Derek Lee and Patrick Present give their predictions for the Ducks' 2024-25 season.

With the Ducks' 2024-25 season kicking off tonight, what better time to give our season predictions?

Top Goalscorer

Patrick: Mason McTavish - There will come a time in the not-too-distant future when we can automatically pencil Cutter Gauthier's name into this prediction category at the start of each season. Especially if he continues to develop chemistry with Leo Carlsson.

Several candidates wouldn't raise an eyebrow if they were to finish atop the Ducks roster in goals scored at the end of the season. Frank Vatrano, Troy Terry, Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson, and Trevor Zegras would all be terrific selections. 

However, I'm going to go with Mason McTavish. McTavish will enter the 2024-25 season as a pending RFA, playing alongside Trevor Zegras and as a member of the team's top powerplay unit in the bumper position. McTavish scored at a 25-goal pace last season and scored 78% of his goals at even strength. 

With new assistant coach Rich Clune's power play heavily focused on the triangle between Carlsson on the left flank, Terry at the goal line, and McTavish in the bumper, McTavish's production could skyrocket with the man advantage.

I'm predicting 33 goals from McTavish in 2024-25.

Derek: McTavish - I too am going with McTavish. If not for a couple of nagging injuries, he would have easily surpassed the 20-goal mark and could have made a run at a 25-goal season as well. He's set up in a prime position alongside facilitating extraordinaire Trevor Zegras and has a spot on the Ducks' top power play––he's been working a lot on his hand-eye for deflections and tips.

Much is made about how lethal Cutter Gauthier's shot is, but McTavish's isn't too far behind. It's not out of the question to expect northwards of 25 goals for the 21-year-old this season.

Points Leader (Forwards)

Patrick: Leo Carlsson - This is another category where I'm predicting a close race between Terry, Zegras, and Carlsson. My initial instinct was to predict Zegras, but he's starting the season on the (perceived) second power play unit, which could limit his production early in the year. Ultimately, I landed on Carlsson. 

We've only been able to see him in pre-season and practice, but the flashes of brilliant dominance we saw from Carlsson in his rookie season are evolving into full-blown spotlights. 

He's noticeably more explosive with improved four-way mobility, and his spatial awareness has improved dramatically as he seems fully adjusted to North American ice. Barring health (as always) and if his line with Gauthier and Alex Killorn remains intact, Carlsson could catapult to stardom in his sophomore year as he is expected to play big minutes in all situations.

I'm predicting a breakout 71-point performance from Leo Carlsson.

Derek: Troy Terry - Is this the season where Troy Terry returns to his 2021-22 form when he had 67 points? I think so, although more of his points should come from assists rather than goals this season. Manning the netfront role on the top power play unit, Terry will likely be used as a facilitator to help find holes for Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier––who are likely to be the two triggermen on that unit.

At even strength, Terry will begin the season on a line with Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome. While Strome is more of a playmaker, Vatrano has always shown he can put the puck in the back of the net––and did so to the tune of 37 goals last season. Terry already showcased his passing ability in the final preseason game, hitting Vatrano for a one-timer goal off an odd-man rush.

Let's go with 76 points for Terry.

Points Leader (Defensemen)

Patrick: Pavel Mintyukov - There are four offensively gifted young defensemen hungry for the most minutes they can consume starting the season on the Ducks roster: Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger, Jackson LaCombe, and Tristan Luneau. 

LaCombe and Mintyukov will patrol the blueline on the first and second power play units, respectively, to open the season. 

Veteran Cam Fowler has held this title for the past five seasons in Anaheim, but I'm predicting Mintyukov will just edge out LaCombe and Zellweger to take the crown.

Like Carlsson, Mintyukov has drastically improved his skating from his rookie season in 2023-24. He is a fearless surgeon with his approach to breaking down defensive structures from anywhere in the offensive zone and has a knack for killing plays in the neutral zone to ignite rush chances the other way.

I'm predicting 41 points from Pavel Mintyukov in 2024-25.

Derek: Mintyukov - If not for a bone bruise that caused him to miss the final month of the season, Mintyukov would have hit the 30-point mark and likely would have hit 40 points as well. He is a dynamic skater and puck mover, capable of killing plays at one end and creating offense in the other. While he won't be on the top power play unit to start the season, he's still more than capable of picking up points on the man advantage alongside Trevor Zegras.

I'm going with 43 points for Mintyukov this season.

Wins Leader

Patrick: Lukáš Dostál - After undergoing emergency appendectomy surgery, veteran netminder John Gibson may be behind the eight-ball on this one. Lukas Dostal was already primed for an increased role as the net was expected to be divided somewhat evenly for the 2024-25 season.

Gibson was given a timeline for return set for one to four weeks, meaning he could miss anywhere from roughly two to ten games. 

As a rookie in 2023-24, Dostal started 38 games and won 14 of them. I'm predicting he'll win 23 of 45 starts in his sophomore campaign.

Derek: Dostál - Lukáš Dostál will get a head start in this department while John Gibson continues to recover from his appendectomy. It was a big summer for Dostál, who helped lead Czechia to a gold medal at the World Championships in their home country.

Dostál has looked every bit as good in preseason as he did during Worlds and he could help the Ducks steal a handful of games throughout the season.

25 wins for Dostál is my prediction.

Best U23 Player

Patrick: Leo Carlsson - This is another category with several quality candidates, but Leo Carlsson is simply special. 

Pat Verbeek often describes 2024 third-overall pick Beckett Senneke as a player who can play any style of game: speed, skill, physical, rush, cycle, etc. The same can be said about Carlsson, but with a higher 200-foot ceiling. 

Carlsson will likely be overshadowed by national media throughout his career by other players from his age group in larger hockey markets like Connor Bedard in Chicago, Matvei Michkov in Philadelphia, or Macklin Celebrini in San Jose, but he will be every bit as important to the long-term success of the Ducks' franchise.

Derek: Carlsson - With all due respect to the young players on the Ducks, there is no doubt in my mind that Leo Carlsson––who is freed from his load management plan––will be the best U23 player on the team, barring injury, of course.

It was clear from the jump that Carlsson had unique abilities that allowed him to create with ease. He's no slouch when it comes to forechecking either, even at such a young age. Like many of the players on this prediction list, he also has a spot on the Ducks' top power play unit. As the Ducks' top-line center, he will have every opportunity to become a star.

Where will the Ducks finish in the Pacific?

Patrick: Aside from Edmonton at the top, the Pacific division seems as unpredictable in 2024-25 as it's ever been. Every team has its fair share of notable question marks: the Vegas Golden Knights and their depth/health issues, the Vancouver Canucks goaltending unpredictability, how the Los Angeles Kings will fare without Drew Doughty for an extended period, etc.

Like many, I'm predicting the Sharks will improve, but not by enough to finish higher than eighth in the division standings. I'm also buying into the Flames' rapid decline. I think Seattle improved enough this offseason to ward off ideas of a rebuild and will finish between third and fifth in the Pacific.

I'm predicting the Ducks will finish sixth in the Pacific division with a total of 74 points in the standings, a 15-point improvement on their total from 2023-24.

Derek: Although their team has improved on paper from last season, the Sharks will likely finish last in the division again. The recent news of Macklin Celebrini's injury should also aid that. A lot of the Flames' season will hinge on their goaltending, which is noticeably worse after Jacob Markstrom was traded to New Jersey.

A sixth-place finish might sound pretty bad, but with how top-heavy the Pacific is, reaching the 75-point mark would be a major positive for Anaheim, and sixth is likely where they would fall with that total.

Boldest Prediction

Patrick: As I mentioned before, Leo Carlsson may get overshadowed by some of his peers throughout his career. He's a truly special player, the best prospect the Ducks have ever had, and his overall impact may be on par (if not greater) than some of the aforementioned players. However, playing in a smaller West Coast market will naturally limit his visibility and recognition, especially if his point totals don't rival his counterparts.

A similar narrative can be written about Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov. Barkov, a special player in his own right, plays a less sexy brand of hockey for a (traditionally) small-market team in an era with peers like Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, and Connor McDavid.

The way Barkov is annually recognized for his consistent dominance is with Selke Trophy consideration from the PHWA, as he won his career second in 2024. 

Given their on-ice impacts and the teams they play for, Carlsson could have a similar career trajectory as Barkov.

I'm predicting Carlsson will earn his first Selke Trophy consideration and finish top-10 in voting.

Derek: It could be easy to go with something like "Cutter Gauthier will score 40 goals in his rookie season", but that's not exactly the boldest prediction that can be made, is it?

The Ducks have produced terrific goaltenders for the past decade with players like Frederik Andersen, John Gibson and now Lukáš Dostál between the pipes. The stage is set for Dostál to capitalize off his Worlds performance and the solid showings he had in his first full NHL season as well.

Backed by Dostal's performances (with some help from Gibson), the Ducks will squeak into the playoffs via the Wild Card in the final week of the season, earning Dostál consideration for the Vezina.