Ducks
A preview of the 2025-26 NHL season for the Anaheim Ducks, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Joel Quenneville (head coach), Chris Kreider, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Poehling, Petr Mrazek
Key Departures: Greg Cronin (head coach), Trevor Zegras, John Gibson, Robby Fabbri, Isac Lundestrom
Overview
The streak is now seven consecutive seasons without making the playoffs and, despite a 21-point improvement from the season prior (only Columbus with 23 had a greater increase), head coach Greg Cronin was let go after two seasons and replaced by Joel Quenneville. Quenneville returns to an NHL bench after nearly four seasons following his ban from the game. He won Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
The offseason also saw the Ducks trade goalie John Gibson and former first-round draft pick Trevor Zegras.
Offense
Generating offense has been a constant problem for the Ducks who finished 30th in goals scored for the second consecutive season after finishing 31st three seasons ago. But, in the 36 games that Anaheim scored at least three goals, they were 29-3-4, opening the door for some strong live betting options. Mason McTavish led Anaheim with 22 goals, but that total would have placed him third on 30 of the other 31 NHL teams. As of this writing, McTavish, a restricted free agent, remains unsigned and did not report to training camp.
The expectation is that Quenneville’s coaching style will rejuvenate players like Troy Terry and Frank Vatrano, who each have 37-goal seasons on their resume as well as the newly-acquired Chris Kreider. After seasons of scoring 52, 36 and 39 goals, Kreider fell to 22 goals in 2024-25. Kreider should be a boost to a Ducks powerplay that was ranked dead last (11.8%). Leo Carlsson’s 20 goals and 45 points were ahead of his pace in his rookie season (40 points).
Defense
The Ducks were 22nd in goals allowed and 29th on the penalty kill. Anaheim games averaged a combined 5.90 goals per game which explains why they had a league-leading 48 games go Under the total.
Anaheim has one of the youngest groups of defensemen with only Radko Gudas (34) and Jacob Trouba (31) over the age of 25. Gudas and Trouba both play on the edge and Trouba has been known to cross the line at times. Trouba’s 208 blocked shots were second most in the NHL last season.
It was a breakout season for 24-year-old Jackson Lacombe, who led all Anaheim defensemen in scoring with 14 goals and 43 points. Owen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov and Drew Helleson finish out the top six.
Goaltending
With the much-anticipated trade of Gibson to Detroit, Lukas Dostal takes over the reins as the No. 1 goalie and the Ducks signed him to a five-year, $33 million contract in the summer. Dostal excelled under a heavy workload, as his team allowed the most shots and scoring chances in the NHL. Petr Mrazek and Ville Husso will compete for the backup job.
Player to Watch
Cutter Gauthier’s combination of skill, physicality, and mental toughness position him as a rising talent with a bright NHL future. He scored 38 goals in 41 games in his sophomore season at Boston College after 16 goals in just 32 games as a freshman. Finishing his rookie season with 20 goals was a big accomplishment, considering he did not score his first goal almost six weeks into the season. No reason why he can’t flirt with 30 goals in Year 2 with the Ducks.
Outlook
I am buying the Ducks as a team that will be playing relevant games in April and therefore being in playoff contention. Sportsbooks have their projected point total at 84.5 with juice to the Under (-125). For them to go Over, all they need is five more points than last season. I am on the Over and see value in a “pizza money” wager to make the playoffs at +300.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 84.5
To Make the Playoffs: +300
To Miss the Playoffs: -400
To Win the Pacific Division: +4000
To Win the Western Conference: +5000
To Win the Stanley Cup: +10000
2024-25 Recap
Record: 35-37-10, 80 points, (6th Pacific)
Over/Under: 31-48-3
Home Favorite: 5-2 // Home Dog: 17-18
Road Favorite: 1-0 // Road Dog: 13-27
Win Score 4 or more: 22 of 35 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 26 of 47
Puck Line Wins: 17 of 35 // Puck Line Losses: 26 of 47
Front End Back-to-Back: 6-7 // Back End Back-to-Back: 3-10
Points Leader: Troy Terry -55
Goal Leader: Mason McTavish – 22
Assist Leader: Troy Terry – 34
Shots on Goal Leader: Frank Vatrano – 234
Blocked Shots Leader: Radko Gudas – 178
Depth Chart
Forwards
Chris Kreider / Leo Carlsson / Troy Terry
Cutter Gauthier / Mason McTavish / Frank Vatrano
Alex Killorn / Mikael Granlund / Ryan Strome
Nikita Nesterenko / Ryan Poehling / Sam Colangelo
Defense
Jackson Lacombe / Radko Gudas
Olen Zellweger / Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov / Drew Helleson
Goalies
Lukas Dostal / Petr Mrazek
Power Play Unit 1
Chris Kreider, Mason McTavish, Mikael Granlund, Olen Zellweger, Cutter Gauthier
