3 Players the Anaheim Ducks Should Move On From

He showed a noticeable lack of puck control this season, too. Visually, his stickhandling and defensive abilities looked sloppy, and multiple goals against occurred at the fault of Gudas. At 35 years old, one has to wonder whether he is beginning to age out of the sport. His skating is noticeably slow, he’s easily injured, and his skills have started to falter. Besides being a big body, he no longer brings many skills to the table.

Gudas’ contract expired at the end of the 2025-26 season, and he will be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1. The Ducks could offer him an extension. However, he may be better suited for another team, league, or retirement altogether. With this new era of Ducks hockey and young superstars rising, a younger player could step in as captain and be in the role for the long run.

Mason McTavish

Mason McTavish is a bit of an interesting case. He was the Ducks’ first pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and was selected third overall. He was thought to be a player who would shape up into one of the team’s best performers. In his rookie season, he had 17 goals and 26 assists for 43 points in 80 games. It was a promising start, but, unfortunately, the forward simply has not improved.

2025-26 was his fourth full campaign in Anaheim (he played nine games in 2021-22), and his performance was at nearly the same level as his rookie season. He finished with 17 goals and 24 assists (41 points) in 75 games. His lack of progress is disappointing. What cannot be measured via statistics, though, is his noticeable drop in passion and superstar prowess.

The forward used to play with a bit of an “x-factor”: scoring flashy goals, showcasing impressive physicality, and overall looking like a high-caliber hockey player. That passion and shine noticeably dropped off this season. McTavish looked dull, deflated, and sloppy. Have the team’s regular changes in coaching staff stunted his development? Did trading away some of his close buddies (Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale) affect his performance? Does he need a new environment to really begin to thrive?

Whatever the case, it is clear that it is time for McTavish to try something new. Whether that means a new path of development, new linemates, or a new team, something needs to change. He is in the midst of a six-year contract with the Ducks, but he may be a case of a player who could reach their full potential away from their current team.

Frank Vatrano

Forward Frank Vatrano was once a high performer for the Ducks. In his best season, 2023-24, he tallied 60 points (37 goals, 23 assists) in 82 games. In 2025-26, however, his performance dropped drastically. He was sidelined due to a shoulder injury and played just 50 games in the regular season and none in the playoffs. In those regular-season games, he tallied an alarmingly small amount of points: nine.

How does a player go from a 60-point campaign to nine points in a matter of two seasons? The biggest factor that changed during that time span was the coaching staff. Vatrano may have been stunted under head coach Joel Quenneville’s system, or there may be other off-ice factors that have affected his game. He averaged his lowest time on ice with the team this past season (11:49) and was mainly on the fourth line, which could have contributed to his lack of offense, as well.

Clearly, Vatrano has the skills to bring a high level of offense to the team. His three best career seasons were with the Ducks between 2022 and 2025, with season performances of 41 points, 60 points, and 45 points in that span. He may need a new system and new coaching staff to reach his peak level of performance once again, and a new team could be beneficial to the forward.

He is also in the midst of a contract, like McTavish, but his was just for a three-year term. It is worth it for the Ducks to explore options for moving the forward elsewhere. It would be beneficial for both parties — more cap space for Anaheim, and a new environment to thrive in for Vatrano.

The offseason is always a big time for roster moves, and you never know how the team is going to shape up in preparation for the next season. These three players, among others, could find themselves better suited elsewhere, and the Ducks could be better off for it. Keep an eye on The Hockey Writers for Ducks news and more as the offseason gets underway.