The Anaheim Ducks are near the bottom of the overall standings, just above the Chicago Blackhawks, after a surprisingly strong start to the season.
The Ducks start a four-game road trip on Wednesday, December 13, against the New York Islanders, with the third-worst points percentage (.370) in the league. The general manager of the Ducks, Pat Verbeek, will likely become a seller once more as a result of the team’s difficulties because some key players have recently been traded away.
Will Zegras Get Squeezed Out Due to Influx of Young Centers?
Because of the team’s exceptional center talent, Eric Duhatschek of The Athletic suggested Trevor Zegras, who hasn’t played since Nov. 7 against the Pittsburgh Penguins due to a lower-body injury (from “Will the NHL skip the Olympics (again)? Plus, Kane’s possible impact, 2 tire-fire teams: Duhatschek notebook, The Athletic, Dec. 8, 2023).
Despite only making 19 appearances this season, Leo Carlsson has been a bright spot for the Ducks, largely because of the team’s strength and development strategy. His 13 points are tied for fifth on the Ducks, and his eight goals are tied for third among rookies. Troy Terry, who has participated in eight more games than Carlsson, is only two points behind him. In the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Carlsson was selected by the Ducks second overall in the hopes of making him their starting center. Despite the small sample size, he has demonstrated that he is more than capable of carrying out that role.
Mason McTavish has made progress in 2023–24 after a strong rookie campaign the previous season. He has been recuperating from an injury of his own lately. After 24 games this season, McTavish is second on the Ducks in goals (10) and points (21). In terms of even-strength points (14), shorthanded points (one), and game-winning goals (three), he is also tied for the team lead. McTavish looks ready to lead the team in the future as he has adapted well to his role as a second-line pivot.
Duhatschek also mentioned that another highly skilled center could be added to the mix if the Ducks select Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. In the event that the Ducks are able to obtain a top-three pick, they may also be able to select left wing Cole Eiserman and versatile right wing Ivan Demidov. Naturally, there’s no assurance that will occur. Not to mention, the organization’s unlucky results in previous draft lotteries, particularly in 2005 and 2023, show that nothing is guaranteed.
But what does that mean for Zegras? On October 2, the Ducks signed him to a $17.25 million, three-year contract. Although the bridge deal has a lot of room to grow, things have not been going well for him in 2023–2024. Zegras has only managed one goal and one assist in 12 games, but there is still plenty of time for him to improve. The Ducks shouldn’t be in a hurry to move him, but a trade might be something they look into later. Zegras was playing on the wing before he was injured, and there isn’t much depth at that position on the roster already, so adding more centers might not have a big influence on the team’s decision regarding his future. It will probably simply come down to results and his ability to push the play in the offensive end.
Devils May Serve as Gibson and/or Lyubushkin’s Landing Site
Throughout his previous nine starts, John Gibson has only managed one victory, which came on December 1st against the Colorado Avalanche in a 34-save effort. Despite this, he has kept six of those games with a save percentage (SV%) of at least.900, and in those seven games, he has given up three goals or fewer. The 30-year-old goalie has performed admirably in spite of the team’s difficulties, which has been a regular occurrence for him in recent seasons.
The New Jersey Devils are in dire need of a change of pace in the crease. With 17 games played this season, Vitek Vanecek has a 3.49 goals-against average (GAA) and an.879 SV%. In his ten victories in 2023–24, he has produced a frustrating.892 SV% and a dismal 3.04 GAA. Not much better, Akira Schmid has a 4-6-1 record in 12 games played with a.901 SV% and a 3.03 GAA.
Sadly, Gibson’s $6.4 million cap hit for the 2026–2027 season may prove to be a significant obstacle. The Devils are short on cap space, but if they can move star blueliner Dougie Hamilton to Long-Term Injured Reserve—where he will be out indefinitely due to a torn left pectoral muscle—they may be able to work out a deal. Complicating matters is the fact that it’s unclear exactly when he will return. A 10-team no-trade list would also need to be approved for Gibson’s destination, which would be the Devils. According to Eric Stephens of The Athletic (from “John Gibson could draw trade interest — and if he moves, would a Ducks-Devils deal make sense?, The Athletic, Dec. 7, 2023), the Ducks won’t move Gibson for a discount nor do they need to dump his salary. Having said that, the Ducks would probably be open to retaining salary in any deal because they have the flexibility to do so, but that would likely make the swap more expensive for the Devils.
Stephens said the Devils might rather tackle the defense group and find a less expensive solution between the pipes. According to Ryan Novozinsky of NJ.com (from “6 Devils trade targets to consider as injuries mount, backend struggles continue,” NJ.com, Dec. 5, 2023), that’s where Ilya Lyubushkin might come into the discussion. Lyubushkin could bring much-needed physicality to the Devils. The Devils ought to be intrigued by his $2.75 million cap hit and acquisition cost as well, but unless Hamilton’s circumstances improve, they might require assistance from the Ducks to pull it off.
Ducks Bring Up Hagg and Lend Luneau to Canada’s National Junior Team
On Sunday, Nov. 10, Tristan Luneau was loaned to the Team Canada 2024 World Junior Championship selection camp. In response, the Ducks called up Robert Hagg from the American Hockey League’s San Diego Gulls. Hagg will be the Ducks’ depth option, but if Jamie Drysdale is able to make a comeback during the team’s four-game road trip, he may be sent back to the minor leagues. After being sidelined since October 15 against the Carolina Hurricanes due to a lower-body injury, the 21-year-old Drysdale will give the Ducks a significant boost as soon as he is fit to play.
Ducks’ Prospect Port Named to Czechia’s WJC Roster
On Tuesday, December 12, Vojtech Port was selected for the Czech Republic’s 2024 World Junior team. In 26 games this season, he has three goals and twelve points for the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings. The Ducks selected the 18-year-old rearguard in the sixth round (2023) (161st overall).
Focusing on Development and Trades
Five current Ducks prospects, including Canadian blueliners Luneau and Noah Warren, American forward Carey Terrance, Swiss defender Rodwin Dionicio, and forward Port, could play in the 2024 World Juniors. Verbeek and the team’s executives will surely be monitoring the competition since it’s an excellent scouting opportunity and a useful tool for development. The development of the team’s youthful core is still the most crucial factor in this season, but making the right trades should also be of the utmost importance.