With the Ducks currently on the road in Seattle, preseason hockey is over and the regular season has begun. After a month-long preseason, there are many takeaways.
After seven preseason games, one clear standout for the Ducks has been defenseman Jackson LaCombe. Last season, LaCombe tallied 14 goals and 29 assists in 75 games, making him one of the most consistent performers for Anaheim. In every preseason game, LaCombe appeared to be in peak form, most notably in the home opener against the Utah Mammoth, where he racked up three assists in a performance that should make fans excited for what he can bring to the ice.
The Ducks’ newcomers have also been impressive. A name that will no doubt excite fans is their 2024 third-overall selection forward Beckett Sennecke. Sennecke had a solid preseason for Anaheim, scoring two goals and notching an assist against the Los Angeles Kings.
Head coach Joel Quenneville praised Sennecke for his preseason play, and fans hope that the team will treat their young talent similarly to how they handled Leo Carlsson’s first season. Sennecke should see plenty of ice time this season after showing promise over the last few weeks.
There were also a number of pleasant surprises for the Ducks, particularly forward Matthew Phillips. Phillips signed a two-year deal with the Ducks’ American Hockey League affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, in July and received an invite to Ducks training camp. Phillips scored two goals against Utah, meaning he could become an impact player.
After being drafted in 2016 by the Calgary Flames, Phillips has been stuck in the minor leagues most of his career, playing just 34 NHL games in his career. An underdog like Phillips in Anaheim will certainly be a storyline to watch out for as the season unfolds.
New addition forward Mikael Granlund and goaltender Lukas Dostal also played well during the preseason. Granlund is poised to fix some of the cracks that Anaheim had last season in his preseason performances, especially when it comes to faceoffs, posting a 53.8% faceoff percentage. With veteran status and incredible puck control, Granlund will be a welcome addition to Anaheim this season. Dostal also fared well, blocking 17 of 18 shots that came his way.
However, there were some letdowns for the Ducks.
One player who didn’t meet expectations was forward Mason McTavish. McTavish, who missed the first half of training camp due to a contract dispute, appeared to be a little rusty in his preseason appearance against the Kings. Given his lack of practice, McTavish will need to knock all the rust off quickly if he wants to hit the ground running this season.
The Ducks’ special teams is another cause for concern. Special teams have been one of the largest concerns for the Ducks over the last few years, posting a rock-bottom unit. In the final preseason game, the Kings managed to score two power-play goals while the Ducks barely set up their power play in the third period. Quenneville mentioned that special teams will be a work in progress over the 82 games of the season, but fans are right to be worried that their special teams woes still won’t be fixed under new management.
Regardless of the letdowns, however, the Ducks’ promising young talent and new additions give fans hope that the team can clinch their first playoff berth in seven years.