The Anaheim Ducks used a third-round pick on Ethan Procyszyn in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, taking the forward 68th overall. Now, after a fourth and final OHL season, the next step is the pro game.
Procyszyn wore the captain’s letter for the North Bay Battalion for the second straight year, and his last junior season was solid without quite becoming a true breakout. He finished with 31 goals and 59 points in 65 games, a small dip from the 34 goals and 64 points he posted in 68 games the year before. Even so, he still paced North Bay in both goals and points and was second on the team in assists.
His season started slowly. Through 12 games, he had only four points.
But he found his rhythm as the year moved along, and his closing stretch was much stronger. In North Bay’s final 10 regular-season games, he produced 13 points.
He also had a career night in mid-February against Niagara, when he piled up five points in a game.
North Bay reached the postseason and made it to the second round before falling to Brantford. Procyszyn stayed in the lineup for all 10 playoff games and chipped in four goals and five points.
There was a clear bar for him last summer, and he cleared only part of it. He came close to topping his previous career highs in goals, assists, and points, but not quite enough.
He did hit the mark as one of North Bay’s offensive leaders by finishing first on the team in goals and points. The other target was a top-30 finish in OHL scoring, and that one slipped just out of reach.
His 59 points tied for 38th in the league.
Now the focus shifts to what he does next. Procyszyn signed his three-year entry-level deal in April, and it begins next season.
That gives him a runway to prove he can become a real piece for the Gulls and climb the lineup. He won’t be expected to carry the offense, but if he can settle into second- or third-line minutes and build a reputation for physical play, he could put himself in position as a callup option for the Ducks.
If the transition is rough, or if he ends up spending time in the ECHL, that NHL timeline could stretch out by several years.
When the deal expires, Procyszyn will be a restricted free agent. If he reaches the NHL during that three-year stretch, a one-way contract could be on the table, potentially for multiple seasons. If he’s still in the AHL, the more likely outcome is a two-way deal for one or two years.
The next prospect update will be on defenseman Alexis Mathieu.
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