Derek Lee and Patrick Present discuss the biggest storylines from early in the 2024-25 season for the Anaheim Ducks The Anaheim Ducks (3-2-1) are set to begin a four-game road trip to the East Coast. The Hockey News' Anaheim Ducks site editors/writers/reporters Derek Lee and Patrick Present took the opportunity to discuss what they felt were the team's top stories through the first six games of the season. TOPICS: -Early reactions to the team's play and how head coach Greg Cronin has adjusted both on and off the ice. -Lukas Dostal has been the Ducks' runaway MVP in the early stretch of the season, as his traditional and underlying numbers are among the NHL's best. -Cutter Gauthier was benched for a bit in the team's third game of the season but has responded professionally in the three that would follow. -Cronin has recently shuffled lines to spark some players and reward others for their early performances. -Ryan Strome's line has been the Ducks' best line and one of the best in the NHL through six games. -The Ducks still have eight defensemen on their roster. Healthy competition has been fierce among the young blueliners. Pavel Mintyukov and Brian Dumoulin have been deployed as the team's number-one defensive pair and have thrived in that role. -The Ducks special teams, specifically the power play, have been significant stories early in the season. If those units can produce league-average numbers, it would go a long way toward the team playing competitive hockey late into the season. A Closer Look at the Ducks' Forward Line Shuffle [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/a-closer-look-at-the-ducks-forward-line-shuffle] Diagnosing the Anaheim Ducks Power Play [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/diagnosing-the-anaheim-ducks-power-play]
