Young core, raised expectations
The Anaheim Ducks arrive at training camp with heightened expectations after their first playoff series victory since 2017 and a return to the postseason in 2025-26. The club finished the regular season 43-33-6, placed third in the Pacific Division and defeated the favored Edmonton Oilers in six games before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round in six games.
That run gave the Ducks both tangible postseason experience and a renewed sense of direction for a roster built around youth. Management and players are positioning that momentum as the starting point rather than the destination.
Players at the center of the plan
Several young players who posted career highs in 2025-26 are expected to be central pieces going forward. Defenseman Jackson LaCombe and forwards Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and rookie Beckett Sennecke each advanced their roles over the past season, providing a mix of two-way defense, playmaking and goal-scoring potential.
"It was definitely an awesome year," LaCombe said. "I think our team had some ups and downs to grow and learn. We have such a young core that I think those things are important for us to do and to understand moving forward, but overall we had such a blast, especially when the playoffs came around."
LaCombe’s comment underscores a recurring theme inside the organization: growth through adversity. The club's youth was both a challenge and an asset during the season, producing inconsistency at times but also allowing for rapid development that paid dividends in the playoffs.
Contract decisions underscore Carlsson's role
Much of the offseason attention centered on Carlsson, the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft. The forward received a five-year, $90 million offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers with an $18 million average annual value on July 3; Anaheim matched that offer on July 9 to keep him in Orange County. General manager Pat Verbeek framed the decision as continuity with the club's long-term plan.
"I think from the day that we drafted him, we viewed him as a cornerstone piece of our rebuild, and that hasn't changed," Verbeek said.
Matching the offer sheet signals that management views Carlsson as a franchise-building player and is prepared to allocate significant cap resources to anchor the roster around their young nucleus.
Coaching and next steps
Coach Joel Quenneville completed his first season behind the Ducks' bench and is credited with contributing to the turnaround. Players cited his influence on team identity and competitiveness, traits Anaheim hopes will persist into the coming season.
Practically, the club must convert last season’s progress into greater consistency and roster depth to withstand the rigors of a full NHL campaign. Key local consequences include:
- Increased expectations at Honda Center, where playoff-caliber performance will be measured against last season’s benchmark.
- Salary-cap decisions — exemplified by matching Carlsson’s offer — shaping roster construction and free-agent flexibility.
- Development timelines for younger prospects who will be expected to accelerate their readiness to help sustain competitiveness.
Quick reference: 2025-26 snapshot
| Category | Result |
|---|---|
| Regular season record | 43-33-6 |
| Division place | 3rd, Pacific |
| Playoff performance | Defeated Edmonton Oilers (First Round, 4-2); lost to Vegas Golden Knights (Second Round, 4-2) |
| Major offseason move | Matched Carlsson’s five-year, $90 million offer sheet |
The Ducks’ progress is now a visible storyline for Anaheim sports fans. The immediate test is converting the youthful upside into sustained results, a process that will be closely watched at training camp and through the opening months of the NHL season.
