It has been six straight seasons without playoff hockey for the Anaheim Ducks. The team ranks last in the league in points percentage (.421), goals per game (2.50), penalty kill percentage (76.5), and shots per game (28.1) during that span. It has been a struggle for the organization and the fanbase, but brighter days may finally be on the horizon. The team has an exciting young core, with additional promising prospects poised to join the fold soon. There is plenty of optimism that they can learn and grow together to make the Ducks more competitive.
It has been a relatively quiet offseason for the Ducks. The team completed trades with the Detroit Red Wings and Seattle Kraken for forward Robby Fabbri and defenseman Brian Dumoulin, respectively. Jansen Harkins inked a two-year, $1.575 million pact, and Carson Meyer penned a one-year, two-way agreement. General manager Pat Verbeek also re-signed Isac Lundestrom, Urho Vaakanainen, Brett Leason, Pavel Regenda, Nikita Nesterenko, and Jackson LaCombe to short-term deals. LaCombe was the lone player of that group who received a second year in his contract.
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The Ducks were reportedly in the mix to go big-game hunting but failed to make a significant splash in free agency. Barring a considerable move before the start of the season, the team appears set to welcome the youth movement to the roster with open arms. Here’s a sneak peek at what that might look like: Ducks Projected Forward Lines
Ducks Projected Forward Lines
With no restricted free agents remaining, the coaching staff will have a full complement of players for the beginning of training camp. Experimenting with line combinations and roles will be fascinating to watch as the roster for opening night takes shape.
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| Cutter Gauthier | Leo Carlsson | Alex Killorn |
| Trevor Zegras | Mason McTavish | Troy Terry |
| Robby Fabbri | Ryan Strome | Frank Vatrano |
| Jansen Harkins | Isac Lundestrom | Brett Leason |
The trio of Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson, and Alex Killorn was featured in the Ducks’ 2023-24 regular-season finale versus the Vegas Golden Knights. They logged a team-high 12:43 of even-strength ice time while combining for seven shots on target. Gauthier and Carlsson picked up assists on a goal by LaCombe early in the third period, which ended up being the game-winner in a 4-1 triumph. Verbeek praised the line for having instant chemistry, which likely means it will remain intact for 2024-25. Carlsson and…
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