Sportsnet recently released a graphic of active NHL players who've played the most regular season games without making the playoffs. It was slightly surprising to see the Anaheim Ducks' Troy Terry on that list.
Sportsnet recently released a graphic of active NHL players who've played the most regular season games without making the playoffs. It was slightly surprising to see the Anaheim Ducks' Troy Terry on that list.
In the not-too-distant past, Troy Terry was considered a cornerstone piece to a young core in Anaheim that could keep the Ducks competitive as they transitioned into a new era of the franchise.
A core that included Terry, Nick Ritchie (10th overall in 2014), Jacob Larsson (27th in '15), Max Jones (24th in '16), Sam Steel (30th in '16), and Maxime Comtois (50th in '17) was set to become the next wave of impact players in Anaheim after productive seasons at lower levels.
For various reasons, most of that core didn't realize their full potential. Only Terry remains a member of the Ducks organization, and their competitive window came to an abrupt halt.
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Seemingly in a flash, Terry (26) is now six seasons into his NHL career and after an elongated rebuild period in Anaheim, is now among the league leaders in career games played without a playoff appearance (350).
There's still a considerable gap between Terry, who sits in eighth place, and the top of a list that includes Jeff Skinner (1006), Rasmus Ristolainen (713), and Zemgus Girgensons (688), but it remains surprising to see his name on the list nonetheless.
Before beginning his professional career, Terry won at every level in which he played. He won a U18 gold medal in his draft year (2015), a World Junior Championship gold medal in 2017, and an NCAA championship with Denver University in 2017. He represented the United States at the 2018 Olympic Games in Gangneung, South Korea before starting his professional career at the end of the 2017-18 season.
After two successful seasons playing in the AHL for the San Diego Gulls, scoring 57 points in 55 games, and one season as a full-time NHL player in the Covid-shortened 2020-21 season, Terry broke out during the 2021-22 season, scoring 37 goals and 67 points in 75 games, earning his first of two All-Star selections.
Terry will be 27 years old when the first puck drops in the 2024-25 season. There's now a new core in Anaheim constructed for a far more substantial and sustainable period of success, a core that includes Trevor Zegras (9th overall in 2019), Mason McTavish (3rd in '21), Cutter Gauthier (5th in '22), Pavel Mintyukov (10th in '22), and Leo Carlsson (2nd in '23) among others like Olen Zellweger, Tristan Luneau, and Beckett Sennecke.
"I was fortunate to play with Leo (Carlsson) on his line and got to play on the power play with (Olen Zellweger) and (Pavel Mintyukov)," Terry said during his exit interview. "Every day you see their ability and I don’t think I figured it out in the NHL until I was 23 or something. It’s a hard league and to see what some of those guys are doing at such a young age is impressive and exciting for all of us. A lot of them are elite NHL players already and I don’t think they’re at their ceiling or even close to it.”
Terry welcomes the opportunity to assume more of a leadership role within the locker room in Anaheim. He'll likely act as a bridge between the young dynamic core of the team and the veterans in the room like John Gibson (31), Cam Fowler (32), Ryan Strome (31), etc.
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“It’s something I’ve wanted and a role I’ve wanted to be in since I was in college and now in pro hockey. Being a leader is always easier when you’re winning and it’s hard when you’re losing," Terry said when asked about his role as a leader moving forward. "Trying to make sure I can be there for the young guys in the way some of the older guys like (Ryan Getzlaf), Cam (Fowler), and those guys were for me when I was coming into the league. The part of leadership I’ve always been good at is the positive reinforcement, and like my game on the ice, working on my all-around leadership ability. It’s something where I’ve read books and listened to podcasts. It’s something I’m excited about.”
Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek and head coach Greg Cronin have each stated their desire and intention to name a captain for the 2024-25 season and moving forward. Terry's name is likely on a short list of candidates for the honor.
Troy Terry has had to adjust and readjust at every level in his hockey career. He's not blessed with elite size or speed but has studied how to make himself as effective on the ice as he can with a blend of vision, puck skills, and instinct.
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A relative down-year for Terry in 2023-24, in which he scored just 54 points in 76 games will likely lead to more tweaks and adjustments as he solidifies a role within the Ducks on and off the ice into the future.
While he's yet to see playoff action to this point in his career, the hope in Anaheim is those days of missing the playoffs are dwindling and won't return for a long, long time.
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