Anaheim Ducks Falling Short of Own Expectations

The Anaheim Ducks are falling short of expectations this season. Analyzing Pat Verbeek‘s lackluster offseason moves and the team’s struggles.

Falling Short of Own Expectations

In the lead-up to the 2024-2025 NHL season, Anaheim Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek outlined clear objectives: to acquire a top-six right-shot forward and a top-four right-shot defenceman, bolstering the team’s competitiveness and vying for a playoff spot. However, as the season progresses, these ambitions remain unfulfilled, raising questions about the team’s direction and Verbeek’s strategies. In light of these shortcomings and the Ducks’ subpar performances this season, Verbeek’s silence is deafening.

Unmet Offseason Objectives

During the offseason, Verbeek expressed a desire to make significant roster additions. He stated, “What we’re looking to do and what’s going to really happen are two different things… What I’d like to be able to do is add a top-six forward and top-four defenceman.” Anyone who follows the National Hockey League knows that these are moves for teams that are poised to contend for the playoffs or, at minimum, take the next step.

Despite entering free agency with substantial salary cap space, the Ducks were unable to secure their targeted players. Reports indicate that Anaheim pursued forwards like Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, both of whom ultimately signed elsewhere. Verbeek acknowledged these challenges, noting, “We took some swings and unfortunately, we don’t get the final say in it all.”

It should be acknowledged that the Nashville Predators overpaid for both players based on Dom Luszczyszyn‘s model. Stamkos received an $8 million AAV contract and was worth only $6.4 million at the end of last season. That contract looks worse today, with him currently being only worth around $3.6 million AAV. The situation is similar for Marchessault. It looked like Nashville was receiving a surplus on him at the time of signing: a $5.5 million AAV for a player worth $7.4 million. However, Marchessault’s current value is only $3.7 million AAV. Both players provide Nashville with a negative net value, which Verbeek can point to and say he avoided bad contracts. The term on the contracts is also concerning, four and five years respectively for players age 34 and 33. In the last year of those deals, paying 38-year-olds $8 million and $5.5 million are not recipes for success.

Current Season Performance

The absence of key acquisitions has had a tangible impact on the Ducks’ performance. As of December 20, the team finds itself struggling to remain competitive, with a record that places them outside the playoff picture. This outcome contrasts sharply with Verbeek’s preseason goal of “competing and being in the conversation and making the playoffs next year,” and fans are demanding answers.