been a consistent blue liner with Anaheim for two consecutive years, scoring six goals and 28 points in 116 games with a +2 rating, while averaging 16:40 of ice time per game. Helleson has also added 152 blocked shots and delivered 162 hits in that stretch. Given the Ducks’ defensive corps makeover this past summer, Helleson should have a larger role in the lineup now that he’s healthy.

Now to the negatives. Although the Ducks confirmed that winger Cutter Gauthier will miss only a few days, the prognosis wasn’t as kind to Ryan Poehling. Because of an MCL sprain, Anaheim has placed Poehling on injured reserve, and he isn’t expected to return for another six to eight weeks.

Poehling’s placement on injured reserve opened a spot for McQueen, and the length of his injury may determine how long McQueen stays. Since being acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers before the 2025-26 season, Poehling has secured a position centering the Ducks’ middle-six forward lines.

While McQueen should provide Anaheim with an offensive spark, it’ll be difficult to match Poehling’s effectiveness on the penalty kill. The Ducks’ penalty kill has gotten off to a great start this year, but they’ll be hard-pressed to sustain it without Poehling for the foreseeable future.