
The Anaheim Ducks are set to make two call-ups from their farm system ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Those players, according to The Mayor, will be Roger McQueen and defenseman Stian Solberg from the Ducks’ AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. The Ducks currently reside in second place in the Pacific Division early on this season, just one point below their next opponent. Anaheim, who is currently 2-0-0, could benefit from any help it can get, especially if it can come from its young guns. Solberg notably leads the Gulls in scoring with four points at a +4 rating; McQueen, comparatively, hasn’t registered an assist, but shares Solberg’s goal tally at two across two contests.
Anaheim has already seen an abundance of injuries hit their squad, including Troy Terry on long-term injured reserve, Ian Moore and Drew Helleson on their IR, forcing the team to insert a few more younger players on two-way deals into the fold, especially on the blue line. The Ducks were hoping that Helleson would recover from his lower-body injury in time for the season opener, and Terry’s injury will keep him out for another couple of months. Despite those setbacks, the Ducks can grant their young talent some fruitful NHL time.
The 20-year-old forward is entering year one of his three-year entry-level contract, signed back in April out of his freshman campaign at Providence College, scoring 27 points in 36 NCAA games. Further to that, on his amateur tryout agreement, which slid the ELC to this being his first, he added three points in seven games to cap off 2025-26. The 6-foot-6 Saskatoon native is well-known for his skilled offensive approach that includes constant elusiveness as well as intriguing passes to find opportunities for his teammates. His physicality can also impact the game when he misses the score sheet, too. Despite his injury from his draft year in Brandon, the Ducks still liked taking him at 10th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Solberg, also age 20, profiles as a physical defenseman. The Oslo, Norway native had a good offensive output with the Gulls last season, scoring 12 goals for 24 points in 71 AHL games. He also added 102 penalties in minutes, backing up that tough presence he brings to the defense. Many scouts credit him for his old-school approach to his game, and it’s why Anaheim trusted that enough to select him 23rd overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. His past two seasons under the Ducks organization counted as slide years, meaning his contract did not count against him, or the organization’s payroll, so enter year one of his entry-level contract, even though Verbeek signed him back in 2024.
The Ducks have had a Taylor Swift kind of summer, cruel. Thanks to the Carlsson offer sheet courtesy of Flyers GM Daniel Briere, Anaheim had to make loads of roster moves this offseason to compensate for paying their young players. Mind you, their current cap hit of +$70MM with the Gauthier extension is spread across 14 forwards. All those losses from the backend as well become a blessing in disguise to see a youthful jolt of energy in Orange County. If McQueen and Solberg provide help through their strengths, it’ll make this Ducks team a dynamic one in their hope to continue playoff contention.
If called up, it’ll mark both players’ first NHL games.
Photo Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
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