{"time":1785931749637,"blocks":[{"id":"iLxXipGksc","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Anaheim Ducks had all the pieces to be a solid young team for the future, but breaking through during the 2025-26 season seemed like a bit of a stretch. It was Joel Quenneville's first season behind the bench, Beckett Sennecke was going to be playing massive minutes as a rookie, and the blueline, while filled with plenty of potential, was still a bit green for most experts' liking. "}},{"id":"oDgDudE6a4","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Ducks blew all expectations out of the water during the 2025-26 season, finishing with 92 points and then pulling off an upset over the Edmonton Oilers in six games in the first round. Their run came to a halt against the eventual Stanley Cup runner-up Vegas Golden Knights in the second round, but the growth they showed in just one season was a great sign for the future. "}},{"id":"msg0qb5c","type":"video","data":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/0eca4fdd-67c0-4cf3-835c-5117b6317b18/mp4","caption":"","autoplay":false,"controls":true,"muted":false,"stretched":true,"width":0,"height":0,"image":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/0eca4fdd-67c0-4cf3-835c-5117b6317b18/thumbnail"},"cdn":{"videoId":"0eca4fdd-67c0-4cf3-835c-5117b6317b18","libraryId":"372172","collectionId":"30032062-eefd-4041-a355-12ad05bc987b","cdnBaseUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net","mp4Url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/0eca4fdd-67c0-4cf3-835c-5117b6317b18/mp4","thumbnailUrl":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/0eca4fdd-67c0-4cf3-835c-5117b6317b18/thumbnail","previewAnimationUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net/0eca4fdd-67c0-4cf3-835c-5117b6317b18/preview.webp"}}},{"id":"pj3th_rKBj","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Anaheim seems like it can be a force in the Western Conference for the foreseeable future, but are they a team to buy low on this season? Let's take a look at a couple of future bets for the Ducks as we march toward the 2026-27 season. "}},{"id":"zRCufx-_dk","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Hockey is a difficult sport to predict, so please gamble responsibly. "}},{"id":"ozBz7DmuPB","type":"header","data":{"text":"Anaheim Ducks Regular Season Points - Under 95.5","level":1,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"P-JvPMnGUA","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"It'd be easy to say that the Ducks will see a steady upward trajectory after their success last season, but that isn't always the case. Quenneville's squad finished with 92 points last season, and two extra wins under the new 84-game regular season would've gotten them over this mark, but Anaheim isn't a better team this season as their roster currently stands. "}},{"id":"kIH3M7zZYo","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"There is still some time for Pat Verbeek to upgrade, but one glaring weakness compared to last year is their defense. Olen Zellweger, Radko Gudas, John Carlson, and Jacob Trouba are all defensemen who won't return this season, which leaves the Ducks with a projected lineup that includes rookie Tristan Luneau on their first pair and a third pair of Tyson Hinds and Nick Jensen. While the blueline was a steadying force last season with their three veterans on the right side and Jackson Lacombe, they might not have the same luxury this season. "}},{"id":"SYmA1j6oeg","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Ducks will also have to deal with the loss of Mason McTavish, who didn't play his best last season but was still a big part of the team. With AJ Greer as their biggest acquisition up front, it's difficult to see this roster as currently constructed being better than last season. Add in the San Jose Sharks steadily improving and the rest of the Pacific Division not taking a step back, and it could be tough sledding for Anaheim this season. "}},{"id":"bPfUjulpvq","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Betting line is from BetMGM Sportsbook and is subject to change. "}},{"id":"emMqVLqWDC","type":"header","data":{"text":"Cutter Gauthier Over 35.5 Goals","level":1,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"PAHJeE_u7I","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Cutter Gauthier had a breakout sophomore season, showcasing his goal-scoring prowess by tallying 41 goals and staying in the race for the Rocket Richard Trophy for much of the season. He finished his breakout year with 12 points in 12 playoff games, an impressive feat for a second-year player in his first-ever NHL postseason. "}},{"id":"bZRFrfv2mQ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Ducks' defensive depth is going to get tested this season, and as we saw last season, they aren't afraid to get into a shootout to help offset some of those deficiencies. If Anaheim adopts that style again this season, we'll see another year of high-event hockey in Orange County, which should boost the point totals of their top six forwards. If Gauthier reached 41 goals last season, 35 seems like a good bet given what Anaheim will expect from him. "}},{"id":"e6Iu4VfZmK","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"One thing to monitor is that Gauthier doesn't have a contract signed yet after Anaheim's massive deal to Leo Carlsson. Some questions remain about Gauthier's ask and whether the Ducks are willing to pay it, and some of the player's off-ice negotiations in the past would lead me to believe that he isn't afraid of a holdout. If the forward is signed before training camp, then it will be a non-issue, but if these negotiations bleed into September, we can start to worry about this bet. "}},{"id":"b1OVaLX3ph","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Betting line is from Fanduel Sportsbook and is subject to change. "}}],"version":"2.31.6"}

Nate Duffett

NateDuffett@THNN

THN Betting

Best 2026-27 Future Bets for the Boston Bruins

Best 2026-27 Future Bets for the Anaheim Ducks