ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Ducks’ deep prospect pool contains a mix of promising forwards and blueliners, and Olen Zellweger is one up-and-coming player who looks to be a blue-chip defenseman for Anaheim. Zellweger has thrived at every level, and is now on track to be a household Duck sooner rather than later.
The Ducks selected the Alberta native early in the second round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and he’s only made consistent progress since. Zellweger’s 32 points with Anaheim’s minor-league affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, place him third in the American Hockey League in points for all rookie defensemen. The Ducks called him up for a brief stint toward the end of January and he even tallied an assist in his NHL debut, and he played in four games total before being sent back down to the AHL. His AHL success earned him an invite to the AHL All-Star Classic, where he notched three assists in the Challenge against the league’s best.
Zellweger previously played in the Western Hockey League with both the Everett Silvertips and Kamloops Blazers. Last season with both teams, he led all defensemen with 32 goals and was awarded the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy, given to the WHL’s best defenseman, for the second consecutive time. He was also named Canadian Hockey League—of which the WHL is a part—Defenseman of the Year and was a key contributor for Kamloops’ league title run. He notched 29 points in the WHL Playoffs, which was tied for second in the league. Zellweger also represented Team Canada in the 2022 and 2023 World Junior Championships, winning gold in both tournaments.
Zellweger thrives as a two-way defenseman. The 20-year-old skates with sheer confidence and his neutral zone playmaking generates chances for himself and his teammates. He also has a phenomenal shot, and his mobility allows him to make plays anywhere on the ice. At just 5-foot-9, he would have a smaller frame for an NHL defenseman, but if he can continue to create offensive chances while also playing sufficient defense, he still has the potential to be elite at the NHL level.
His first and only career assist with the Ducks displayed his accurate shooting ability, as he wristed a shot from the point right to Sabres netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, allowing center Sam Carrick to tip in the batted-up puck for the score.
Olen Zellweger records his first NHL point in his debut on an assist to a Sam Carrick goal! 🦆 pic.twitter.com/Fj1uyVGStj
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 24, 2024
By acquiring star forward prospect Cutter Gauthier, Anaheim had to part ways with another highly touted prospect: defenseman Jamie Drysdale. Although sending Drysdale away may have seemed detrimental to the Ducks’ blueliner pipeline, Zellweger’s steep upward trajectory should make the front office confident in the team’s defensive future.
The Ducks could be in for long-term success at the defenseman position when Zellweger joins Pavel Mintyukov full-time at the NHL level. Zellweger’s hockey sense is exceedingly polished for such a young player, and if his talent, skill and durability can translate to the pros, Anaheim can expect him to be a point-producing, top-four blueliner.
Anaheim’s prospect pipeline is one of the league’s deepest. Had the Gauthier trade never happened, Drysdale would’ve likely been the headlining defenseman prospect for the Ducks, but now, Zellweger has the open stage. His path to the NHL will be as clear as day if he can continue playing at this elite level.