After general manager Pat Verbeek essentially failed in free agency, the agonizingly slow rehabilitation of a once-competitive organization must continue with almost no summer talent infusion. On the plus side, Anaheim has an envied core of elite young players thanks to years of reliable drafting, and this season’s most interesting part might just be following those prospects’ development. The most exciting addition could be Cutter Gauthier, a 20-year-old forward who was traded from Philadelphia to the team last season and made his NHL debut in the penultimate game. He has been playing in a line with Leo Carlsson, their brilliant 19-year-old playmaker.
The good: Anaheim has two NHL-caliber goalies in John Gibson and Lukas Dostal, who looks ready for a full-time starting job. Gibson will ease into this season after an appendectomy, but the Ducks probably will hope he plays well enough to attract trade suitors for him and the hefty three years left on his Bob Murray-era contract. The Ducks’ young talent is undeniably exciting, from Trevor Zegras’ puck-handling skills to Mason McTavish’s pugnacious two-way play. Tough defenseman Radko Gudas will try to boost his teammates’ competitiveness as the Ducks’ first captain since Ryan Getzlaf’s retirement.
The not-so-good: Verbeek’s self-described, five-year rebuilding job is simply going very slowly. Their roster is dotted with marginal NHL players and youngsters who would probably benefit from more minor-league time. Their blue line was poor last season, and it could get even worse if Cam Fowler is traded. Anaheim could use improved contributions from its few veteran forwards, particularly Alex Killorn and Ryan Strome.
If teenage defensemen Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, and Tristan Luneau all establish themselves as NHL-caliber blueliners, the Ducks might undergo a metamorphosis. The Ducks are depending on all three of them to establish themselves as the defensive core of their future—and they do so with great promise and big expectations.
