This has been the busiest summer of Pat Verbeek’s four offseasons as the general manager of the Anaheim Ducks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks]. He gave the roster a significant facelift, shipping out long-time pieces Trevor Zegras and John Gibson while acquiring four players set to fill important roles on the depth chart. Along with new faces on the ice, a largely new coaching staff will play a crucial role in the upcoming and pivotal season for the Ducks franchise. Verbeek’s contract is coming to an end, and playoffs have been the stated mandate from both Verbeek and ownership alike. Poll: Was Beckett Sennecke a Good Pick at Third Overall in 2024? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/players/poll-was-beckett-sennecke-a-good-pick-at-third-overall-in-2024] Poll: Who is the Anaheim Ducks' Number One Defenseman of the Future? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/players/poll-who-is-the-anaheim-ducks-number-one-defenseman-of-the-future] Focusing on the depth chart, Chris Kreider, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Poehling, and Petr Mrazek are all expected to elevate and insulate the Ducks’ young core while impacting games on a nightly basis in their designated roles. Danny Wild-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/1c9e2723-c85a-4bb5-9928-6de184f5aa43.jpeg] Danny Wild-Imagn Images CHRIS KREIDER Chris Kreider (34), along with former New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers] captain and current Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba, was part of a widely publicized and now notorious memo from Rangers GM Chris Drury stating the pair's availability for trade. The Ducks parted with prospect Carey Terrance and a 2025 third-round pick (Artyom Gonchar) to acquire Kreider and a 2025 fourth-round pick (Elijah Neuenschwander). Following his three best seasons from a goalscoring perspective from 2022 through 2024, where he totaled 52, 36, and 39 goals, respectively, he only managed 22 goals in 2024-25 and added just eight assists for 30 points in 68 games, his lowest points-per-game average in his 13-year NHL career. Much of his poor season may be attributed to a slew of injuries, including back spasms, a broken hand, and a bout with vertigo; injuries he admittedly shouldn’t have attempted to play through. Kreider’s speed, tenacity, and net front skill are all components that the Ducks have lacked during the latter stages of their rebuild, and he seems like a seamless fit anywhere on the left side of the Ducks' top nine. He has two years remaining on his contract, which carries a $6.5 million AAV and a 15-team NMC. Bob Frid-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/a9e2173f-faae-4145-8b6a-b803f70e1198.jpeg] Bob Frid-Imagn Images MIKAEL GRANLUND After failing to make a splash during the 2024 free agency period, the Ducks signed Mikael Granlund (33) to a three-year contract, carrying an AAV of $7 million and a full no-trade clause in year one that decreases to a 15-team NTC in year two and a ten-team NTC in year three. One of Granlund’s most notable strengths is his versatility. He can play up and down the lineup, in every forward position, and features often on both special teams units. He’s eclipsed the 60-point mark in three of the last four seasons despite playing for four different organizations, including scoring 105 (27-78=105) points in 121 games for a lowly San Jose Sharks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks] team from 2023 to 2025. Though analytics call into question his defensive prowess, he is a 200-foot contributor who displays disruptive and proper defensive tendencies while providing above-average hockey IQ and creativity on the offensive end. Nick Wosika-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/422ca590-c06b-41b8-aaa2-c608c3067229.jpeg] Nick Wosika-Imagn Images RYAN POEHLING Perhaps the most controversial trade of Verbeek’s tenure in the Ducks' front office was trading Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers] in exchange for Ryan Poehling (26), a 2025 second-round pick (Eric Nilson), and a 2026 fourth-round pick. Poehling fits the role and the Ducks' need for a prototypical bottom-six center. He’s struggled to replicate the offensive production at the NHL level that made him a successful NCAA player a St. Cloud State University and AHL player for the Laval Rocket. He’s a straight-line, defensively impactful, forechecking center who kills penalties and has shown a higher degree of transition offense than his archetype would dictate. 2024-25, his fourth full season in the NHL, yielded his highest offensive output, as he scored 31 points (12-19=31) in 68 games for the Flyers. Poehling’s contract has one year remaining at a $1.9 million AAV, after which, he will become a UFA. Matt Marton-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/58d14eac-d440-48e2-bc08-0fc885950262.jpeg] Matt Marton-Imagn Images PETR MRAZEK Petr Mrazek (33) was acquired along with a 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick in exchange for John Gibson. The Ducks have made the awaited transition and handed their crease over to one of the best young goaltenders in the NHL, Lukas Dostal. Gibson’s departure, after two seasons of deploying a tandem, meant the team needed a viable backup for Dostal. They have Ville Husso on the roster as well, but he’s proven more volatile than once hoped or expected, so the team now has insurance in the form of Mrazek, an unquestionable NHL-caliber goaltender. To this point in his career, Mrazek has played for five NHL organizations in his 11 years in the league. He’s won 184 games and has started 397, posting a career .906 SV% and 26 shutouts. His performances have been unpredictable in the past few seasons, but the hope is that in a role where he’s the clear and designated backup to a fellow Czech countryman (Dostal), he will capitalize on the opportunity to find consistency in a contract year. Mrazek has one year remaining on his deal that carries an AAV of $4.25 million. Poll: When Will the Anaheim Ducks Make the Playoffs? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/players/poll-when-will-the-anaheim-ducks-make-the-playoffs] Poll: How Would You Grade the Job GM Pat Verbeek has Done so Far? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/players/poll-how-would-you-grade-the-job-gm-pat-verbeek-has-done-so-far] Poll: How Would You Grade the Anaheim Ducks Rebrand? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/players/poll-how-would-you-grade-the-anaheim-ducks-rebrand-1]
