ANAHEIM, Calif. – Former Sun Devil Hockey forward Cruz Lucius (2024-2026) has signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League as made official by the organization on Thursday afternoon.
SIGNED: We have inked Cruz Lucius to a two-year entry-level contract. https://t.co/N07P1RZea8
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) August 20, 2026
Lucius now becomes the fifth Sun Devil alumni to sign an NHL contract since 2025, and the ninth overall to ink an NHL deal.
Sun Devils to sign NHL contracts
Cruz Lucius (2026, Anaheim Ducks)
Artem Shlaine (2026, Dallas Stars)
Noah Powell (2026, Philadelphia Flyers)
Ty Murchison (2025, Philadelphia Flyers)
Noah Beck (2025, San Jose Sharks)
Josh Doan (2023, Arizona Coyotes)
Joshua Maniscalco (2020, Pittsburgh Penguins)
Brinson Pasichnuk (2020, San Jose Sharks)
Joey Daccord (2019, Ottawa Senators)
Lucius concluded his collegiate career following a standout senior campaign that saw him earn All-NCHC First Team honors and be named Sun Devil Hockey's Team MVP. He was also named a Hobey Baker Memorial Award nominee for the second time in his career and earned a spot on the CSC Academic All-District At-Large Team.
The Grant, Minnesota, native produced a career year in his final collegiate season, recording 46 points (15G, 31A) while appearing in all 36 games for the Sun Devils. His 46 points were the second-most in a single season in program history, trailing only Lukas Sillinger's 48-point campaign in 2023-24. Both his 46 points and 15 goals marked NCAA single-season career highs.
Additionally, his 31 assists ranked seventh among all NCAA skaters last season while he was ninth in points per game (1.28) and 11th nationwide in points.
Lucius established himself as one of the NCHC's premier offensive threats throughout 2025-26. He led the conference with 0.86 assists per game and finished second in conference with 31 total assists while finishing third in the NCHC with 46 points.
His senior campaign featured several milestone moments. Lucius surpassed 100 career NCAA points during ASU's December series at Minnesota Duluth and later erupted for a career-high five points against Omaha on Feb. 21. He dished out four assists in the contest, matching a career high originally set against Notre Dame on Jan. 7, 2023.
Lucius opened the 2025-26 season on an offensive tear, recording 11 points (7G, 6A) amidst a six-game point streak from Oct. 11-Nov. 7. He scored the first hat trick of his collegiate career against Alaska Fairbanks on Oct. 11 and added his second multi-goal performance of the season one week later against Augustana.
He continued to deliver in key moments throughout the year, including a four-point weekend with a goal and three assists in ASU's sweep of Ohio State on Nov. 28-29.
Lucius spent the final two seasons of his collegiate career in the Maroon and Gold after transferring from Wisconsin. Despite missing the first half of his junior season due to injury, he appeared in 19 games for the Sun Devils and recorded two goals and eight assists. He finished his ASU career with 56 points (17G, 39A) in 55 games.
Prior to arriving in Tempe, Lucius played two seasons at Wisconsin, where he immediately established himself as one of the Badgers' leading offensive threats. He led Wisconsin in scoring in each of his two seasons, recording 34 points in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.
As a sophomore in 2023-24, Lucius tallied 13 goals and 21 assists over 36 games to earn All-Big Ten Honorable Mention recognition. His 34 points led the Badgers, while his 13 goals ranked second on the team. He also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and was named to the 2023 Ice Breaker All-Tournament Team.
Lucius made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2022-23, leading Wisconsin with 34 points (11G, 23A) in 34 games played. His rookie campaign included eight multi-point performances, a seven-game point streak and a Wisconsin record-tying four assists in a single period against Notre Dame. He was named Wisconsin's Mark Johnson Rookie of the Year and earned the first Hobey Baker nomination of his career.
Across four NCAA seasons between Wisconsin and Arizona State, Lucius tallied 124 career points on 41 goals and 83 assists in 125 games, averaging nearly a point per game for his collegiate career.
Originally selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft with the 124th overall pick, Lucius' NHL rights were acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins in March 2024. His rights were then traded to the Anaheim Ducks in August, where he then signed a two-year entry-level contract.
Before beginning his collegiate career, Lucius was a member of the U.S. National Team Development Program. He recorded 14 goals and 42 points in 42 games with the U.S. Under-17 Team in 2020-21 before tallying nine goals and 18 points in an injury-shortened 23-game campaign in 2021-22.
Lucius also represented the United States at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, helping Team USA capture a silver medal while contributing two goals and eight points in six games.
Additionally, Sun Devil Hockey continues its success in placing alumni at the professional level, as eight former staffers have moved on to roles in either the AHL or NHL, complementing the program’s continued success in developing professional players.
Sun Devil Staff in the Pros
Travis Reirden | Analytics (2024-26) // Colorado Eagles (AHL), Video Coach
Owen Hixon | Equipment Manager (2021-25) // San Jose Sharks (NHL), Equipment Manager
Aidan McConnell | Equipment Manager (2021-24) // Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) equipment manager
Jon Laughner | Equipment Manager (2017-2022) /// San Jose Sharks, equipment manager
Josh Schafer | Play-by-play (2016-2020) // Los Angeles Kings (NHL) radio play-by-play
Chad Walker | ATC (2015-2018) // Anaheim Ducks (NHL), ATC
John Peters | Equipment Manager (2012-2016) // San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), equipment manager
Nick Licalzi | Play-by-play (2010-14) /// ESPN Coverage talent
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