Prospect Update: Herman Traff

By Thomas Harrington

The Anaheim Ducks acquired forward Herman Traff from the New Jersey Devils as part of the Brian Dumoulin trade. New Jersey had originally drafted him in the third round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, 91st overall. Traff spent most of the year playing in the HockeyAllsvenskan, but came to North America and made his AHL debut at the end of the regular season.

Traff played for IK Oskarshamn in the HockeyAllsvenskan, scoring 23 goals and 41 points in 51 games. He had a blazing hot start to the season, culminating with a 10-game point streak in December. Traff’s offensive exploits cooled off somewhat in January. He led his team in goals and was second in points. In the entire HockeyAllsvenskan, Traff finished fifth in goals and tied for eighth in points. He almost made history in the HockeyAllsvenskan, as the record for goals scored by an under 21 player is 25. Traff came close to that record but couldn’t quite get there. He played in four playoff games and recorded three assists, as Oskarshamn lost to Bjorkloven in four games.

With his season over in Europe, Traff came to North America to play for the San Diego Gulls. He appeared in three games and was scoreless, while not playing in any of their playoff games. Traff was the first player to sign an ATO and join the Gulls at the end of the season.

I only had one expectation for Traff last summer, and he failed to hit it. He had played in 25 SHL games in the 2024-2025 season, and I wanted him to play in more SHL games. The SHL is one of the premiere hockey leagues in the world. However, given how well Traff played in the HockeyAllsvenskan, I’m okay with him missing this expectation.

Traff should spend all of this coming season in North America, playing in the AHL. Playing for a new team in a new league on a new continent can be difficult, so I don’t want to set expectations too high for him. First, I want Traff to play in a majority of San Diego’s games. He doesn’t need to play every night, but I’d like him to be one of the Gulls’ regular players. Second, I want to see Traff get some time on San Diego’s penalty kill unit.

With the AHL ahead of him this coming season, Traff is still two or three years away from the NHL. He’ll need some time to adjust to the North American game, while also rounding out his own game. Traff profiles as a future second or third line winger who gets time on the penalty kill, but he needs to continue to develop if he wants to make it there.

Traff signed his three-year entry-level deal in March and it will begin next season. When it ends, he’ll be a restricted free agent. As long as he’s become a solid contributor for the Gulls, he should be extended when it expires. If he’s become a full time member of the Ducks, then he could even be in line for a one-way deal. However, if Traff’s style of game doesn’t translate to the AHL and he spends much of the next three years 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 Judd Caulfield.

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Prospect Update: Vyacheslav Buteyets 

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August 16th, 2026