Graduated Prospect: Sam Colangelo

By Thomas Harrington

With the prospect profiles done, it’s time to look at the NHL prospects who graduated this past season, starting with forward Sam Colangelo.

The Anaheim Ducks had selected Colangelo in the second round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He spent four years playing college hockey before turning pro at the end of the 2023-2024 season, playing for both the Ducks and Gulls. This year, he started the season in San Diego, but earned his first callup to Anaheim in November. He was up and down between the NHL and AHL a few times, but earned his final recall to the Ducks at the end of February. 

With Anaheim, Colangelo played in 32 games and scored 10 goals and 12 points. Among all NHL rookies this past season, he finished tied for 13th in goals, and every player who finished above him played in significantly more NHL games. Among rookies who played at least 30 games, Colangelo ranked 14th in points per game with 0.38. On the Ducks, he finished tied for ninth in goals scored and his points per game ranked 10th. Given that he was primarily used on the third line and finished 12th in ice time among forwards, that’s a pretty successful season for Colangelo. He was also given some time on the powerplay and found some success there, scoring two goals with the man advantage.

Colangelo got better as the season went on, and he seemed to really find a home next to Mason McTavish and Trevor Zegras after his final callup. In fact, nine of his 10 goals came after his final recall. He also had a four-game point streak in early March. He had a career high two points on three separate occasions.

In San Diego, Colangelo played in 40 games and scored 22 goals and 40 points. He played in a top six role and also played on the powerplay. Despite playing in so few games, he still led San Diego in goals and finished fifth in points. Among all AHL rookies, Colangelo finished the season tied for fourth in goals and tied for 12th in points. However, among all AHL rookies who played in 40 or more games, he led the AHL with a 1.00 points per game. He never went more than three games without a point and had a career-high four points in the final game of the season. For his efforts, Colangelo was San Diego’s representative at the AHL All-Star Game.

I had two expectations for Colangelo last summer, one for his time in the AHL and one for his time in the NHL, and he exceeded both of them. With the Gulls, I simply wanted him to be one of their better forwards, which he certainly was. With the Ducks, I didn’t need him to be one of the league’s or even the team’s top rookies. Instead, I simply wanted him to show that his offensive skill could translate to the NHL, which it did, as evidenced by him scoring at a better-than 20 goal pace over the course of a full season.

After a solid rookie season, Colangelo’s spot in Anaheim next year isn’t a sure bet, but it feels like a likely one. I think whatever kind of extension he signs this summer will give a good indication of where things are at. If it’s a two-way deal, the Ducks likely expect him to spend some time in San Diego still. If it’s a one-year, one-way deal, the Ducks expect him to play in the NHL but time in the AHL isn’t out of the question. If it’s a one-way, multi-year deal, then the Ducks likely expect him to be in Anaheim. What moves Anaheim makes this offseason will also have a big impact. If they bring in a high-profile winger or two, it could be more difficult for Colangelo to fit into the lineup next season. However, if the Ducks instead focus on defense and centermen, then Colangelo’s place would feel more secure.

Colangelo is currently a restricted free agent. He should be qualified and re-signed this summer; the only question is for how long. Personally, I don’t think he’s done enough to earn a longer-term deal, but I think something in the range of two to three years would make a lot of sense. Maybe he’ll get a contract similar to what Lukas Dostal had, where the first year was two-way and the second year was one-way.

The next graduated prospect will be defenseman Drew Helleson.

Related Articles:

Prospect Profile: Tim Washe

Prospect Profile: Jeremie Biakabutuka

Prospect Profile: Herman Traff

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June 22nd, 2025