Lucius was reassigned to AHL San Diego on Wednesday.
Lucius was a possibility to make the Opening Night roster, but an injury to Drew Helleson (lower body) may have forced the Ducks to shuffle the deck. In 36 games for Arizona State University last year, the 22-year-old Lucius notched 15 goals and 31 assists. If he can show that kind of scoring touch in the minors, he could earn a call-up sooner rather than later.
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Ducks' Cruz Lucius: Added to NHL roster
Rotowire
Lucius was called up from AHL San Diego on Tuesday, per the AHL's official site.
This is likely to be a paper transaction, as is the demotion of Tristan Luneau in a corresponding move. Lucius' cap hit is $1.05 million, getting the Ducks closer to the salary cap for a better potential cap benefit if Troy Terry (hip) is transferred to long-term injured reserve. Expect another round of transactions in the coming days to swap Lucius and Luneau once again.
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Ducks' Cruz Lucius: Secures two-year deal
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Lucius agreed to terms on a two-year, entry-level contract with Anaheim on Thursday.
Lucius was originally selected by the Hurricanes in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft but has seen his rights moved twice, including to the Penguins as part of the Jake Guentzel deal. At Arizona State this past season, the 22-year-old winger notched 15 goals and 31 assists in 36 contests. He figures to spend time developing in the minors before getting a true shot at an NHL gig.
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Ducks' Cruz Lucius: Dealt Wednesday
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Lucius has been acquired by Anaheim from Pittsburgh on Wednesday in exchange for future considerations.
Lucius had 15 goals and 46 points in 36 outings with Arizona State University as a senior in 2025-26. Carolina originally selected the 22-year-old with the No. 124 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was then dealt to Pittsburgh on March 7, 2024, as part of the package to acquire Jake Guentzel. The Ducks are getting Lucius' negotiating rights, but he hasn't signed an entry-level contract yet.
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Penguins' Cruz Lucius: Five-point burst in win
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Lucius scored a goal and added four assists in Arizona State University's 6-3 win over the University of Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday.
Lucius had seven points over two games against Omaha this weekend, which could put him in contention for weekly honors. He's up to 15 goals and 45 points in 34 appearances. Lucius had just 10 points in 19 outings for ASU last year, so it's been a positive to see him bounce back in his senior season of NCAA play.
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Penguins' Cruz Lucius: Racks up three helpers for ASU
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Lucius recorded three assists in Arizona State University's 6-5 overtime win over Colorado College on Friday.
Lucius leads the Sun Devils with 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) over 27 outings this season. He's added 103 shots on net. The Penguins prospect has a career year in the NCAA as a senior already with plenty of time to add to his totals -- a 50-point campaign isn't out of the question.
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Penguins' Cruz Lucius: Four-point burst in win
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Lucius scored a goal and added three assists in Arizona State University's 7-2 win over the University of Alaska-Anchorage on Friday.
Lucius continues to impress in his senior year of NCAA hockey. He's up to 12 goals (one shy of his career high) and 30 points in just 21 appearances so far. This is likely to be his most productive campaign, and the Penguins prospect seems likely to put pen to paper when ASU's season is over.
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Penguins' Cruz Lucius: Another two points for ASU
Rotowire
Lucius scored a goal and added an assist in Arizona State University's 6-3 win over the University of Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday.
Lucius has been steady this year for the Sun Devils and is up to 22 points through 18 contests. The Penguins prospect is also at a plus-2 rating on the year after going plus-5 in ASU's big win Saturday. He has shown his skills in three of four NCAA campaigns, which bodes well for him turning pro after this season.
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Penguins' Cruz Lucius: Picks up two points
Rotowire
Lucius scored a goal and added an assist in Arizona State University's 3-2 win over Ohio State University on Friday.
Lucius has taken a step forward this year with 10 goals and eight helpers over 15 appearances. He had just 10 points in 19 outings last year with the Sun Devils, though he posted 34-point campaigns in each of his first two NCAA seasons with the University of Wisconsin. The senior winger is a Penguins prospect, and his steady offense throughout his collegiate career should lead to an entry-level deal in the spring.
