Prospect Profile: Cruz Lucius

By Thomas Harrington

The Anaheim Ducks recently acquired forward prospect Cruz Lucius from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Lucius had informed the Penguins that he would not be signing with them, prompting the trade. Pittsburgh had originally acquired him from the Carolina Hurricanes as part of the Jake Guentzel deal. Carolina had drafted Lucius in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, 124th overall.

After being drafted, Lucius played four years of NCAA hockey. His first two years were spent at the University of Wisconsin, where he scored 11 goals and 34 points as a freshman and 13 goals and 34 points as a sophomore. He moved to Arizona State University in his junior year, where he scored two goals and 10 points in 19 games. Unfortunately, Lucius missed the first half of that year with an injury, but he had an incredible bounce back season as a senior, scoring 15 goals and 46 points in 36 games. He led Arizona State in goals, assists, and points; in the entire NCAA, he finished 11th in points and seventh in assists. For his efforts, he was named to the NCHC First All-Star Team and team MVP.

Lucius is known as an elite passer. He’s incredibly patient with the puck, making it hard for opponents to get a read on what he’s going to do with it. If he wants to make it to the NHL someday, he will need to improve his skating, or become such a good passer that he forces his way onto Anaheim’s roster. If he does make it to the NHL, it probably won’t be as a star winger, but as a second or third line player who sees time on the powerplay and racks up more assists than goals.

Lucius will likely be in San Diego this year. If he plays well enough, he could be a replacement option for the recently departed Sasha Pastujov. There’s a chance he needs time in the ECHL as well, but given that he’s a little older than many first year professional players because of four years of college hockey, he hopefully won’t need it.

I have a couple of expectations for Lucius’ first professional season. First, for him to play in more AHL games than ECHL ones. Second, regardless of league, to play in a majority of his team’s games. It remains to be seen how he fits into the Anaheim organization, but if he can use his playmaking skills to get a spot in San Diego’s lineup for over 60 games this season, that will be a successful rookie year for him.

Lucius is still at least a couple of years away from the NHL, if he makes it at all. If he can establish himself as an AHL player this year and then become one of San Diego’s better playmakers the following season, he could have a shot at a spot in Anaheim in the 2028-2029 season. However, if it takes longer for him to adjust to the AHL, his timeline of making it to the NHL will be pushed back.

Shortly after acquiring Lucius, the Ducks signed him to a two-year entry-level deal and he’ll be a restricted free agent when it’s over. If he can become one of San Diego’s better playmakers, he’ll be extended two years from now. However, if he struggles to stay in the AHL and spends most of his time in the ECHL, the Ducks will probably not qualify him and let him leave as a free agent.

The next prospect update will be on forward Eric Nilson.

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September 2nd, 2026