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Ducks' Jayden Kurtz: Surprise Round 2 selection

By RotoWire Staff

Jun 27, 2026 at 11:58 am ET • 1 min read

Kurtz was the 45th overall pick by Anaheim in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.

This pick is a bit of a surprise given the fact that Kurtz was the No. 61-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. At 6-foot-3, Kurtz is a mobile rearguard who split last season between USHL Chicago and Rogers High School in Minnesota. His offensive game remains a work in progress, but his combination of size and speed makes him intriguing. Kurtz is slated to play one more season in the USHL before shipping off to the University of Wisconsin in the fall of 2027.

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