Summer Coolers – Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks finally broke through in 2025-26, finishing third in the Pacific Division, returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018, and advancing to the second round. But after a summer filled with major departures and a massive $18 million offer sheet for Leo Carlsson that Anaheim was forced to match, Neil Smith and Vic Morren believe the Ducks may have taken a significant step backward. They examine the salary-cap consequences, the loss of several physical veteran defensemen, and why this could become an extremely difficult season for Joel Quenneville and General Manager Pat Verbeek.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[00:00:00] Anaheim comes off its best season in years, finishing third in the Pacific and making the playoffs for the first time since 2018. The Ducks defeat Edmonton in six games before losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in six.
[00:00:25] The offense makes a major jump, improving from 30th to 13th in the NHL. The defense, however, surprisingly falls from 22nd to 29th despite Joel Quenneville being behind the bench.
[00:00:45] Anaheim’s power play improves from 32nd to 23rd, while the penalty kill also takes a slight step forward. Even with those gains, the bigger story becomes everything that happened during the offseason.
[00:01:00] The biggest development is Philadelphia’s five-year, $18 million-per-season offer sheet to Leo Carlsson. Anaheim quickly matches it, keeping Carlsson but dramatically altering the organization’s salary structure.
[00:01:30] Neil describes the offer sheet as a “nuclear bomb” dropped into Anaheim’s locker room. He believes Pat Verbeek may have left himself vulnerable by allowing Carlsson to reach a point where another organization could make such an aggressive offer.
[00:02:00] Carlsson is being paid based largely on what Anaheim believes he can become rather than what he has already accomplished. That creates tremendous expectations for a young center the Ducks view as their future No. 1.
[00:02:25] The contract creates another immediate problem because Cutter Gauthier remains unsigned after a 40-goal season. With Carlsson making $18 million, Gauthier now has enormous leverage in his own negotiations.
[00:02:50] Anaheim is left with only about $9 million in cap space, making it difficult to maintain the kind of depth that helped the Ducks reach the playoffs a year ago.
[00:03:00] The Ducks also lose a significant amount of talent during the offseason. Defenseman Olen Zellweger is traded to Buffalo for Anton Wahlberg and a 2026 second-round pick.
[00:03:20] Mason McTavish is traded to St. Louis for two first-round picks, removing another important young forward from Anaheim’s developing core.
[00:03:35] John Carlson is traded to Carolina before eventually signing in Tampa Bay, while captain Radko Gudas leaves for Florida. Jacob Trouba also departs, further changing the identity of Anaheim’s blue line.
[00:03:55] Physical forwards Jeffrey Viel and Ross Johnston leave in free agency, along with bottom-six utility forward Jansen Harkins. Neil and Vic emphasize just how much toughness and experience has disappeared from the roster.
[00:04:15] Anaheim’s replacements include Nick Jensen from Ottawa, Jeff Malott from Los Angeles, Travis Mitchell from the Islanders, and goaltender Laurent Brossoit after he appeared in only one game for San Jose the previous season.
[00:04:35] The Ducks also re-sign young defensemen Ian Moore and Pavel Mintyukov, along with forward Tyson Hinds, giving the organization some promising internal pieces despite the departures.
[00:04:55] Neil believes the overall roster is simply weaker than the one that made the playoffs last season. Anaheim has lost too many important contributors without adding equivalent talent.
[00:05:10] The loss of Trouba and Gudas is particularly important because both defensemen brought intimidation and physical presence. Neil says opposing forwards knew exactly what awaited them when entering Anaheim’s defensive zone.
[00:05:30] Carlsson’s $18 million contract may also have consequences inside the dressing room. Neil explains how enormous salary disparities can affect teammates when one young player suddenly earns dramatically more than established players around him.
[00:05:55] The episode concludes with a pessimistic outlook for Anaheim. After seeing clear improvement entering last season, Neil does not see the same momentum this time around and does not believe the current Ducks roster is a playoff team.
