PITTSBURGH — At first glance, and maybe at the second and third glances, too, the comparison is unfair. After all, Samuel Pahlsson was a Stanley Cup winner with the Ducks in 2006-07, a candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy won by teammate Scott Niedermayer, and a vital piece to the puzzle.

Isac Lundestrom’s career is just getting started, but there are indications he might someday play the same sort of versatile role Pahlsson once did for the Ducks. Lundestrom has filled the third-line center’s role that Pahlsson did to great effect more than a decade ago.

Lundestrom, 22, plays the same position with the same kind of important and yet subtle game his Swedish countryman did, with an emphasis on the aspects that don’t necessarily leap out to the casual viewer. He’s a strong penalty killer and defender who can score now and then.

“I always look back at Stanley Cup finals, and if you look at the team that won, it’s usually that third-line center who was the most important guy,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakisn said. “Not only did he do a hell of a job checking, but he usually scores big goals. Those guys are so important, especially when you get to the end.”

Lundestrom, the Ducks’ first-round draft pick in 2018 (23rd overall), scored his seventh goal of the season during their shootout victory Thursday over the Columbus Blue Jackets. He also has eight assists in 28 games, making him the Ducks’ seventh-leading scorer.

“He’s quietly been really good,” Eakins said. “He’s scoring a little bit. He’s a plus player. He’s out against tough competition. It’s not like he’s out there fumbling around against the other team’s fourth line. He’s out there against the other team’s best. It’s been vital, especially with guys going out of the lineup.”

PROSPECT WATCH

Center Mason McTavish, the third overall pick in the NHL draft in July, and defenseman Olen Zellweger, the 34th selection, joined Canada’s junior team selection camp Thursday in Calgary in preparation for the World Junior Championships later this month in Edmonton and Red Deer.

Zellweger was scheduled to play in an exhibition game against a team of Canadian collegiate players Saturday. McTavish was expected to play in the second of two exhibitions before the team’s roster is finalized, then play in the tournament begins Dec. 26 against the Czech Republic.

McTavish scored five goals in four games after the Ducks returned him to his junior team, the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League. Zellweger has seven goals and 20 assists in 22 games with Everett (Washington) of the Western Hockey League.

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Ian Moore, a defenseman from Harvard who was the Ducks’ third-round pick in 2020, and Sasha Pastujov, a right wing for Guelph of the OHL who was their third-round pick in July, are on Team USA’s preliminary roster. The Americans’ opening game is Dec. 26 against Slovakia.

Moore has three assists in 11 games this season with Harvard. Pastujov has 19 goals and 15 assists in 24 games with Guelph, leading his team in both categories. Pastujov was third in the OHL in goals and ninth in the league with 34 points going into this weekend’s games.