Lukas Dostal addresses the media following the Ducks' 5-2 win over the Predators The Anaheim Ducks have some of the worst special teams in the NHL. Their power play converts at a 12.2% clip (31st in the NHL), and their penalty kill has a 74.3% (27th in the NHL) success rate. The fact that the team is just one game below .500 is a miracle in and of itself. The Ducks hired Brent Thompson to run their defense and penalty kill on July 11, 2023, just over a month after hiring new head coach Greg Cronin. The Outlook of the Anaheim Ducks Penalty Kill [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/players/the-outlook-of-the-anaheim-ducks-penalty-kill] Before coming to Anaheim, Thompson held the role as head coach of the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers/Islanders between 2014 and 2023, the New York Islanders' affiliate. TO DATE In his first year running the Ducks' penalty kill, they killed 239 of the 330 opposing power plays they faced (72.4%), good enough for 31st in the NHL and were the league's most penalized team since the 2009-10 St. Louis Blues. The 2024-25 iteration of the Ducks have taken far fewer penalties, over one less per game, but the PK has only seen a 1.9% improvement. Game #54: Ducks vs. Kings Gameday Preview [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/game-day/ducks-gameday-preview-02-08-25] Like Rich Clune with the power play, Thompson has made minor adjustments to the penalty kill system as the season has progressed in search of one that will provide him with success. At the beginning of the year, the PK structure was passive at the defensive blueline, but would pressure after entry to force pucks off attackers and set up in a compact diamond to keep passes to the perimeter. Of late, they've pressured heavier at the blueline, forcing dump-ins and pressuring heavier to the walls. They've been exploited at various times with lateral cross-crease passes against an outnumbered defender at the bottom of the diamond. The Ducks have killed 17 of their last 20 penalties (85%) over their last eight games, so it would appear they've turned things around of late. LOOKING AHEAD The evolution of penalty kills seems to be trending toward featuring a team's more skilled forwards while short a player. The Carolina Hurricanes boast the number-one penalty kill in the NHL, killing penalties at an 84.9% clip. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis are the Canes' third and fourth most utilized forwards on the PK. The Dallas Stars have the second-ranked PK, often featuring Wyatt Johnson and Roope Hintz. Dawson Mercer, Jesper Bratt, and Jack Hughes are deployed on the New Jersey Devils' third-ranked PK. Sophomore center Logan Cooley, a player not specifically known for his defensive prowess, has played nearly 70 minutes (68:48) down a man for Utah this season. Mitch Marner is one of the NHL's top scorers (71 points in 53 games) this season and leads the Toronto Maple Leafs in TOI (123:01) on the PK by nearly 40 minutes. These gifted offensive talents are translating their IQ and vision to the defensive side of the puck, reading how opposing power plays operate so they can break up plays and even create opportunities the other way. The Ducks have a handful of high-skilled forwards who have proven to be disruptive defensively. Players like Troy Terry, Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, and even Trevor Zegras could become excellent penalty killers should the Ducks explore that option and the NHL continue to evolve in that direction. In the last few games of the 2023-24 season and at the request of general manager Pat Verbeek, Leo Carlsson was featured briefly on the penalty kill and performed admirably. Should the Anaheim penalty kill dip again this season and see their kill rate suffer, it will be curious to see if this is a route Brent Thompson and the coaching staff explore. Ducks to Continue with Same Power Play Personnel [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-to-continue-with-same-power-play-personnel] Anaheim Ducks Prospect Spotlight: Lucas Pettersson's Impressive Start to 2025 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/anaheim-ducks-prospect-spotlight-lucas-petterssons-impressive-start-to-2025]
