Puck Drop Preview: 2025-26 Anaheim Ducks

Last Word on Hockey’s Puck Drop Previews are back for the 2025-26 season! As the regular season approaches, Last Word will preview each team’s current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming year. We’ll also do our best to project how things will go for each team throughout the campaign. Today, we’re previewing the 2025-26 Anaheim Ducks.

The 2025-26 Anaheim Ducks

A 2024-25 Season Recap

The Ducks finished sixth in the Pacific Division, missing the playoffs for the seventh straight year. Still, progress was visible. Leo Carlsson took a major leap in his sophomore season, while Mason McTavish emerged as a dependable two-way centre. Furthermore, Cutter Gauthier played meaningful NHL games and gave fans a glimpse of his long-term upside.

On defence, Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov both saw NHL action, but consistent lineup spots remained elusive.   The young defencemen cannibalized each other’s roster spots, blocked out by veteran defenders with larger contracts.

The special teams, as has become tradition, finished near the basement. The penalty kill ranked 30th and the power play sputtered at key moments. John Gibson’s decline continued, with another subpar year that opened the door for Lukas Dostal to take on 45 starts. The result? Another season where “progress” came in the form of moral victories, draft lottery odds, and plenty of patience. Because if there’s one thing Ducks fans haven’t had enough of lately, it’s patience.

2025 Offseason

Anaheim’s offseason was nothing short of eventful. The Ducks officially closed the book on the Trevor Zegras and John Gibson eras, shipping both out in moves that signaled a commitment to molding the team to new identity in the vision of general manager Pat Verbeek. With Carlsson, McTavish, and Gauthier driving the future, the front office reshaped the supporting cast.

A huge splash came via trade, acquiring Chris Kreider from the New York Rangers. They also added Mikael Granlund through free agency, giving the roster an immediate veteran and offensively skilled presence. In net, Petr Mrazek was signed as a veteran backup to fellow countryman Dostal.

Behind the bench, Anaheim made its boldest move of all. Joel Quenneville was hired as head coach, with Jay Woodcroft joining as associate coach. The pairing brings a rare mix of Stanley Cup-winning pedigree and modern tactical thinking. Still, Quenneville’s return to the NHL after years away is not without controversy, and opinions around the league remain divided. Anaheim, however, chose to focus on experience and results, signaling that nothing short of a playoff appearance will be acceptable.

Owner Henry Samueli also made headlines by declaring the checkbook open, stating outright that playoff hockey is the expectation this season. Add in Anaheim’s $20 million in cap space and a loaded stockpile of future draft picks, and the resources are there to make noise. Of course, resources and expectations are nice, but at some point, this franchise has to deliver something other than “we’re building.” Because you can only call it a rebuild for so long before it just starts looking like a very expensive hobby.

Lineup Projections

Forwards

Top Six

The top line is built around Anaheim’s emerging stars. Carlsson and Gauthier bring size and youth, while Terry provides proven scoring touch. The second line features Kreider, still capable of finishing play, alongside McTavish’s two-way stability and Granlund’s playmaking. The Ducks hope that Kredier will be the cure to the Ducks perpetually impotent power play, utilizing his presence and finishing ability around the crease to lift the Ducks power play out of the league basement. This group should generate steady offence, though McTavish’s contract holdout remains a looming storyline.

Bottom Six

The third line is filled with veteran depth in Vatrano, Strome, and Killorn. Each has shown they can chip in 15–20 goals, making them reliable middle-six contributors. Vatrano is only two years removed from a 37 goal season. The fourth line brings energy and development opportunities, with Nesterenko and Colangelo fighting to stick in full-time roles. Poehling is a strong defensive anchor at centre at a great contract value.

Defence

Top Four

Trouba gives Anaheim a needed right-shot veteran capable of playing heavy minutes and adding an intimidation factor in opponents’ minds. His heavy style complements Jackson LaCombe’s puck-moving game, giving the Ducks a stabilizing presence on the top pair. The second pairing features Olen Zellweger and Radko Gudas, another youth–veteran combination. Zellweger’s offensive instincts and skating ability should flourish with Gudas covering the defensive details. Although, Gudas’ defensive awareness had noticeable gaps last season, often losing his assignments in the most high-danger chance areas. This balance across the top four is designed to both protect the kids and accelerate their development.

Bottom Pair

Pavel Mintyukov anchors the third pairing, paired with Drew Helleson in what projects to be an all-youth unit. Mintyukov’s creativity and transition play will drive the pair, but defensive lapses are inevitable. Tristan Luneau is pushing hard to claim a full-time role and could slot in at any point, especially if Anaheim’s right-side depth falters. While the bottom pair may experience growing pains, it offers valuable NHL reps for players who are expected to become long-term fixtures on the blueline.

Goalies

The crease is now fully Dostal’s. Fresh off signing a five-year, $6.5M deal, the 25-year-old is expected to anchor Anaheim’s playoff push. Mrazek provides reliable veteran backup minutes, while Ville Husso adds further depth. The transition from Gibson to Dostal marks a new chapter in Ducks goaltending, one Ducks fans will hope continues the trend of organizational strength at the position.

Players to Watch

Lukas Dostal – With Gibson gone, Dostal steps into the spotlight. His contract suggests Anaheim believes he can be a long-term starter. If he delivers league-average goaltending or better, the Ducks’ playoff chances rise considerably.

Chris Kreider – The 34-year-old winger comes to Anaheim after a long run in New York. Kreider’s net-front presence and finishing ability could be a perfect complement to McTavish and Granlund. His health and production will be crucial for stabilizing the top six.

Prediction for the 2025-26 Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks have reached the turning point in their rebuild. With Carlsson, McTavish, and Gauthier leading the way, supported by veterans like Kreider, Terry, and Trouba, Anaheim is no longer content with moral victories. Ownership’s mandate is clear and that the playoffs are the expectation.

However, question marks remain. The right side of the roster is thin, McTavish is still unsigned, and the defence could struggle against elite Western Conference opponents like Edmonton and Colorado. Continuing a trend in Anaheim, goaltending performance could realistically make or break their season.

Anaheim’s new bench boss Joel Quenneville brings championship pedigree, while Jay Woodcroft adds a modern, analytical, and offensive edge as associate coach. Together, they give the Ducks their most experienced coaching staff in years. If Quenneville’s structure and Woodcroft’s player development mesh, this team may finally have the stability behind the bench to match its growing talent on the ice.

Expect Anaheim to be in the playoff hunt deep into the year. Whether they secure a wild card spot depends on their young stars accelerating their growth and veterans staying healthy. After seven years on the outside, this is the Ducks’ best chance yet to end their drought.