Prospect Profile: Sean Farrell

By Thomas Harrington

The Anaheim Ducks recently acquired prospect Sean Farrell from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for prospect Sasha Pastujov. Montreal had originally drafted Farrell in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He’s been playing in the AHL for the past three years.

After he was drafted, Farrell played for the Chicago Steel of the USHL and was one of their alternate captains. In 53 games, he scored 29 goals and 101 points, and followed that up with two goals and 10 points in eight playoff games. The following year Farrell attended Harvard University, where he scored 10 goals and 28 points in 24 games. He also played for Team USA at two different tournaments: The World Championships and the Olympics. At the World Championships, he scored two goals and six points in 10 games. At the Olympics, he scored three goals and six points in four games. The 2022-2023 season was Farrell’s final year of college hockey, where he scored 20 goals and 53 points in 34 games. When his season ended, he signed his entry-level deal and joined Montreal to end the season. In six games Farrell scored one goal. He also played for Team USA at the World Championships again, scoring a goal and two points.

Starting in the 2023-2024 season, Farrell has been playing exclusively in the AHL for the Laval Rocket. In his first season with them, he scored nine goals and 28 points in 47 games. The following year he increased his totals to 20 goals and 44 points in 67 games. Laval made the playoffs that season, and in 13 playoff games, Farrell scored three goals and 10 points. This past season, he played in a career high 72 games, scoring 17 goals and 53 points. He also played in five playoff games and recorded two assists.

Farrell is a smaller player, standing at 5’10”, and doesn’t fit the type of player who Pat Verbeek usually covets. More of a playmaker than a scorer, Farrell has shown the ability to find offensive success at every level of hockey he’s played, except for the NHL. However, he’s only played a handful of games with Montreal, and it remains to be seen if Anaheim is willing to give him more of a chance.

Farrell should be in San Diego this coming season. The Gulls have lost a fair amount of talent this summer. Jan Mysak and Justin Bailey were not re-signed, and after bouncing between the NHL and AHL last season, players like Sam Colangelo and Nikita Nesterenko are likely Anaheim bound this year. Nathan Gaucher could also spend a lot of the year in the NHL as well. Farrell can play both center and wing, making him a versatile forward for the Gulls to call upon.

I have a couple of expectations for Farrell in his first season as a member of the Ducks’ organization. First, to be one of the top assist producers on the Gulls. His 36 assists last season would have been tied for first on San Diego, along with Pastujov and Matthew Phillips. Second, for him to play in a majority of San Diego’s games. It sometimes takes a player a little while to find their groove on a new team; hopefully Farrell is able to find that quickly and becomes one of the Gulls’ better forwards.

Farrell made his NHL debut several years ago and hasn’t been back since. I think there’s definitely a path for him to get back to the NHL with the Ducks. That could happen as soon as this season, though I think the 2027-2028 season is more likely.

Shortly after acquiring him, the Ducks signed Farrell to a one-year, two-way contract, and he’ll be a restricted free agent next summer. If he fits in nicely with the Gulls, or even makes his way up to Anaheim, expect him to be re-signed a year from now. However, if he struggles with his new team, the Ducks will probably not qualify him and let him leave as a free agent.

Next up I’ll be returning to the prospect updates with goaltender Elijah Neuenschwander.

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August 9th, 2026