Ducks recall Roger McQueen, place Ryan Poehling on injured reserve
The 20-year-old centre was leading the AHL's San Diego Gulls in goals after three games this season.
ANAHEIM — The Anaheim Ducks have recalled centre Roger McQueen from the San Diego Gulls and placed centre Ryan Poehling on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.
McQueen, 20, scored three goals with a plus-2 rating in three games with San Diego to begin the season, leading the Gulls in goals.
Signed by Anaheim to a three-year entry-level contract April 18, 2026, McQueen has earned six points in 11 career AHL games with San Diego after making his professional debut with the Gulls at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
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The 6-foot-5, 206-pound forward was named the 2025-26 Hockey East Rookie of the Year and to the conference's All-Rookie Team after scoring 27 points with a plus-5 rating and 45 penalty minutes in 36 games with Providence College.
Among Providence leaders, he ranked second in assists, was third in points and tied for third in goals.
He also ranked eighth nationally among rookies with 313 faceoff wins.
McQueen recorded 86 points and 116 penalty minutes in 127 career Western Hockey League games with the Brandon Wheat Kings from 2022-25.
The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native helped Canada to gold medals at the 2024 U-18 World Championship and 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
He scored seven points in five tournament games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
He also represented his country at the 2022 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, leading Canada with eight points in six contests while serving as an alternate captain.
The Ducks selected McQueen 10th overall in the 2025 NHL draft.
His recall comes after the Ducks suffered two injuries to their forward group in Cutter Gauthier and Poehling.
Both are currently listed as day-to-day according to Anaheim.
The Ducks managed to get through the last 14 minutes of their game at Calgary with 11 forwards.
Playing in 75 and 76 games last year, respectively, Gauthier and Poehling highlight as both steady presences in the lineup.
Besides the obvious 40-goal prowess of Gauthier on the wing, the play having Poehling in the mix shows his impact as a third-line centre who excels on the penalty kill while offering short-handed offense with his speed.
These losses from the forward group, which includes Troy Terry on long-term injured reserve, require the team to insert a few more younger players on two-way deals into the fold.
If he plays tonight, a 9:45 p.m. EST puck drop against the Calgary Flames, it would mark his NHL debut.
The Ducks sit in third place in the Pacific Division with four wins for eight points so far.
Their lone loss has come against a division opponent, Edmonton, who is a spot above them in the wild card standings.
With files from Pro Hockey Rumors, BVM Sports and Total Apex Sports
Grant Whitfield covers product recalls, prices and consumer rights for Novello Desserts.