Why Anaheim Ducks Will Make the Playoffs in 2025-26

Despite the Anaheim Ducks taking a nice leap in the standings last season, the front office decided to bring in a new head coach. Anaheim hired former Chicago Blackhawks coach, Joel Quenneville to take over the helm.

Quenneville brings a certain level of credibility behind the bench, and the Ducks are confident that he is the right person for the job. Anaheim has missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons, but that will all change in 2025-26.

The Anaheim Ducks are going to make the postseason this year.

While the offseason hasn't been as lucrative as some would have hoped for Anaheim, the team has improved. Anaheim traded for Chris Kreider from the New York Rangers, giving them more of a legitimate scoring option to work with.

But with all the young talent on the team, another season of improvement will also take place. Players such as Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, and Cutter Gauthier will all be more seasoned, and each player scored at least 20 goals last season.

Anaheim will also have a full season from goalie Lukas Dostal, who showed that he is more than capable of being the top goalie. Dostal posted a save percantage of .903 and a 3.10 goals per game average last season.

The Ducks' defense should be much better this year, giving some needed help to Dostal. But Quenneville is the piece that will bring everything together.

When Quenneville inherited the Blackhawks years ago, he helped shape them into a team that contended for titles. Quenneville will look to do the same with the young core that Anaheim has in place, but the first step to all of this is getting back to the postseason.

Don't sleep on the Ducks this season as they look to make a real push in the Western Conference.