Prospect Update: Judd Caulfield

By Thomas Harrington

The Anaheim Ducks received Judd Caulfield from the Pittsburgh Penguins back in 2023 in exchange for defenseman Thimo Nickl. This past season was his third with the San Diego Gulls, and far and away his most successful. Caulfield is already 25, meaning that this will be his last season considered as one of Anaheim’s prospects.

Caulfield set career highs in goals, assists, points, and games played in his third professional season, scoring 17 goals and 38 points in 71 games. He finished tied for third on San Diego in goals and sixth in points. He also played on the team’s penalty kill and was one of nine players to record a shorthanded goal. Caulfield also saw time on the powerplay and scored two goals with the man advantage. He was primarily used in a bottom six role, getting about equal time on the third and fourth lines, but did see some time in the top six and even a decent number of games on San Diego’s top line. Caulfield played in both of the Gulls’ playoff games and was scoreless.

I had two expectations for Caulfield last summer, and he met both of them. First, I wanted to see him score 15 goals and 30 points, and he was able to better both of those numbers. Second, I wanted his overall game to continue to improve. Caulfield was arguably San Diego’s most consistent forward last season. He was rarely their best forward, but you always knew he was going to play hard whenever he stepped onto the ice.

This coming year, Caulfield should be back with the Gulls for a fourth straight season. Depending on how things shake out in Anaheim, he has an outside chance at making his NHL debut, but that’s far from a guarantee. Instead, I anticipate him spending most of the season on San Diego’s third line, getting time on the penalty kill, and scoring timely goals.

I have a few expectations for Caulfield this coming season. First, he’s shown that he has more of a scoring touch than I expected out of him, so I’d like to see him hit the 20 goal and 40 point marks. Second, for him to once again play in a majority of the Gulls’ games. He only missed one game all of last season, and I’d love to see that continue. Finally, San Diego’s penalty kill finished eighth in the AHL last season. I’d like to see him keep getting regular time on that unit and help keep the Gulls in the top 10 in penalty killing percentage.

At this point, Caulfield likely won’t ever become an NHL regular unless he ends up being a late bloomer. However, if he plays like he did last year, then he could definitely get called up and make his NHL debut this coming season or the following one. If he does get called up, Caulfield will likely play on the fourth line and may get time on the penalty kill. He could also become a useful 13th forward, and if Anaheim sees that as his future, then his odds of getting called up this season will go up.

Caulfield is currently signed to a two-year contract, and he’ll be an unrestricted free agent when it’s completed. His contract status was unusual this past season. Last summer, Caulfield was a restricted free agent. The Ducks chose to qualify him to retain his rights, but did not offer him a contract, so he played for the Gulls on an AHL-only deal. That meant that he was ineligible to be called up to Anaheim, unless they signed him to a contract. As a restricted free agent, he had the option to sign with other teams, but he chose to remain with the Gulls and earned himself a contract with Anaheim that he signed earlier this summer.

The next prospect update will be on defenseman Anthony Allain-Samake.

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August 18th, 2026