The Anaheim Ducks saw major improvement in the 2024-25 season. Though they missed the playoffs, they had their best regular season showing in a while. This summer has seen them improve the roster, trading for Chris Kreider and signing Mikael Granlund, to name a few. More recently, they rewarded their franchise goalie Lukas Dostal with a new contract.
Dostal signed a five-year contract with Anaheim on Thursday. This contract carries a cap hit of $6.5 million through the life of the deal, according to PuckPedia. In the final three seasons, he receives a modified no-trade clause. Dostal is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this contract.
The young Ducks goalie did not take long to address his fans. In fact, he announced the deal himself. Anaheim’s social media channels posted a video message from Dostal as the 25-year-old netminder informed fans of his new deal with the team.
“Hello Ducks fans, Lukas Dostal here,” he said. “Super excited to announce that I’m staying in Anaheim for another five years. I love to play in front of you and love to live in this community. We are the team on the rise and I can’t wait to see you soon in Honda Center. Enjoy your summer and take care. Bye.”
Lukas Dostal Has Performed at Elite Level
Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesAnaheim Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal has emerged as one of the brightest young goalies in the NHL.
Dostal has seen a bit of a meteroic rise in Anaheim over the last few seasons. He earned a full-time NHL job in 2023-24, sharing the net with veteran John Gibson. In 2023-24, he turned in a good account of himself. He posted a .902 save percentage in 44 games, showing he had something to offer a Ducks team that wasn’t very good.
In 2024-25, though, he took things up a notch. Dostal posted a .903 save percentage as he played 54 games due to Gibson struggling with injuries. He finished the season with a 4.2 WAR, tying him for ninth in the NHL among goaltenders, according to Evolving Hockey. Moreover, he finished ninth in Goals Saved Above Expected (22.49), as well.
The Ducks traded Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings this summer. As a result, Dostal has the net primarily to himself for the 2025-26 season. He has already entered elite conversations with his play as of late. This upcoming season could see him establish himself as one of the best puck-stoppers in the world.
Dostal Honored to Sign Contract Extension With Ducks
It’s still early in Dostal’s career, relative to some of his peers. To some extent, this is a major gamble on his potential on behalf of the Ducks. It’s a gamble that Dostal is not taking lightly, either.
“It’s a big honor,” Dostal said, via NHL.com. “I always look at myself in the mirror and always see myself being a kid from a village that has 300 people in it. It’s always a good reminder that if you have a dream and you want to chase it, there’s always a possibility to reach it. For me, it’s a big milestone. All the work that has happened, this is kind of the reward, but there’s a long way ahead of us.”
Anaheim hopes Dostal can lead them to the postseason in 2026. It will take some work, but he has the talent and the opportunity to pull it off. Dostal and the Ducks begin their 2025-26 season on October 9th when they travel to face the Seattle Kraken.
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