We are on the eve of puck drop for the 2026-27 season for the Anaheim Ducks, but the team had one more piece of business to announce before then, as Tristan Luneau signed a six-year extension with an AAV of $7.2 million. The extension is a tidy piece of work for Ducks GM Pat Verbeek, as the promising defenseman was entering a contract year and the pressure will be on Luneau to deliver on his potential. With one of the most tumultuous offseasons in franchise history finally in the rearview mirror though, how will the Ducks perform in the upcoming season? Will they capitalize on the positive momentum from last season and possibly take another step forward in their contention window? Or will the weight of increased expectations and the sudden injection of youth cause the Ducks to crumble? Let's dig in.
Projected lineup
Here is the projected lineup for the Ducks, per Daily Faceoff.
Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
|---|---|---|
A.J. Greer | Leo Carlsson | Cutter Gauthier |
Alex Killorn | Mikael Granlund | Beckett Sennecke |
Nikita Nesterenko | Ryan Poehling | Frank Vatrano |
Jeff Malott | Tim Washe | Judd Caulfield |
Left Defense | Right Defense |
|---|---|
Jackson LaCombe | Tristan Luneau |
Pavel Mintyukov | Travis Mitchell |
Tyson Hinds | Noah Warren |
Goalies |
|---|
Lukas Dostal |
Ville Husso |
Given the long-term injury status of Troy Terry, coupled with Drew Helleson and Ian Moore both being on IR, the lineup is about what Ducks fans should expect on opening night. The only qualms with the lineup as projected, would be the absence of Nikita Klepov and Nick Jensen. Klepov showed immediate chemistry on the top line with Carlsson during the preseason and Jensen is an offseason veteran addition that should help stabilize the blue line.
How many points will the Anaheim Ducks end up with?
Projected total: 86.4, per The Athletic
This projection lines up with the Ducks win total of 43 from last season but still feels low. While the Ducks lost some veterans over the course of the offseason, with the exception of Chris Kreider, it could be addition by subtraction. The blue line is where the most volatility will be and probably is the biggest anchor in projecting a higher point total, as any combination of Luneau, Mintyukov, Hinds, Warren, or Mitchell presents an unknown outcome. 90 points was the cut off for the playoffs in the Western Conference last season and with the Central Division being particularly top heavy, the path to at least a wildcard spot is still feasible for the Ducks.
Player to watch
Nikita Klepov
Much like Beckett Sennecke last season, all eyes will be on the rookie winger. In just the short sample of the preseason, Klepov looked like he belonged in the top six forward group with his dynamic skill and creativity; there's a reason why Verbeek was willing to give up Mason McTavish on draft night to select Klepov. With Terry out for an extended time, the Ducks will need another skilled forward to take his place, and the window is open for Klepov. The fact that Klepov was lured away from college to sign an entry level contract only furthers Anaheim's belief that he can make an immediate impact.
Best case scenario
The Ducks cast aside all preconceived notions of a step back, as Carlsson stays healthy for a full season and breaks the 100-point barrier. Gauthier continues his shooting prowess and puts himself in the running for the Rocket Richard. Sennecke becomes a true power forward that can rival the talents of some of the league's best. Klepov sticks in the top six forward group and puts himself in line with Sennecke's trajectory from last season. The combination of Mintyukov, Luneau, and Jensen help stabilize a blue line that could have been a potential weakness. Dostal finds his old form, brings his save percentage back up to .900, and once again, becomes the backbone of the Ducks. In a perceived weak Pacific Division, the Ducks take advantage and secure themselves a consecutive appearance in the playoffs.
Worst Case Scenario
The blue line is a complete disaster, as betting on growth from Mintyukov and Luneau proves to be a gross miscalculation. And with limited cap space, the Ducks are stuck with another season of porous defense. Dostal does not rebound to his old form and the sub .900 save percentage is his new reality. Carlsson, Gauthier, and Sennecke have strong seasons, but by the time Terry is able to rejoin the team, the Ducks are too far behind the pack to catch up. Even if the Edmonton Oilers turn into a complete dumpster fire and implode, the San Jose Sharks are still lurking in the background, and they rise above the muck to snag a playoff spot from the Ducks, killing any positive momentum from last season.
Final thoughts
The youth on the blue line and Dostal's bounce back ability in net are the great unknowns for the upcoming season. The forward group should be more than capable of holding their own and once Terry rejoins the team, that group should be firing on all cylinders. If everything clicks into place, there's no reason to believe that the Ducks cannot be in the playoffs again come the spring of 2027. But that's a big if. You can pencil in Edmonton and Vegas for playoff spots, but San Jose poses a huge threat to the Ducks' chances of making the playoffs. The Ducks still have too much talent on the roster to completely crater in the standings, but even the slightest of steps back is enough to knock them out of the playoff race. After a tough summer, that would not sit well with the Anaheim faithful.
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