Warren completed his first professional season with the San Diego Gulls and looked comfortable from day one. He brings three elements to his game: skating, defensive, and sheer physicality. His NHL projection is clear: Warren’s on track to become a bottom-pairing, defense-minded blueliner. He still needs more AHL seasoning to refine his defensive reads against the faster competition and improve his puck management. His passing and possession game must take a step forward to reduce turnovers under pressure. Within the Ducks’ system, Warren is in direct competition with Drew Helleson for the long-term bottom-pairing right-shot spot. Warren holds the edge in size and mobility, while Helleson offers more reliable puck skills. It will take some years before that competition is settled. For fantasy managers in formats that reward hits and blocks, Warren is a name to keep on the radar.

Warren benefited from a change of scenery in his D+2 season as he was a new member of the Victoriaville Tigres. He saw a decrease in offensive production, scoring 13 points in 50 games; however, he logged top-pairing minutes and continued to demonstrate his incredible defensive ability. He flourished in the postseason, where he put up eight points in 14 games and was a crucial piece during the Tigres’ playoff run. Turning 20 years old on July 15th, Warren will probably begin his pro career with the San Diego Gulls in the 2024-25 season.

The Anaheim Ducks have selected Warren in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, 42nd overall.

Warren has steadily climbed the ranks in public draft circles this year, due in large part to his NHL-ready frame and refined defensive game. He produced at a moderate rate for a draft-eligible defenceman, tallying five goals and 19 assists through 62 games with Gatineau in the QMJHL. Still, he was a consistently positive contributor on the other side of the puck.

The first thing that stands out about Warren when you see him play is just his sheer size, standing at 6-5 and already weighing in over 210 pounds before his 18th birthday. He puts that large frame to good use, consistently finishing his checks and winning battles along the boards or in front of his net. Warren is a fine skater, albeit with slightly heavy feet, and maintains good gap control when defending the rush. He is adept at taking away space with good reach and stick placement, often leading with a stick check before closing on attackers and finishing them with a solid body check. When he gets engaged in a battle along the boards, he manages to come away with the puck or move it to safety more often than not. Warren has been able to effectively control the net-front in the defensive zone at the junior level, using his size and strength to box out opposing forwards. While that will prove more difficult as he progresses towards pro hockey, he has the physical strength and understanding to translate those abilities. With the puck on his stick, he can make a strong first pass and shake the occasional forechecker at the junior level but aside from his heavy point shot, there isn’t a lot of flash in his offensive game. I think a part of that is the player understanding his strengths and playing within himself – something that displays a level of maturity. If Warren can reach his potential as a physical, shutdown defender, his limited offense won’t be much of a concern. There are sure to be clubs interested in the hulking blueliner as early as the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft.