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Ducks appear poised to end playoff drought: Off-Season Recap
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Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Aug 13, 2025, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 13, 2025, 09:39 EDT
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This is Off-Season Recap, a summer series where we’ll look at what the other 15 teams in the Western Conference have done ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season. So far in the series, we’ve looked at the teams in or around a playoff spot: Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings, and Vegas Golden Knights. In this article, we’ll look at the Anaheim Ducks.

The Anaheim Ducks’ 2024-25 Season in a Nutshell

For the seventh consecutive season, the Anaheim Ducks missed the postseason. Overall, they finished with a 35-37-10 record for 80 points, good enough for sixth in the division and ahead of the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks.
Although they missed the postseason, there has been some improvement over the past season. After finishing with a 31-37-14 record in 2021-22, the Ducks won just 23 games in 2022-23, the fewest in any full 82-game season in franchise history. There was a small improvement in 2023-24, as they finished with a 27-50-5 record, good enough for seventh in the division.
Their record of 35-37-10 is identical to their record when this playoff drought started, as the 2018-19 Ducks finished with 80 points. The previous season saw the Ducks finish with a 44-25-13 record, accumulating 101 points. They may have the same type of season.
The Ducks’ drafted core is starting to reach the age where they are impact players, and that next step forward could come as soon as the 2025-26 season. Let’s take a look at the core.

Who’s part of the Ducks’ core moving forward?

One of the older members of their young core, Troy Terry, led the team with 55 points, scoring the second-most goals with 21. It’s a far cry from his 37-goal, 67-point season in 2021-22, but he’s still a solid top-six scoring winger.
Selected third overall in 2021, centre Mason McTavish scored a career-high 22 goals and 52 points in 74 games, slightly improving his production from the year prior. Selected second overall in the 2023 draft, Leo Carlsson also set career-highs, scoring 20 goals and 45 points in 76 games in his sophomore season.
During the 2023-24 season, the Ducks traded the sixth-overall pick, Jamie Drysdale, to the Philadelphia Flyers for Cutter Gauthier. In Guathier’s rookie season, he scored 20 goals and 44 points in 82 games.
The left side of their defence is also filled to the brim with young talent. Selected 34th overall in the 2021 draft, Olen Zellweger scored seven goals and 20 points in 62 games. Another second-rounder, Jackson LaCombe, has become one of the best young defencemen in the league, scoring 14 goals and 43 points in 75 games. Their first-round pick (10th overall) in the 2022 draft, Pavel Mintyukov, scored five goals and 19 points in 68 games, a slight step back from his rookie season.
Those players are supplemented by veterans. Frank Vatrano scored 21 goals and 45 points last season, former Edmonton Oiler Ryan Strome scored 10 goals and 41 points, and Alex Killorn scored 19 goals and 37 points. On the backend, captain Radko Gudas scored a goal and 16 points, and they acquired Jacob Trouba during the season, with the right-shot defenceman scoring a goal and eight points in 53 games.
So, what have the Ducks been up to this off-season?
Apr 7, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) attempts a shot against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Off-Season Transactions

Where do you begin? Trevor Zegras looked like he was going to be part of the core moving forward, scoring 23 goals in back-to-back seasons. However, he’s dealt with injury and hasn’t produced the past two seasons. A few days before the draft, the ninth overall pick in the 2019 draft was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Ryan Poehling and picks.
Just a week and a half before Zegras was traded, the Ducks acquired veteran Chris Kreider from the New York Rangers in exchange for Carey Terrance and a pick. Just call the Ducks the Anaheim Rangers at this point.
They also sent long-term netminder John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings for backup netminder Petr Mrázek and picks. This move not only helped them acquire draft capital, but it will give the crease to young netminder Lukáš Dostál, who has impressed early in his career.
The Ducks’ only big free agent signing saw them sign one of the best free agent centres on the market, Mikael Granlund. Last season with the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars, the 33-year-old scored 22 goals and 66 points in 83 games.
Lastly, the Ducks hired three-time Stanley Cup-winning coach Joel Quenneville to replace Greg Cronin.

What’s Next for the Ducks?

The question heading into the 2025-26 season is whether or not the Ducks can take that next step forward and contend for the postseason. They have a nice blend of young players and veterans, and one of the best young netminders in the league.
It won’t be easy, as the Pacific Division has three expected playoff teams: the Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Los Angeles Kings. The Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks could also battle for a postseason spot, so it will be a battle to make the postseason.
This coming season is the Ducks’ best chance to make the postseason in years.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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