As the Anaheim Ducks wind down their final 25 games of the 2023-24 season, all that’s left to play for is pride and Draft Lottery odds. This was another rebuilding season for the Ducks (who sit 20-34-3, seventh in the Pacific Division) as injuries and inconsistencies tested the young roster and extended Anaheim’s playoff drought to a franchise record-extending sixth season.
Related: Ducks Who Won’t Be Back in 2024-25: Unrestricted Free Agents
Before we jump into the 2024-25 season, we should look at the players who need new contracts. Part of the process of a rebuilding team is shedding burdensome contracts and creating cap space for younger, high-end talent and free agency. With 11 contracts set to clear the books in the offseason, the Ducks have about $52 million invested in 2024-25 and will need to spend over $12 million to get to the expected salary cap floor. They’d have roughly $35 million in space before reaching the reported upper limits of the salary cap. Still, that sort of spending would be a drastic pivot from a team currently playing with the second-most cap space in the league.
The next group of free agents are arbitration-eligible restricted free agents. These types of players usually skew younger but are on their second or third deals since their entry-level contracts. Like normal restricted free agents (RFAs), their rights are controlled by the team, but the players can utilize an independent arbiter if they can’t agree on the terms. Arbitration has the potential to turn ugly, but most deals get hammered out before any hearing becomes necessary.
Isac Lundestrom
An offseason Achilles’ injury forced a late start to Isac Lundestrom’s contract year, limiting him to only 22 games so far this season. As the center to the Jakob Silfverberg shutdown line, his defensive numbers look great, but he’s been held to just five points.
Of all the players on an expiring contract, I believe Lundestrom is the most likely to re-sign in Anaheim. The logjam at center isn’t likely to affect his role — Carlsson, Trevor Zegras, and Mason McTavish are top-six forwards, and one will sooner move to the wing than slip into the bottom six. Nathan Gaucher threatens one of the depth center spots, but Lundestrom remains the best defensive-minded third-line option in the organization today. He’s already been through one contract negotiation with general manager Pat Verbeek running the show in…
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