Ducks News: Anaheim Maintains Depth, Extends Young Goalie For Two Years

Anaheim keeps some depth at the position!

The Anaheim Ducks entered the offseason determined to improve the roster from a year ago when they finished with the worst record in the NHL. So far, they have done that, but they have also done a decent job at retaining some depth pieces in case of injury or poor play.

One of their most recent signings was keeping goaltender Lukas Dostal around for another two years. They agreed to an extension with their former third-round selection, and he gives them an option for a backup goalie. 

With the Ducks unsure about the status of long-term goalie John Gibson, this move was big for them. He gives them some insurance at the position, just in case Gibson is traded or refuses to play this coming season. 

Dostal played in 19 games last season for Anaheim, starting 17 of them. He went 4-10-3 with a 3.78 goals against average and a .901 save percentage. It was a career-high for the young player in terms of playing time, starts, and wins. 

He will be on a two-way deal this coming season, allowing the Ducks the option to have him play in San Diego with the Gulls or have him with the NHL team. But in 2024-2025, his deal is for the NHL only. So Dostal will look to use this next season to hone in on his game and prepare himself for his full NHL season. If he can produce, he could eventually become a major part of the Duck's future goaltending plans. 

This move seems small, but it gives them depth and options. That is important when building a team, so this move signals that the organization is thinking more long-term than anything.