In a strategic move during the NHL Draft in Buffalo, the Ducks have added a promising young talent to their roster by selecting center Noah Kosick in the sixth round, 192nd overall. This pick came as part of a deal with Carolina, which also involved prospect Kyle Masters heading to Anaheim in exchange for the rights to defenseman John Carlson.
At just 17 years old, Kosick has already shown considerable promise on the ice. In the 2025-26 season, he notched an impressive 54 points across 69 games in the WHL, splitting his time between the Swift Current Broncos and the Seattle Thunderbirds.
His stint with Swift Current saw him rack up 34 points in just 37 games, before making a midseason switch to Seattle. There, he continued to impress, adding another 20 points in 32 games and maintaining a solid +4 rating.
Kosick's performance didn't dip in the postseason either. In five WHL Playoff games, he registered five points and led the Thunderbirds in assists, while also tying for the team lead in points. Standing at 6 feet and weighing 160 pounds, the Kassel, Germany native brings a blend of skill and potential to the Ducks' lineup.
Looking ahead, Kosick has committed to the University of Michigan for the 2027-28 season, indicating a clear path for his development. His journey from the WHL to the collegiate level promises to be an exciting one, and Ducks fans will surely be eager to see how this young center evolves in the coming years.
In Other News...
Ducks Suddenly Look Tied To The Blue Line Move Fans Wanted
The Ducks have spent enough time searching for help on the blue line that any premium defenseman instantly becomes part of the conversation, and Zach Werenski fits that billing. The Columbus star is viewed as one of the leagues elite defensemen, coming off a 2026 Norris Trophy season and carrying the kind of reputation that can alter a rosters direction in a hurry.
Anaheim is among the teams that make sense if the Blue Jackets decide to move him, which is exactly why this has started to get attention around the league. With several clubs weighing the same possibility and Werenski still carrying two seasons of team control, the Ducks are at least in the mix for a move that would satisfy a need fans have been talking about for a while, even if the real question is how far theyd be willing to go to make it happen. [Read more 🡒]
Ducks Just Made Another John Carlson Move That Will Split Fans
A quiet offseason asset turned into a small but notable return for Anaheim, which moved on from John Carlson after he finished last season with the club following a trade from Washington. The Ducks added prospect Kyle Masters and a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the kind of deal that can look modest now but still matters for a team trying to keep replenishing its pipeline without losing flexibility.
Carlsons rsum still gives the situation real weight. At 36, he remains one of the most decorated active defensemen of his era, with a Stanley Cup ring from Washington and more than 1,100 NHL games on his ledger, so any team willing to chase him is buying experience as much as production. The sticking point is the next contract, and with multiple clubs in the mix, Anaheims decision to move his rights only adds another layer to a market that already figures to be judged harshly by whichever fan base misses out. [Read more 🡒]
Why The Ducks Suddenly Look Like A Real Pacific Power
A year after looking like a team still trying to find its next gear, the Ducks have suddenly created the kind of buzz that changes how the rest of the Pacific talks about them. Their playoff success against Edmonton was only part of the story, because Anaheim also used the momentum to reshape the roster around a youthful core, giving the organization a different kind of edge heading into next season.
What makes the picture even more intriguing is how aggressively the Ducks continued building after the postseason run, staying committed to a younger, faster identity while other division rivals were trying to catch up. Edmonton, meanwhile, is left staring at a long list of questions about its aging roster, the crease and the bench, which only makes Anaheims rise feel more real, even if the West still has plenty of time to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]