The Anaheim Ducks are on the back of seven consecutive heartbreaking seasons without a playoff appearance. However, as they head into a new year, there is a real buzz around Anaheim, with some fans arguing that the team’s growing core is finally ready to take off, thanks to Joel Quenneville, who believes he can help turn them into true stars.
With so many breakout candidates, there is a real chance that the Ducks can repair perhaps their most glaring flaw throughout their rebuild, the lackluster offense. Last season, the Ducks finished with an abysmal minus-40 goal differential and minus-56 Net Rating. However, with Quenneville now behind the bench, fans can look forward to a potentially more exciting offense, as the Ducks are likely to implement Quenneville’s system, which favors fast-paced, transitional plays to get more pucks to offensive skaters.
Quenneville, however, hasn’t stood behind an NHL bench in four years and Anaheim will hope that he can quickly clean off any rust before the season begins. Barring any setbacks, Quenneville should be thrilled at the prospect of having the freedom to focus on such a young, talented group of players in Anaheim and help them get better at hockey. Quenneville’s track record of developing young talent is widely regarded, as he developed young stars such as Johnathan Toews and Patrick Kane when coaching the Chicago Blackhawks.
Quenneville could make waves with young players such as Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and Mason McTavish this season, so fans should expect a step up from the young core in 2025-26.
If the Ducks want to make a playoff push this season, they will also expect big step-ups from players who underperformed last season. One name that comes to mind is Troy Terry, who, coming off a disappointing 2024-25 season, has the potential to be a stalwart member of the team this season if he finds his footing.
Another name that needs to step up this season for a playoff push is McTavish. McTavish, who recently signed a long-term six-year extension he was looking for all offseason, is primed for an incredible season after some stagnant progression the last couple of years. With a new offensive coaching staff around him, McTavish should already be able to build off of what was a good offensive rating last season. Without the likes of Trevor Zegras on the ice this season for the Ducks, there will be a lot more pressure on McTavish this season and he will need to prove that he can become and is a true top center in the league.
Fans should be excited at the prospect of what the Ducks’ new additions can provide this season. Chris Kreider should be able to improve the power play this season with his great speed and net-front presence to give the offense another much-needed boost. Mikael Granlund should also have a large impact in Anaheim as well, certainly if his tenure is anything like what he did for the San Jose Sharks.
Between the sticks, Lukas Dostal is ready to become a star this season. With executives around the NHL describing him as the next stud goalie, he needs to stick to his numbers from the first half of last season and avoid the drop-offs he had in the second half. With longtime goaltender John Gibson now gone, fans will look to Dostal to perform at a high level this season.
The Ducks could be weaker on the backend this year. Although their defense is led by Jackson LaCombe, a young talent who will likely shine under Quenneville, he is more or less by himself this season.
The Ducks do have quality players like Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov to support McTavish on the blue line, but Anaheim still needs to ensure that it can get out of its own zone; otherwise, they will struggle generating concrete offense this season that can find shots and score goals with ease.
Regardless of what questions there may be over the head of the Ducks heading into the season opener, the excitement in Anaheim is without a doubt tangible and fans are beginning to believe that the first year of the Quenneville era can finally bring playoff games back to Honda Center.