ANAHEIM — The Ducks will take flight for the first time this season Thursday in Seattle, kicking off on the road yet again (they’ve had just eight openers at home in 32 seasons).
While that situation may be commonplace for the Ducks, elevated goals accompanied the arrival of Coach Joel Quenneville, who stewarded the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cups, amid the ongoing development of one of the NHL’s top 25-and-under contingents.
The Money Men
Jackson LaCombe, D
Once a timid figure among a robust group of defensive prospects, LaCombe had perhaps the biggest campaign-to-campaign catapulting of any player in the NHL last year and certainly among the Ducks. A more chiseled and much more confident LaCombe sprang from 17 points to 43, including 14 goals, and took his rating from -17 to even. His underlying numbers showed few if any weaknesses in his game, and his assertiveness was rewarded with the most lucrative contract extension in franchise history.
Mason McTavish, C
McTavish showed both flashes of brilliance and consistency issues, but last season he put together a sprint to the finish line that saw him rack up 33 points in the final 36 games of 2024-25. A former World Junior Championship hero for Canada, McTavish would love to participate in some high-stakes action for a team that’s missed the playoffs a Western Conference-worst seven straight seasons. He’ll spend the next six years on Katella Ave, after signing a $42 million deal five days before LaCombe inked his agreement.
Lukáš Dostál, G
Dostál was another emergent force last season and was probably the foremost reason that the Ducks courted a .500 finish. The Czech sensation was the first significant piece of business for the Ducks after free agency, returning for five more seasons. That was even more vital after the Ducks shipped John Gibson to Detroit. Dostál, LaCombe, McTavish and Troy Terry are the only Ducks signed beyond 2028.
Stars in the Making?
Leo Carlsson, C; Cutter Gauthier, W; Pavel Mintyukov, D; Olen Zellweger, D
Even more so than McTavish, Carlsson’s highs have seen him soar while his lows created some stagnation for the imaginative Swede, who’s already considered one of the NHL’s best neutral-zone attackers despite his inconsistent production. Gauthier turned a shellshocked start into a silky smooth finish last season. Then, Mintyukov and Zellweger lost games to a blue-line log jam, but both players project to be full-timers in 2025-26. All four of these young talents are currently on track for restricted free agency after the season.
In Their Primes
Troy Terry, W; Frank Vatrano, W
Terry is now the longest-tenured Duck, establishing himself in the lineup and community alike while adapting his game in recent years. He and Vatrano, a rare UFA signing who re-upped with the Ducks, will be counted on for increased leadership and output as the team seeks to raise its profile.
The New Guys
Mikael Granlund, C; Chris Kreider, W; Ryan Poehling, C, Petr Mrázek, G
Both players the Ducks brought in to boost their anemic offense are in their mid-30s. Granlund has reinvigorated his career with a mix of production and professionalism. Kreider is seeking to resume his prolific pace after a down season whipsawed between team chemistry issues within the New York Rangers’ dressing room and injuries to Kreider himself. Poehling brings dynamism to penalty kill and bottom six, while Mrázek will back up Czech compatriot Dostál.
Still useful
Ryan Strome, C; Alex Killorn, W; Ville Husso, G
Strome and Killorn thrive mostly on veteran savvy, but they have plenty of it. Killorn started slow and picked up his game later in each of his first two campaigns on Katella Ave. Strome has been an integral part of the Ducks’ room and, last year, its most reliable line across 82 games with Vatrano and Terry. Husso is an experienced netminder who can swing effectively between the NHL and AHL levels, as he showed after being acquired in a trade last season.
Rugged Vets
Jacob Trouba, D; Radko Gudas, D; Ross Johnston, W.
Most of the minutes on the right side will go to Trouba and the captain, Gudas. With any luck, they’ll face less pressure than last season and also avoid untimely penalties. Johnston, a rare enforcer in the modern NHL, could see a reduction of his role as the Ducks seek to play a higher tempo and more possession-oriented game.
Looking to Make a Mark
Drew Helleson, D; Nikita Nesterenko, W; Tim Washe, C; Beckett Sennecke, W
Helleson stabilized the right side for the Ducks’ last year and, like his childhood friend LaCombe, strode ahead of some bigger names in the organization. Nesterenko will have an opportunity to stick full-time, as will Washe in this his first full season after captaining Western Michigan to a national title.
Sennecke is perhaps the most intriguing player here, due in part to his draft position and also because of his uncertain standing. The No. 3 overall pick in 2024, Sennecke did not impress overall in training camp, but will start the year in a limited role for the Ducks. He could hang around, or he could take a path that would run from the NHL to the AHL to the World Junior Championships in the Winter and then back to the junior ranks after the New Year.