Yegor Sidorov’s second year with the San Diego Gulls brought a mixed bag: more games, but less production.
The Anaheim Ducks selected the forward in the third round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, taking him 85th overall, and he spent his second straight season in the AHL. Sidorov appeared in 68 games for San Diego, finishing with 15 goals and 29 points. That was a step back from his rookie year, when he put up 17 goals and 34 points in 59 games.
His season started on a high note. Sidorov collected eight points in his first nine games and looked like he might be ready to push his offense into another gear.
But the scoring pace didn’t hold. Over his final 13 games, he managed only three points, and San Diego scratched him for both playoff games.
Even with the late-season slide, Sidorov remained one of the more skilled forwards in the Gulls’ lineup. The problem was finding him a permanent home.
He bounced around the lineup all year, spending most of his time in a bottom-six role while also getting some power-play work. His four goals with the man advantage ranked sixth on the team.
San Diego used more stable lines overall this season, but Sidorov was often the extra piece moving from line to line and skating with several different centers.
Last summer, there were three main benchmarks for him. He checked one of them and partially hit another, but missed the third.
The hope was that he’d reach 20 goals after scoring 17 as a rookie. Instead, he finished at 15.
Another goal was for him to play more than 60 AHL games, and he did that by getting into 68 contests and missing only four games all year. The final target was more power-play scoring, but his four power-play goals matched his rookie total.
Looking ahead, Sidorov is expected back in the AHL next season, with a chance to earn more time in San Diego’s top six, possibly alongside rookie Roger McQueen. The bar is clear: reach the 20-goal mark, settle into a more consistent role in the top two forward lines, and become more dangerous on the man advantage.
There was a real possibility he could have been a call-up candidate this past season, especially with the way he opened the year. But once his offense faded in the second half, that path got a lot less likely.
If he starts fast again next season and keeps it rolling, he could put himself back in the conversation for an NHL debut. With Troy Terry missing the beginning of the season, a strong opening from Sidorov could make him a possible option to help fill that hole in Anaheim’s lineup.
Even so, the expectation is that other wingers in San Diego are more likely to get the first look. Still, if Sidorov becomes one of the Gulls’ offensive leaders, he’ll have a decent shot.
Contract-wise, Sidorov has one year left on his entry-level deal and will be a restricted free agent next summer. If he shows progress, the expectation is that he’ll be extended.
That next contract would almost certainly be a two-way deal, likely for one to two years. If he takes a big enough step to reach the NHL, a one-way contract becomes possible.
There’s also a middle ground, with a deal that begins as two-way and shifts to one-way later, similar to what Sam Colangelo signed last summer. If his development stalls or goes backward, the Ducks could decide not to qualify him and let him walk as a free agent.
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