The Ducks added depth on the wing, acquiring Jeffrey Viel from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round draft selection.
The pick will be the higher of the two fourth-rounders the Ducks own that originally belonged to the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers.
Viel, 28, has 64 games of NHL experience between the Bruins and San Jose Sharks, with whom he signed as an undrafted free agent, compiling five points and 183 penalty minutes.
All five of those points came during 34 games of the 2021-22 season with San Jose, where he also accumulated 114 penalty minutes. Viel later played a campaign in the Winnipeg Jets’ organization.
After spending the preponderance of last season in the minors, Viel made the Bruins’ opening-night roster. But he was utilized mostly as a depth player, suiting up for only 10 games in 2025-26 to date.
As the captain of his junior team in 2018, he was the playoff MVP and went on to win a Memorial Cup. A true power forward at the Canadian Hockey League level, Viel has carved a niche with his physicality during his pro career, particularly at the NHL level.
Viel is in the second season of a two-year, league-minimum contract ($775,000 annual average value).
In just 10 games this season, Viel racked up 30 penalty minutes, including two fighting majors. One of those scraps and 17 of the PIM were in a loss to the Ducks at Honda Center, where Viel fought captain Radko Gudas while also being assessed a game misconduct. He played in both the Bruins’ losses to the Ducks, logging a season-high 14:11 in the 7-5 thriller in Boston.
The Ducks face the Kings in consecutive Freeway Faceoffs on Friday and Saturday, with the latter unfolding at Honda Center.