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Michael Traikos
Michael_Traikos@THN
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Michael is the Managing Editor, Digital, for The Hockey News. He has more than 20 years of experience covering hockey, having previously been the national hockey columnist for Postmedia, where he covered multiple Stanley Cups and the Olympics.
Joined at Sep 21, 2023Activity
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Jansen Harkins on Getting Cross Checked in the Neck
Hockey is a violent and dangerous spot. There’s no way around it. At any moment, you can get a nick, scratch or bruise. But, you certainly don’t expect to take a stick directly to the throat.
That’s what Anaheim Ducks forward Jansen Harkins experienced on Wednesday night against the Boston Bruins. As Nikita Nesterenko drove to the net with the puck, so too did Harkins—as any shrewd player would—to follow up on any potential rebounds. Nesterenko’s effort made its way past Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, good stuff.
But Bruins defenseman Michael Callahan got his stick up high while trying to box out Harkins, resulting in a vicious cross check directly to Harkins’ throat. Callahan received a double-minor penalty for high sticking, with one of the penalties being wiped away immediately due to Nesterenko’s goal. On Thursday, Callahan was fined the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“I didn't really see it, I just felt it,” Harkins said. His neck was still noticeably red from the impact. “I know I got it straight to the neck and obviously I want (the penalty) to be as many minutes as possible for the benefit of the team. Wasn’t really disappointed that he had to stay in the game and kind of settled it the next period.”
What Harkins is referring to is the bout that he and Callahan got into during the third period. Harkins was able to get in a few punches and eventually took Callahan down to the ice, which was met with raucous applause from the home fans and many stick taps from the Anaheim bench.
“That’s just frustration,” Harkins said. “Nobody likes to be hit in the head or (somewhere) that you don't like. Kudos to him. I dropped (the gloves), he dropped and I think that's what we love about hockey. You can kind of just keep it on the ice, that's the best way to do it. It was a good amount of fun.”
Harkins had a long chat with one of the officials during a TV timeout while in the box and said that he told the official that he wasn’t happy about the penalty only being two minutes.
But after an explanation from the official, Harkins said that he thought the official’s thoughts were valid. “I think it was fair and at the end of the day, I think we both got what we wanted.
“Those things happen.
I've gotten my stick up on people before by accident and (you’re) usually not trying to hit people like that, so I don't think it was on purpose. It's just hockey and him trying to defend me trying to go to the net. It is what it is.”
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Takeaways from the Ducks 5-4 Overtime Win over the Rangers
The Anaheim Ducks continued their five-game homestand by hosting the New York Rangers on Friday evening at Honda Center. The Ducks were coming off of potentially their most complete performance of the 2024-25 season on Wednesday with a 6-2 victory over the Boston Bruins and looking to return to the .500 mark for the first time since March 9.
The Rangers entered having lost four of their last five and just a point out of the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Ducks head coach Greg Cronin went with an identical lineup to the one that earned his club their last victory against Boston.
Lukas Dostal got the start between the pipes for the Ducks and saved 26 of 30 shots.
Dostal was opposed by Igor Shesterkin, who stopped 28 of 33 shots.
Jacob Trouba left the game with 14:44 remaining in the third period after crashing into the end boards following a rush chance. He didn’t return, and Cronin didn’t have an update on his status after the game.
“We had lost Trouba, so we were down one of our primary (penalty) killers,” Cronin said after the game. “We did a good job managing the personnel and, again, we got a shorthanded goal for the second night in a row. So, a lot of positive things with the special teams.”
Here are my notes from this game:
Leo Carlsson-Carlsson has fully arrived. He’s dictating games like his skillset and potential suggested when he was drafted second overall at the 2023 NHL Draft, and he’s doing it on both sides of the puck. He’s translating his anticipation skills and diligent scanning ability into manufacturing offense from up to 200 feet from the opposing net.
“His goal, he just ripped through the middle and snapped it right from 35 feet,” Cronin said. “When he’s not carrying the puck, he’s driving the inside ice as well, which is giving him puck recoveries in the offensive zone.”
There are still areas of his game that will need some refinement. He could still win a higher percentage of board battles, which should come with experience and further physical growth. The key to unlocking the power play unit he’s on will be finding ways to get the puck on his stick and, in doing so, draw defenders out of position. He’s far too dynamic to simply maintain a stationary position in the bumper.
Radko Gudas-This wasn’t one of Gudas’ better performances on the blueline for the Ducks. The underlying numbers suggest he had a positive impact (51.88 xGF%) and 5:24 of his 20:44 TOI was spent on the penalty kill, a kill that stifled six of seven chances from New York.
He continues to take himself out of plays in attempts to make big hits in open ice. New York’s second goal was a result of improperly reading his backcheckers and overcommitting to the forward driving the middle lane.
His late penalty nearly proved costly. However, he did well to jump out of the box and drive to the net after entry, collapsing the defensive structure and opening a lane that was exploited by Pavel Mintyukov, who found a trailing Olen Zellweger for the game-tying goal.
Cutter Gauthier-Gauthier has been the Ducks’ most improved player since the start of the season. He’s taken the time and has been afforded the opportunity to refine and learn the details it will take to bring success upon himself at the NHL level.
He’s seeking out shooting lanes and adjusting his angles in order to get enough space for his elite release. He’s recognizing and anticipating when to get his feet moving through neutral with and without the puck to optimize his speed and dangerously enter the offensive zone.
The Ducks will return to Honda Center on Sunday to take on the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs at 5 pm PST.
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Report: Ducks, Verbeek 'Good With Cronin Coming Back Next Season'
The Anaheim Ducks hired Greg Cronin as head coach on June 5, 2023. With him, he was set to bring 36 years of coaching experience at the NCAA, AHL, and NHL (as an assistant coach) levels. This was his first crack at head coaching an NHL franchise. He was to establish a culture unforeseen in Anaheim for several seasons, as they were in the midst of their darkest stretch in franchise history and coming off their all-time worst season.
Takeaways from the Ducks 5-4 Overtime Win over the Rangers
His second season behind the Ducks bench is nearly in the books and the Ducks are 59-82-13 so far in his tenure and 32-32-8 in the 2024-25 season.
According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic and TSN, Cronin is under contract for one more season following 2024-25, and Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek intends to bring him back for 2025-26.
“The Anaheim Ducks have improved in Cronin’s second season, and he seems to have eased up a bit after being a bit of a taskmaster in Year 1, which grated on some players,” LeBrun reported. “All things being equal, I think Ducks GM Pat Verbeek is good with Cronin coming back next season.
The Ducks are 25th in the NHL in goals per game (2.72), 21st in goals against per game (3.13), 20th in shots on goal per game (27.7), and 32nd in shots against per game (32.1). On special teams, they boast the 31st-ranked power play (12.1%) and the 28th-ranked penalty kill (73.1%).
Their underlying numbers at 5v5 reflect even worse, as they rank 30th in terms of shot attempt share (45.76%), 19th in goals share (49.46%), and 30th in expected goals share (44.96%). All statistical indications identify the bulk of their success stemming from the crease, where they sport potentially the best tandem in the NHL between John Gibson and Lukas Dostal.
There have been strides taken when it comes to the on-ice product. Under the second year in their system, the players know what’s expected of them, have a better understanding of what they’re trying to accomplish on the ice, and provide a more detailed effort on a nightly basis. They aren’t nearly as leaky in the defensive zone as they had been in years past, though they do spend an inordinate amount of time in their end of the ice.
“I think coming into this year, they knew what the expectations were. It was a different mindset for the players to come into,” Verbeek said following the trade deadline. “We’ve tweaked a little bit, some of our system things, and they slowly got used to playing with each other, understanding how to play. If our special teams were better on both sides, this team would be in the playoffs. We’d be sitting in a playoff spot.
“I liken it to a golf game, where one day you’ve got the driving and the putting going, but your approach shots stink. That’s kind of how I see it right now with our group,” Verbeek continued. “We’ve got the five-on-five going and now we’ve got to get going in the special teams department. There are things that are constantly evolving. Sometimes the power play will be going, but our five-on-five won’t. It’s a constant battle, but I feel confident in the group that they’re grasping all the things they’re being asked to and we’re gaining traction.”
Indications are the front office, organization, and players are content and encouraged by where the team is at in their progression. There’s palpable enthusiasm around the club for where the team could be heading in the near future. The youngest and most talented players on the roster are beginning to produce, as their potential indicated they could and the “buy-in” feels tangible.
Ducks Continue to Shuffle Penalty Kill Personnel
Jansen Harkins on Getting Cross Checked in the Neck
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Game #72: Ducks vs. Rangers Gameday Preview
The New York Rangers are in town for their first and only trip to Anaheim this season. They are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
The Ducks are looking to keep their momentum going after a 6-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday. This will be the first time defenseman Jacob Trouba will face the Rangers since being traded to the Ducks last December.
“Kind of approaching it as another game,” Trouba said. “Good to see some friends last night, but just another game.”
“Always good catching up with someone like that,” Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad said. “That’s a part of the business that you move on from teammates like that in terms of playing on the same team. Just a great human being with a great family.”
The Rangers have lost eight of their last 11 games, but are still in contention for a Wild Card spot in the East.
“We need wins, so whatever it takes to win,” former Duck Sam Carrick said. “It’s not always gonna be pretty. We’ve learned that lesson throughout the year and we just gotta find a way. It starts with defense. We can't be giving up as many chances as we have been. If we can lock down defensively, I think we have enough offensive power in here that we can find ways to score. It’s about preventing goals and playing playoff-style hockey.”
“You want to win every game you get dressed for and play in,” Trouba said. “I don’t really view it as trying to put a wrench in their (playoff) plans. You’re playing the game to win it and we want to continue to build over these last 10-11 games what we wanna kind of roll into the summer with and kind of build what goes into next year.”
“I told our group this morning (that) there's gonna be more defensemen involved in the rush and the offensive zone tonight than we've seen for 90 percent of the games,” Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said. “(Adam) Fox kind of headlines that, but they all get in and out of the zone. We’ve got to really defend well if we're gonna have a chance to win.”
Ducks Projected Lines
Cutter Gauthier - Leo Carlsson - Alex KillornFrank Vatrano - Ryan Strome - Troy TerryTrevor Zegras - Mason McTavish - Sam ColangeloJansen Harkins - Isac Lundeström - Nikita Nesterenko
Jackson LaCombe - Radko GudasOlen Zellweger - Jacob TroubaPavel Mintyukov - Drew Helleson
John Gibson (projected)
Rangers Projected Lines
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Brennan OthmannAlexis Lafrenière - J.T. Miller - Jonny BrodzinskiChris Kreider - Mika Zibanejad - Will CuylleNicolas Aubé-Kubel - Sam Carrick - Jusso Parssinen
K’Andre Miller - Will BorgenCarson Soucy - Adam FoxZac Jones - Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin (confirmed)
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Takeaways from the Ducks 6-2 Win over the Bruins
The Anaheim Ducks hosted the Boston Bruins Wednesday evening at Honda Center, a team they’re neck-and-neck with in the NHL league standings. The Ducks were looking to return to the win column after losing to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday and winning just one of their previous four games entering Wednesday.
Game #71: Ducks vs. Bruins Gameday Preview
For the first time since memory will serve, the Bruins were sellers at the trade deadline in 2024-25. They came to Orange County riddled with injuries, including to their top three defensemen: Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Nikita Zadorov. They were looking to avoid a fourth straight loss, being swept by all three California teams on their road trip, and end their six-game winless streak.
John Gibson got the start in net for the Ducks in this one and saved 23 of 25 shots and only saw nine shots through the first two periods. He probably would have liked Boston’s second goal back, but the game was already so far out of reach by that point.
Opposing Gibson was Joonas Korpisalo, who stopped 31 of Anaheim’s 37 shots. He had a tough game in net for Boston and let in at least two goals that could be considered soft.
Ducks head coach Greg Cronin had a nearly healthy forward group to build a lineup with, as Ross Johnston was the only Ducks player out with an injury for this game. Sam Colangelo returned to the lineup after missing five games with an upper-body injury and slotted in next to Mason McTavish and opposite Trevor Zegras.
Here are my notes on this game:
Cycle-There was far more consistent off-puck movement in the offensive zone from all five Anaheim players on the ice at a given time in this game. When pucks moved low to high, the low forward who’d distributed looked to get open rather than make a beeline to the net front to create traffic.
Traffic was still created in front of Korpisalo, but it came more organically from the weak side with forwards in motion. Anaheim’s F3 rotated up high to the blueline to draw defenders out of position and attack downhill, often even before the puck arrived at the top of the zone. It forced the weak side defender to activate and find soft ice, creating more dynamic attacks and extended pressure.
Penalty Kill-Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry featured on the Ducks’ penalty kill in this game for 2:09 and 1:33, respectively. They represent the two Ducks forwards who can singlehandedly and consistently force turnovers and mistakes against opposing attacks, so giving them PK time may have been long overdue for the team with the 29th-ranked penalty kill (72.2%) in the league.
Carlsson pounced on a puck after it popped loose from a corner battle, evaded the pressuring defender from the point, and converted on a 2v1 with Alex Killorn for his first career shorthanded goal and the Ducks first of the game. The hope is that this isn’t a late-season experiment that will be abandoned by the start of 2025-26.
Trevor Zegras-Despite being held off the scoresheet in this game, along with Carlsson and Jackson LaCombe, it could be argued that Zegras was the most dangerous Ducks player. He put forth one of the more detailed efforts of the season, often as the first backchecker into the defensive zone and when disrupting opposing breakouts.
He’s blending a newfound puck protection dynamic with his trademark deception and vision to create a multitude of high-danger chances from below the goal line and in tight areas of the ice.
The Ducks will return to action against a desperate New York Rangers team who will be visiting Honda Center on Friday evening just one point out of a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Gauthier to be Held off Power Play Despite Ducks' Struggles
Behind the Recent Dip in Lukas Dostal's Numbers
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Ducks Continue to Shuffle Penalty Kill Personnel
Down the stretch of the 2023-24 season and in the Anaheim Ducks final three games specifically, rookie center Leo Carlsson was tasked with contributing to his team as a penalty killer. In those three games, the Ducks surrendered four power play goals, but in his 4:51 of shorthanded TOI, Carlsson wasn’t on the ice for a power play goal against.
The Ducks' Power Play Conundrum
In the Ducks’ most recent two games against the Carolina Hurricanes and Boson Bruins, Carlsson (20) was tasked with the same responsibility as he had around this time a year ago: to feature on the team’s second penalty kill unit. He played a combined 3:21 shorthanded in those two games, not allowing a goal against, and he even potted his first career shorthanded goal against Boston in the first period to open the scoring.
Ducks forward Troy Terry got in on the action and played 1:33 shorthanded minutes against Boston on Wednesday.
“Our penalty killing has been up and down. I think Pat and the staff, we talked about when you’re not doing well, you’ve either got to change strategy or change personnel,” Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said on Friday. “Strategy has changed a little bit with not great results, so you go back to personnel decisions. Those offensive guys’ minds think differently than the (typical) penalty killers. Those power play guys are looking for those details when the puck: Where’s the penalty killer’s stick? What’s the timing of the pushdown? Can they bait a penalty killer down the wall and find those soft areas?
“We talked about it, and why not try those guys? Troy is good at it, and then we got Leo involved in it. I think Cutter Gauthier could actually be good at it,” Cronin continued. “You’ve got these games here that we’re playing, so we can get some visibility into what some of these players might be next year for the kill. I think it’s a very purposeful decision to get these guys in the mix.”
When asked at the end of 2023-24 what went into the decision to incorporate Carlsson into the penalty kill personnel, Ducks head coach Greg Cronin stated the idea was influenced by general manager Pat Verbeek.
“Pat’s very active. I think he’s a big asset for us because he’s played so many games. He’s had to go through a lot of challenges as a player, a lot of challenges our young guys are going through,” Cronin said. “Pat came in as a 20-year-old player, he’s a smaller guy when the league was full of tough guys and he battled his way through it. I think he’s got a real intimate relationship with that process, and he’s able to communicate that to the players and the coaches in a very businesslike way. He killed penalties, he was on the power play, he’s familiar with special teams.”
Some of the NHL’s top PKs deploy their top offensive talents while down a player or two. Wyatt Johnston features on the Dallas Stars’ second-ranked penalty kill, Jesper Bratt is deployed on the New Jersey Devils’ sixth-ranked PK, Mitch Marner is consistently the Toronto Maple Leafs’ most utilized forward on the PK, etc. Displaying the aspects of their games like anticipation, deception, and puck skills assists top offensive players when translating their impact to the defensive side of the puck and utilization on the penalty kill.
Terry and Carlsson are potentially the Ducks’ two best forwards in terms of diagnosing opposing attacks and either stripping opponents of possession or rendering themselves disruptive forces. Perhaps a key to turning around the Ducks' lowly penalty kill (29th in the NHL, successful at a 72.7% clip) will be to further incorporate Carlsson, Terry, and even Gauthier, as suggested by Cronin, into their PK efforts.
Game #72: Ducks vs. Rangers Gameday Preview
Jansen Harkins on Getting Cross Checked in the Neck
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Anaheim Ducks Prospect Spotlight: Evaluating Lucas Pettersson's Options After SHL Club's Relegation
The end of March and the flipping of calendars to April indicate one thing in the hockey world: playoffs. CHL playoffs are underway as are playoffs in the European hockey leagues, soon to be followed by the AHL and, eventually, the NHL.
Anaheim Ducks Prospect Spotlight: Lucas Pettersson's Impressive Start to 2025
Anaheim Ducks forward prospect Lucas Pettersson (35th overall in 2024) recently saw his 2024-25 SHL season come to an end at the hands of fellow Ducks forward prospect Herman Traff (91st overall in 2024) in a relegation battle between Pettersson’s MoDo Hockey and Traff’s HV71.
As a result of the best-of-seven series in which HV71 won 4-2, MoDo will be relegated to the HockeyAllsvenskan for the 2025-26 season, Sweden’s second-tier professional division.
Pettersson (18) had his 2024-25 season split between playing for MoDo, the SHL club that owns his rights, and on loan for Ostersunds IK in HockeyAllsvenskan. He tallied just one point for MoDo at the SHL level (0-1=1) in 29 games while rarely playing more than six minutes per game.
Early in the season, he had played eight games at the J20 level for MoDo and scored eight points (4-4=8). The majority of the second half of his season was spent with Ostersunds IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, where he found his footing in an increased role against grown men and scored 19 points (9-10=19) in 26 games.
Remain in Sweden
The confluence of his performance at the HockeyAllsvenskan level and his club’s relegation from the SHL leaves questions about where he could play next season in 2025-26.
He could remain in Sweden and play another year in HockeyAllsvenskan for MoDo, a division he might be outgrowing.
Play in the Ducks Organization
He could make the transition to North America and have two (or even three) options in front of him. The unlikeliest is that he signs his ELC and performs well enough in Ducks training camp to earn a spot on the NHL roster. If the San Diego Gulls, the Ducks AHL affiliate, need center depth, he could play the 2025-26 season in close proximity and about 90 miles south of Honda Center.
Head to the CHL
If the Ducks organization doesn’t deem him ready for professional hockey in North America, he could play in the CHL next season. He was drafted by the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL in the second round of the 2024 CHL Import Draft (116th overall).
As opposed to the professional levels, the CHL would allow Pettersson to explore the limits of his offensive game. He is already well-lauded for his detail and two-way prowess, often compared to Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson. He possesses enough offensive tools like above-average mobility, puck skills, and change-of-pace vision to provide true offensive impact at the NHL level.
Taking the time and putting forth the effort into developing and translating those skills to the North American pro-style game could elevate Pettersson’s ultimate potential and even mold him into a significant piece of the Ducks' core moving forward.
The “win at all costs” ideals of professional hockey aren’t always conducive or ideal for growing and refining the offensive talents of teenage players. Pettersson is at a critical point in his ultimate progression, and it will be curious to monitor how the Ducks organization manages the young centerman.
Report: Ducks, Verbeek 'Good With Cronin Coming Back Next Season'
Ducks Continue to Shuffle Penalty Kill Personnel
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Ducks and Vans Join Forces for Special Shoes Collaboration
On Sunday, Mar. 30, the Anaheim Ducks will team up with Vans to sell two pairs (2,500 each) of limited-edition shoes designed by forward Leo Carlsson and goaltender Lukáš Dostál.
This collaboration is the second time that the Ducks and Vans have teamed up after selling three sets of Ducks-themed Vans in March 2024 for the Ducks' 30th anniversary. The Ducks are the first and only professional sports franchise to collaborate with Vans, which got its start in Anaheim in 1966.
"It was (the Ducks’) 30th anniversary last year, so we started talking about two years ago," Steve Van Doren, the son of Vans Co-founder Paul Van Doren, said. "Since Vans started in Anaheim and the Ducks are here in Anaheim, we started almost twice as long as the Ducks have been around, in 1966. Got to meet (Ducks publicist Sammy Glantz) for the first time and talked about having an anniversary (collaboration) and we said, ‘Why don't we make some shoes up?
And so we made up a few pairs, they liked them, and eventually we ended up making like 2,300 pairs for an opening event last year in March. And they sold through so fast that the marketing people (from the Ducks) called me up about three weeks later and said, ‘We want to do another 7,000 pairs because everybody wants them!’ So it was really an honor to have three different shoes: the orange slip-on and then the two skate highs that were created really cleverly, I thought.
"And then Sammy reached out in the fall of 2024 and said, ‘Hey, how about if we bring in four different players? And I said, ‘Sure’. So the four players came over and they designed their own shoes.
It was about a three-hour period of time. The first one went, and then the other ones kind of looked and they went their own ways. They’re poaching on each other's looks and stuff, but they all went different directions. Then, within a week, they went and put them up online to have the fans vote on them and we were gonna do one shoe. There were 50 between the two different shoes, 50 votes. I said, ‘Why don't we make half of one (and) half in the other?’"
The four Ducks players who participated in designing shoes were Leo Carlsson, Lukáš Dostál, Alex Killorn and Troy Terry. Carlsson and Dostál were named co-winners after the results of the fan vote were released.
"Just got a text from Sammy asking if I wanted to design some Vans," Carlsson said on how the collaboration came to be. "Obviously, I said yes. We just went after a practice day to Vans headquarters––which is sick by way. I designed my own shoe basically from the start. Pick a model and then pick colors. Have to do some Ducks stuff, obviously. Get creative. I didn't want too much for my shoe because I still want people to wear it."
Carlsson's shoe features his jersey number (91) along with his signature on the outsole and the Ducks logo on the back heel. The bottom of the shoe features an image from the Ducks' 2024-25 home opener, when Carlsson scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
“Troy did it before me and I didn't understand that he didn't want anybody else to do it.
So he left and I just did it. And I kind of had to do it after he did it, you know? I just saw the pictures and just had to go with it.”
“I honestly wanted it to be the most wearable shoe," Dostál said of his design. "I saw the other designs and I kind of figured that I would want to maybe throw something in there that's like the most wearable, kind of like close to my style, of what I would wear. I don't really like (loud) designs.
"I feel like (last year's shoes were) really about the Ducks, but I kind of thought that in this series, it's a little bit about us, what we would like to wear. But, at the same time, I also wanted to include the Ducks because it's a collab. So, at the bottom, you can see the Ducks logo. I don't think people even notice that there's a logo (on the tongue). Everything is kind of hidden. The Ducks logos are there, but at the same time, it's a shoe I feel you can wear on a daily basis, so that's kind of the way I went with it."
"When Sammy told me about it at the beginning that we were gonna do it, I already started thinking about it and looked up some shoes online," Dostál said. "I was just trying to find some inspiration and I think it turned out pretty nice. When I'm looking at them, I think the color could have still been maybe a little bit lighter. But it's so hard to pick the (right color) because this kind of shade of beige, when we're picking, there are so many shades. I was overwhelmed. It was hard, but I think it turned out (okay). It should be nice."
Neither the Ducks nor Vans anticipated the demand being so high for the original collaboration last year. When the shoes sold out immediately, a decision was made to have fans place orders that they would receive during the summer. While there were delays, orders were eventually completely fulfilled.
"I was shocked that the first group sold out so fast," Van Doren said. And then we made twice as many, and those were all sold out too. So, we're expecting a fun time this Sunday at the game. We’re gonna be outside and have almost 6,000 pairs out there for the fans to come and get between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. before the game starts. My whole crew, about 10 or 11 of us plus the big marketing and merchandise crew, will be out there to show the fans what the players created."
“(It was) something that had never been done and there was no way to prognosticate how much people were gonna enjoy it or come to really be passionate about it," Ducks Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer Merit Tully said. "So, it was a little bit shocking how much online chatter and how much passion was shown by not only our fans, but people who maybe aren't aren't hockey fans, but have worn Vans or are from Orange County and they now have interest in our hockey team. So, we did not foresee just how impactful it was going to be for people from all sorts of walks.
"There was so much passion for the first collab––we sold out right away––so we wanted to make shoes available to everybody who had become so excited about the collaboration. In doing that, our mistake was using the vague term of summer. Naturally, people are excited to get the new product. I think everybody considered summer the day kids got out of school, which was like June 1, and so it felt like it took a little longer to get them there. There was some, I don't want to call it heartache, but there was a bit of making sure everybody understood that we were getting in their shoes as fast as they could and working with Vans. They were doing everything they could, production timelines are something that none of us are super familiar with on shoes, so I think at the end of the day, we made everybody happy.”
Unlike last year's release, both Van Doren and Tully say that there are currently no plans to have a restock once the nearly 6,000 pairs of Vans have sold out. Van Doren said he's curious to see if Carlsson's or Dostál's pair sells out first.
“We’re doing things a little differently (this year)," Tully said. "We’ve ordered our shoes and when that stock runs out, it runs out. We are certainly in the neighborhood of those same sorts of expectations, but I will say, just so people know, we are not doing an online (future purchase) on these shoes. They're available when they're available and sold out once they are sold out.”
Along with the shoes, a Ducks x Vans themed jersey design by Violent Gentlemen Hockey Club (VGHC) will be available to purchase. VGHC has collaborated with the Ducks on several occasions in the past.
"The merchandiser showed us some great graphics with checkerboard from Vans from 1982 with (Jeff) Spicoli and Fast Times at Ridgemont High," Van Doren said. To tie that in with the colors of the team this year, I think it was great. And they had a lot of other really special products that they made up with checkerboard tied into bags and different hats and different things that they're gonna have on sale just this Sunday coming up. Pretty special."
"We looked at Year 2 of what we could do together," Tully said. A jersey was a natural fit, and Vans has that checkerboard pattern that I think everybody recognizes right away. So, as we looked at ways to kind of establish something a little more fun and new, we did a little contest on shoe design, which our players had a ton of fun taking part in, and a jersey was just a natural extension of that."
Tully says that the collaboration between the Ducks and Vans was a player-driven initiative, noting that many of the players had grown up wearing Vans––and still do. "We kind of jumped on board from an organizational standpoint behind their passion and Vans’ passion to be doing something fun and unique with us."
"I do enjoy their shoes," Killorn said. "Sometimes you’ll go online and make custom shoes, (but) it's not often that you can actually go into the headquarters with the head designer and create shoes, so it's pretty cool."
Who does Killorn think had the best design?
“I thought I had the best one, but that doesn't matter, right?"
Both Killorn and Terry joked that the two "young, marketable guys" won the fan vote. Terry, in particular, felt that his shoe design was unfairly ridiculed by his fellow teammates and was upset that some of the features he originally wanted for his shoe could not be approved.
"Vans is great," Terry said. "The company of Vans, I have no problem with. They are great. Going to the factory was sweet. Meeting Steve, he's just such a cool and humble guy. The whole process was awesome. It was mostly two weeks after that I got upset when I saw the designs."
The consensus from all four designers is that Terry produced the worst shoe, but the 27-year-old claimed that his design was highly favored by those outside of the locker room.
"The people from the company, when we did the photo shoot, there was a skateboarder there. He was like, ‘Oh, that one's my favorite. It's not even close.’ The people in here just like to give me a hard time, specifically. Outside of this locker room, people did enjoy my shoe."
"I think Troy's (are what) people think are the worst, but I think a trendy person would wear them and they would look good," Killorn said. "I think if you asked people who were in the Vans world, I think they would like those elements the most. I wouldn't wear them, but I could see some cool guy wearing them, you know? Not Troy."
"In terms of the shoe that I would want to wear, I would say Killorn’s," Terry said. "Don't tell him I said that, but I like his shoe.”
Despite both of them losing the fan vote, Killorn and Terry both had a pair of their shoes made, plus a few more pairs to gift to friends and family.
"I got a few, so that part's awesome," Terry said. I got some extra pairs. I'm gonna see if I can maybe get some for my son. The whole process was cool. I have a lot of buddies and family members that I can give them to and they'll love them."
Carlsson and Dostál have been part of several marketing campaigns for the Ducks now after the former helped debut the 30th anniversary jersey shortly after being drafted in 2023 and the latter has worked with punk rock band The Offspring for the Ducks' Come Out and Play Nights in 2024 and 2025.
It’s super cool," Carlsson said. "It’s something that I like to do, too. You get some (free) stuff. Nice for the fans too to see, I think. I don't think about it that much. It's just cool.”
“I told the marketing team that I'm always here to help (with) whatever they need," Dostál said. "I think they can rely on me every time, that I'm gonna always do my best for them. It’s an honor to do all this kind of stuff. When I was, I think eight, I already started being part of the charity project called Saves Help in Czechia. That’s kind of what inspired me to always be open-minded to opportunities like this charity-wise or the way I can help the team to promote the brands.
"I don't mind doing this stuff and I know that's how you help the team as well. It's obviously on the ice, but also this kind of stuff is important too off the ice where you can help the team grow.”
The Mar. 30 game also marks the Ducks' 18th annual Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Day, which will feature special charity auctions. All proceeds will benefit CHOC and CHOC at Mission Hospital.
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