With the preseason already underway, the start of the regular season approaching rapidly, and an expectation of pushing for a playoff spot from management, now would be a good time to forecast which of the Ducks regulars are facing the most pressure for the upcoming season.
These rankings are subjective and based around the skaters who will play most, if not all, of the regular season. So rookies like Beckett Sennecke or Stian Solberg, will not be represented. Note, all players in the NHL face pressure in some form or fashion, this list is just meant as an index as some face more from the weight of expectations.
This is part two of a continuation of the preseason pressure rankings. The previous entry contained the ranking of players 16-23.
15. Ville Husso
2024-25 Season Stats: 13 GP, 2 W, 6 L, 3 OT/SO Losses, 3.47 GAA, .890 SV%
This first goaltender on the list, Husso did not get his first start with Anaheim after the trade from Detroit, until game 65. Although Husso only started three games as the backup for the Ducks and the sample size is relatively small, he did post a .925 SV% in limited action. Although Husso has two more years left on his current contract, the pressure will primarily come from locking down the backup role against another incumbent.
14. Petr Mrazek
2024-25 Season Stats: 38 GP, 12 W, 21 L, 2 OT/SO Losses, 1 Shutout, 3.35 GAA, .891 SV%
The second goaltender on the list, Mrazek was thrust into a 1B situation with the Chicago Blackhawks and split time with Arvid Soderblom. Mrazek was traded to Detroit towards the end of the 2024-25 season. Although his save percentage was not flattering last season, which can be attributed to playing behind the porous defense of Chicago, Mrazek does at least have a career save percentage of .906. The pressure for Mrazek though, will come from against competing Husso for the backup role and trying to get another contract, as Mrazek is entering the final year of his current deal.
13. Radko Gudas
2024-25 Season Stats: 81 GP, 1 G, 15 A, ATOI: 19:52
As the captain of the Ducks, Gudas had a pretty forgettable season. Not only was his CF% meager, 41.5, Gudas' giveaways imploded from 40 in 2023-24 to 104 in 2024-25. Gudas always seemed to favor trying to make the big hit instead of making the right play and his stats reflected that. Now Gudas not only faces the pressure of being the captain of a team aiming for a playoff spot, but he also faces the pressure of trying to secure a new contract, as his current deal expires after the upcoming season. With young defensemen like Tristan Luneau and Drew Helleson vying for more ice time, Gudas has to prove with he is worth the "C" stitched onto his jersey.
12. Jacob Trouba
2024-25 Season Stats: 77 GP, 1 G, 13 A, TOI: 20:31
The former captain of the New York Rangers, Trouba played 53 games for the Ducks after his trade saga ended. Another right-shot defenseman that favors the big hit over the right play, 40.8 CF% and 67 giveaways with the Ducks; Trouba is no longer the top defenseman he once was. Trouba is also entering the final year of his current contract and like Gudas, he will also be looking to secure a new deal. However, Trouba is four years younger than Gudas, so there is a possibility GM Pat Verbeek can retain Trouba at a much lower cap hit than his current AAV of $8 million. Trouba has to get back to playing competent minutes in a middle of the lineup role, while simultaneously holding off the young players aiming for his spot on the ice.
11. Mikael Granlund
2024-25 Season Stats: 83 GP, 22 G, 44 A, TOI: 19:27
After Verbeek swung out on luring in a bigger name during the offseason, Granlund was brought in as the next best option in the free agent market. Granlund had good offensive statistics for both the lowly San Jose Sharks and later, the playoff bound Dallas Stars. Even though his postseason point totals seemed decent (5 G, 5A), Granlund was either hot or cold with contributing to the score sheet. Granlund also posted a 49.6 FO win percentage during the regular season, so he can be deployed as a center in strategic situations. Being the owner of a new $7 million contract for the next three years though, Granlund will have to live up to the pressure of being more than just a streaky scorer by being a solid contributor to the top six.
10. Troy Terry
2024-25 Season Stats: 77 GP, 21 G, 34 A, ATOI: 18:51
Terry is one of the most tenured Ducks now and provides some of the most consistent play for the team. Terry can be penciled in for around 20+ goals and 50+ points, as he has posted similar or higher offensive numbers for the past four seasons. Terry is very good in transition with the puck and regularly kills plays along the boards with smart stick play. He has posted a CF% in all situations above 50% since his second season in the league. Terry must live up to the pressure as being a consistent two-way winger and help elevate the play of either Mason McTavish or Leo Carlsson, depending on where he slots into the top six on opening night.