High praise for the Ducks.
Over the last few seasons, the Anaheim Ducks have struggled to put any consistency out on the ice. It has resulted in the team missing the postseason multiple years and even saw them clinch the worst record in the NHL last season.
However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The team has started stockpiling assets and young players, giving them one of the best future cores in the game today.
NHL expert Corey Pronman of The Athletic likes the future of the Ducks so much that they ranked Anaheim as the top pipeline unit in the league. With all the talent within the NHL, this is exceptionally high praise for the Ducks organization.
"Anaheim has put together a young foundation that has the potential to be a Stanley Cup contender. They have a plethora of high-end talent at center and defense, which is typically how you build winners. They have skill, size and compete throughout their pipeline led by high picks Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson and Jamie Drysdale, among others."
The Ducks have drafted very well lately, led by General Manager Pat Verbeek. Verbeek is determined to build a sustainable winner in Anaheim and has taken notes from his time in Tampa Bay. He helped build the Lightning into the powerhouse that they are today, so he seems to be on the right path.
The team has an incredibly bright future ahead of them. They just hired a new coach, Greg Cronin, to lead the charge, and he is known for maximizing his players' abilities.
The Ducks likely won't be a playoff team this coming season, but they should be improved. They certainly shouldn't be bottom dwellers anymore, and the dark days in Anaheim may be coming to an end.