Ducks News and Notes: Season Preview

The Ducks are a young group, with seven players 22 years old or under: Klepov, McQueen, Sennecke, Carlsson, Gauthier, Luneau, and Mintyukov. Additionally, Caulfield, Colangelo, Hinds, Luneau, Moore, Nesterenko, and Washe – none have played a full season to date.

Consequently, the team will likely have some growing pains as the season gets underway. Despite the inexperience, the roster is full of elite talent, skill, and speed and bolstered by experienced players and steady veterans. Head coach Joel Quenneville proved last season that he can quickly help a team find its footing, and this season should be no different.

Notable Games

There are a handful of notable games. Of course, there’s the home opener on Oct. 4 against the Florida Panthers. The Ducks have also developed a heated, energetic rivalry with the Philadelphia Flyers since the Gauthier/Jamie Drysdale trade. The team visits the Flyers on Oct. 24, and the Flyers visit Anaheim on Jan. 3.

Another contentious rivalry, the Freeway Faceoff, is reignited in a back-to-back with the Los Angeles Kings on Nov. 27 and 28. On Jan. 23, they meet the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes for the first time.

They finish the season with four games in April, all against conference and division rivals: the Utah Mammoth, Edmonton Oilers, Kings, and San Jose Sharks. Their last home game (vs. the Kings) is April 6, and their final regular-season game (vs. the Sharks) is April 10. Clinching a playoff berth could come down to the final few games, so these could be critical contests.

The team will also host two legacy nights, honoring some of the franchise’s best. On Jan. 28, they will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 2007 Stanley Cup win. The following game, Jan. 30, will be Ryan Getzlaf’s jersey retirement ceremony. They also host various other theme and giveaway nights throughout the season that will be worth keeping an eye on.

A Few Things to Note Before the Season Starts

Granlund will take on the role of captain, with Carlsson, Killorn, LaCombe, and Terry as alternates. He replaces Radko Gudas, who was traded to the Panthers in June. Gudas returns to Honda Center to face his former team in the Ducks’ home opener on Sunday.

The Ducks ended their contract with Victory+, and games will now stream in-market on Prime Video and over the air on KCOP-13 or FOX 11, except for national broadcasts. Out-of-town fans can still stream games on ESPN+ or NHL Center Ice. There will be no rinkside reporter, as Aly Lozoff was let go this offseason.

Terry is expected to be out until at least December, after undergoing hip surgery in June. Moore will miss two to four weeks with a lower-body injury. The rest of the team is healthy and fired up after training camp and preseason games.

Just a few more days, everyone: The Ducks start their campaign on Oct. 2 at 7:00 pm.