The Ducks are looking to climb from irrelevance in 2024-25, but a consequential offseason awaits. What are the biggest questions facing the franchise at this key juncture?
The Ducks are looking to climb from irrelevance in 2024-25, but a consequential offseason awaits. What are the biggest questions facing the franchise at this key juncture?
The Ducks have missed the playoffs for six consecutive seasons. After those seasons, they selected in the top 10 of each subsequent NHL Entry Draft. Five of those top picks (or the player they were traded for in the case of Jamie Drysdale for Cutter Gauthier) are set to hold significant roles for the Ducks in 2024-25.
The pieces are in place. The Ducks possess the third overall selection in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft on June 28, so another key piece isn't too far away.
Anaheim General Manager Pat Verbeek has stated his desire to take steps toward a playoff race and remain there deep into the 2024-25 season.
"I feel really comfortable where our organization is from a depth standpoint and I feel comfortable with the progress that our young players have made," Verbeek stated during his exit interview. "I want to start to make a push, a strong push to where we're competing and we're in the conversation and making the playoffs next year."
The Ducks are a team set to deploy at least two rookies and five sophomores in their nightly lineup. For a team that finished 30th in league standings, goals for, and goals against, a playoff push seems like a tall order.
Several key decisions must be made during the offseason of 2024 and several things need to break in the Ducks' favor if they want to be competitive in the upcoming 2024-25 season.
Here are the five largest questions looming over the Ducks franchise in the offseason of 2024:
What's the focus at the draft?
The NHL Entry Draft will take place on June 28 and 29 in Las Vegas. The Ducks hold nine picks throughout the seven rounds; two first-round picks, two second-round picks, three third-round picks, a fourth-round pick, and a sixth-round pick.
Dark Horse Anaheim Ducks Draft Target: Southern California Native, Zeev Buium
Anaheim Ducks 2024 Draft Target: Sam Dickinson
Anaheim Ducks 2024 Draft Target: Anton Silayev
Anaheim Ducks 2024 Draft Target: Ivan Demidov
Anaheim Ducks 2024 Draft Target: Artyom Levshunov
Anaheim Ducks 2024 Draft Target: Cayden Lindstrom
In each of his first two seasons as General Manager of the Anaheim Ducks, Pat Verbeek has executed a specific strategy when it comes to the NHL Entry Draft.
In 2022, there seemed to be a mandate to solidify the pipeline defensively. Pavel Mintyukov (10th overall), Noah Warren (42nd overall), and Tristan Luneau (53rd overall) were drafted in the early rounds to bolster the blueline while Nathan Gaucher (22nd overall) was drafted as a high-motor two-way center.
In 2023, the focus for Verbeek at the draft seemed to be centered around drafting Leo Carlsson (2nd overall) and forwards with specific complementary skillsets. Nico Myatovic (33rd overall), Carey Terrance (59th overall), and Coulson Pitre (65th overall) all profile as high-motor, forechecking forwards who are sound defensively and can thrive and finish in tight areas of the ice.
Few things are known about Pat Verbeek's thought process, but a few aspects can be gathered; the Ducks disregard consensus rankings by taking whoever they value at any point in the draft and they like to come away from the draft having selected a goaltender.
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This draft is considerably "up in the air" after the first (and possibly second) overall selection(s). Names like Cayden Lindstrom (F), Ivan Demidov (F), and Zeev Buium (D) are the ones most consistently ranked in the top five after Macklin Celebrini and Artyom Levshunov.
Grant McCagg from recrutes.ca has stated the Ducks like Beckett Sennecke and Carter Yakemchuk as well.
One shouldn't be shocked if one player from a sizable list of players is selected by the Anaheim Ducks at third overall.
Will Pat Verbeek stick to his summer shopping list?
Pat Verbeek has stated at the Anaheim Ducks' "Ducks Migration" event for season ticket holders his desire to add a "top-six right-shot" winger. He also added during his exit interview his want for a "top-four right-shot" defenseman and more "grit and speed" to the bottom half of the forward lineup.
Seemingly every team in the NHL is looking to bolster their blueline and top six forward groups this offseason.
Some of the top forwards fitting Verbeek's top-six description who are set to hit free agency are Sam Reinhart (28), Steven Stamkos (34), and Jonathan Marchessault (33).
Ducks Potential Free Agent Target: Brett Pesce
Top defensemen matching his top-four description include Brandon Montour (30), Dillon DeMelo (31), and Matt Roy (29).
A few "speed and grit" forward candidates include Jordan Martinook (31), Yakov Trenin (27), and Warren Foegele (28).
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With several teams seemingly shopping in the same areas on July 1, one wonders how much Verbeek values handedness and if he'd be willing to bend when the time comes to negotiate.
Will the Ducks have to overpay for a "big fish" in free agency and by how much?
The Anaheim Ducks have dwelled in the basement of the NHL standings for the last six seasons. In the last two seasons, they've prioritized acquiring veteran talent to relieve the burden off young players and establish a culture as the team transitions from "rebuild" to "build."
The cost to bring that talent to Anaheim hasn't been cheap for the Ducks. Frank Vatrano (three years, $3.65 million AAV) and Ryan Strome (five years, $5 million AAV) were signed in the summer of 2022. Radko Gudas (three years, $4 million AAV) and Alex Killorn (four years, $6.25 million) were signed in 2023. All four players are now significant pieces to the team's identity both on the ice and in the locker room, but they likely came at a cost over market value.
The Ducks now seem to be ready to turn the corner and Pat Verbeek has stated his hope to be "in the conversation for making the playoffs next year."
Will Verbeek still have to "overpay" to bring in one of free agency's marquee players mentioned in the last segment, or will some see the Ducks situation as more attractive because they will be jumping on the elevator at the ground floor?
California's state income tax rate will always be a factor when attempting to persuade free agents to sign in Anaheim, so some form of overpayment will be likely baked into the AAVs.
Is Verbeek enticed enough by the top tier of UFAs this summer to extend one or two of them a big contract or would he settle for players in the second tier? We'll soon know the answer.
Is it time for the Ducks to make a significant trade?
With the Ducks seemingly on the verge of cracking open their contending window and several star-level talents possibly on the trade block this summer, the Ducks may want to take a swing at one of them.
The Anaheim Ducks have what's widely considered one of the NHL's top prospect pools, nine picks in the 2024 draft, and eight picks in the 2025 draft. They have the chips necessary and enticing enough to make a significant trade possible.
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Members of the current roster like Leo Carlsson (19), Pavel Mintyukov (20), Cutter Gauthier (20), Mason McTavish (21), Trevor Zegras (23), and Lukas Dostal (23), the likely core of the team when they are contending and making deep playoff runs, are already assuming impactful roles at the NHL level.
What a Martin Necas Trade to the Ducks Could Look Like
A trade to bring in consequential talent to elevate and assist the future core meet their potential could benefit the Ducks in the short and long term.
What a Patrik Laine Trade to the Ducks Could Look Like
Mitch Marner (27), Martin Necas (25), Nicolaj Ehlers (28), and Patrik Laine (26) are all subjects of rumor and trade speculation who could be on the move before the start of the season. There are reasons each makes sense for the Ducks to inquire about.
When will the Ducks rebrand be revealed?
Potentially the biggest question surrounding the Ducks has nothing to do with the players on the ice, but rather what they'll be wearing.
Chris Smith of Icethetics confirmed the Ducks will have new uniforms for the 2024-25 season and beyond.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jxr9GcAxhCo[/embed]
A revamped and modernized logo will be front and center on a brand new jersey in a brand new (to the Ducks) shade of orange.
Monday, the Ducks posted a teaser image to their various social media accounts and a few more teases came in their promotional video for their "Summer Flock Party" event set to take place on June 30.
Many Ducks fans have been clamoring for a rebrand and return to one of the most iconic logos in professional sports. It appears their wish will be granted in the next two weeks.
Mighty Rebrand coming soon for the Ducks?
The only question remains is if the full reveal will happen prior to the NHL Draft on June 28 so their third overall pick would be the first to don the brand new look.
The young core of the team will have this new look as their identity and will be afforded the oportunity to make it their own and have it as a part of their legacy like Ducks legends of old.
The 2024 offseason is one of the most important offseasons in the history of the Anaheim Ducks both in terms of the roster's future and identity of the brand.
Be sure to follow THN.com/anaheim for news and coverage every step of the way.
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