ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Anaheim Ducks are still a significant ways away from becoming a playoff contender, and have seemingly relied on drafting promising prospects as opposed to poaching highly sought free agents to build up their core.
When free agency opened on July 1, on a day when over 100 players were signed, amassing over $1 billion spent by NHL teams, general manager Pat Verbeek hardly lifted a finger, even with loads of cap room to use. As Anaheim’s Western Conference foes—the Nashville Predators, Edmonton Oilers and even the dead-last San Jose Sharks proactively added touted names to their roster—the Ducks merely sat and watched.
While Anaheim made some additional moves in the following days, Verbeek didn’t make a true game-changing call, leaving the superstar void intact as the team prepares for the 2024-25 season.
Free Agent Additions
Jansen Harkins, C
Verbeek signed 27-year-old center Jansen Harkins to a two-year, $1.575 million contract on July 2.
Harkins spent time with the Pittsburgh Penguins as well as their AHL affiliate last season. In 45 NHL games, he tallied four assists but couldn’t find the back of the net. Hand surgery sidelined him for most of March, adding a roadblock in an already rocky season for the veteran.
However, he showed promise in the minors, posting 12 points in 14 games. Now in the Ducks organization, he’ll look to find more playing at the top level, as he averaged just over eight minutes of ice time per game, the lowest of his career.
Harkins could be a useful depth piece for Anaheim. He’s not flashy by any means, but at 6-foot-1, he could provide physicality on the fourth line. Given his solid AHL figures last year, the San Diego Gulls likely wouldn’t mind having him aboard if the Ducks send him down.
Carson Meyer, RW
Carson Meyer is a work-in-progress winger who’s played in 41 career NHL games across three seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Anaheim swiped him for $775,000 on a one-year contract.
Meyer will likely spend the bulk of his time with the Gulls given his lack of lengthy NHL experience. He registered two points in 14 games with Columbus last season while recording 37 in 55 games with AHL Cleveland.
Meyer suffered an upper-body injury in April that shut down his season, but at 26 years old, he’ll look to make an impact as a physical forward with some upside.
Trade Additions
Brian Dumoulin, D
The Ducks sent a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Seattle Kraken for veteran left-shot blueliner Brian Dumoulin.
Dumoulin tallied a career-high six goals in 2023-24, notching 16 points total. At 6-foot-4 and 207 pounds, Dumoulin is physical and defensive-minded, not afraid to use his frame to block shots or hit opponents. On a Seattle team that struggled last season, he was a valuable depth piece, often slotting in the bottom defensive pairings, while earning a positive plus-minus.
Anaheim’s left-shot defenseman position is currently crowded, but Dumoulin provides veteran experience as a 32-year-old to the team’s youngsters, like Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov. He’s well-disciplined, strong and proactive in the defensive zone, something any team would want. Although he won’t see top-line ice time, he’ll probably be penciled into the second or third pairings on a nightly basis.
This season will mark the second of Dumoulin’s two-year contract, and the Ducks will pay him $3.15 million.
Robby Fabbri, C
The Ducks dealt prospect goaltender Gage Alexander to the Detroit Red Wings for a 2025 conditional fourth-round pick and bottom-six center Robby Fabbri.
Like Dumoulin, Fabbri enters the final year of his contract, with a cap hit of $4 million at 28 years old. He suited up in 68 games in 2023-24, nearly averaging half a point with 32 on 18 goals and 14 assists. Considering he was only given less than 13 minutes of ice time per game, his figures are nothing to scoff at.
In need of scoring on the bottom lines, bringing in Fabbri makes sense, especially considering that Anaheim only needed to surrender a young netminder, a position in which they already have several.
On top of his scoring, Fabbri is highly skilled and energetic with power-play unit prowess. He’ll likely see the ice in some capacity when the Ducks have the extra attacker, and on a less competitive team, he’ll receive more ice time than he did in Detroit. He forechecks well, keeps the puck protected and leads offensive rushes, all traits that Anaheim will certainly appreciate.