At this point, we are simply waiting for Pastujov to be called up to the NHL so he can showcase his skills at the next level. He is the Gulls’ best offensive weapon, with the shooting and playmaking ability to score in the NHL. His skating remains questionable, and it’s difficult to know whether he will be able to make it work. If you’re looking to take an upside bet on someone who should get his chance in the NHL soon, Pastujov is a good player to consider.

Pastujov has continued where he left off last season, one of the most productive players for a San Diego Gulls team still trying to forge an identity. This is his final season on his entry-level contract, and the Ducks probably want to know what they have in Pastujov before contract negotiations start. Expect him to be given chances in the NHL if injuries open up roster spots; otherwise, a bridge deal is likely coming. If Pastujov can get and maintain an NHL spot, his fantasy value should be decent as a primarily offensive wing that will thrive in the Ducks’ counterattack-based system.

Pastujov continued to light up the AHL, but it did not result in a call-up. He scored 17 goals and 28 assists for 45 points in 43 games, good for a 1.05 points-per-game pace, the highest of any U23 player in the AHL (minimum half the season played), just ahead of Matthew Poitras. In a single season, he has turned what looked like total stagnation into a case for being one of the Ducks’ top call-up options. With 2025–26 being the final year of his contract, expect Anaheim to give him NHL time at some point to see what he can do.

Pastujov started the season immediately, getting demoted to Tulsa in the ECHL. Quickly dominating in Tulsa, he was recalled to San Diego and managed to translate his success in the ECHL to the AHL. With 18 points in 11 games and an AHL Player of the Month Award for January, Pastujov is back on the map and currently leading the Gulls in points. Keep an eye out, as continued great form could lead to a call-up at some point in the 2024-25 season.

The long-awaited pro debut for Sasha Pastujov has arrived and man do the Ducks have a future top-6 forward. In his first season in the AHL, Pastujov averaged half-a-point per game with 23 points in 46 games. Like the reason he was drafted, his playmaking ability puts him at the top of the pipeline for the Ducks and he should be seeing games in Anaheim in the upcoming season assuming he has a successful offseason. A recommendation would be to add a few pounds to make him an even more dangerous body on the ice.