The Anaheim Ducks entered their matchup against the Calgary Flames with a noticeably altered lineup after confirming a series of roster adjustments on Tuesday.
The most anticipated change saw 20-year-old center Roger McQueen recalled from AHL San Diego for his NHL debut.
Selected tenth overall in the 2025 draft, McQueen is only eleven games into his professional career and has already shown offensive promise, collecting four goals and six points.
Standing at 6-foot-6 and 203 pounds, he brings a rare blend of size and skill that the organization has long valued, though his limited pro experience means he may still benefit from additional time developing in the minors.
He is expected to center the third line between veterans Frank Vatrano and A.J. Greer.
On the blue line, the Ducks activated defenseman Drew Helleson for his first appearance of the season. The 25-year-old had been sidelined since the preseason with an undisclosed injury that caused him to miss the opening five games.
Over the previous two campaigns, Helleson established himself as a reliable presence, recording six goals and 28 points in 116 games while averaging more than sixteen minutes per night.
He also accumulated 152 blocked shots and 162 hits during that stretch. With Anaheim having reshaped its defensive group over the summer, Helleson’s return positions him for a potentially expanded role as the team seeks stability on the back end.
The positive developments were tempered by injury news in the forward group. Winger Cutter Gauthier, who has been a key offensive contributor, is expected to miss only a short period and remains day-to-day.
The outlook is less favorable for center Ryan Poehling, who was placed on injured reserve after sustaining an MCL sprain. He is projected to be out six to eight weeks.
Poehling’s absence created the roster opening that allowed McQueen’s recall, and the duration of the injury will likely influence how long the prospect remains with the big club.
Since joining Anaheim prior to the 2025-26 season, Poehling had carved out a dependable middle-six role, contributing both offensively and on the penalty kill.
While McQueen offers scoring potential, replacing Poehling’s specific effectiveness in shorthanded situations will be difficult.
Anaheim’s penalty kill has performed well early in the season, but sustaining that success without one of its more reliable specialists presents a clear challenge as the Ducks navigate the coming weeks.
