It’s no secret that the Ducks are at a point where they feel ready to begin their climb out of the basement of the NHL standings. Knowing that is their goal, many were left scratching their heads after a low-key start to the offseason in which their two most significant moves were signing forward Robby Fabbri and defenseman Brian Dumoulin.
Teams that have surrounded the Ducks in the standings in recent seasons, such as the San Jose Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks, have made substantial moves to upgrade their rosters this offseason and isolate their pipeline of young talent.
The difference between the Ducks and these teams is that they have most of their future core in place, having already experienced the rigors of an NHL season and having assumed the role they will play when the team is ready to actively compete.
“You start to see a little bit of the structure of what’s going to be here next year,” Ryan Strome said during his exit interview in April. “Some of the young guys coming up and what we hope they will be and what another year will take them to be.”
The Ducks spent the previous two seasons acquiring veterans designed to isolate, elevate and nurture the young core. In 2023, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek signed forward Alex Killorn (four years, $6.25 million AAV) and defenseman Radko Gudas (three years, $4 million AAV). The year before, he signed substantial contracts with Frank Vatrano (three years, $3.65 million) and Ryan Strome (five years, $5 million) with the hopes of helping to establish a culture and set a standard for advancement. of the organization.
With most of the young core having gained valuable experience in 2023-24, now with a firmer understanding of the demand and production needed for NHL success, the veterans on the Ducks’ roster are ready to start giving up some from their most significant responsibilities to the next wave of supreme talent.
“Now is the time to win more games and hopefully play meaningful games later on,” Vatrano told Jon Lane of NHL.com at the HT Foundation’s “Shoulder Check Showcase” on July 26. to help this team succeed. We have great young people who will take big steps next year and we will count on them. We’re all playing for the same goal.”
Vatrano was the healthiest member of the Ducks’ 2023-24 roster and was the only player to appear in all 82 games. Due to injuries suffered by much of the Ducks’ forward group and his tireless work ethic, Vatrano played the season in a more elevated role than he has thus far in his career, setting career highs in goals (37), assists (23 ), points (60) and TOI (18:21), earning his first career NHL All-Star appearance.
“He brought it every day. He’s not the most vocal leader, but his play and his work ethic leads by example,” Strome said of Vatrano’s All-Star season. “He’s a big part of this team. He cares a lot. He puts a lot into it. He’s a great role model for a lot of guys on our team, the path his career has taken.”
Since joining the Ducks two seasons ago, Strome has seen his production drop from 0.74 to 0.51 points per game compared to his four-year stint with the New York Rangers.
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It’s been difficult to achieve consistency within the lineup for Strome, who has played every position in the top-nine forward group in 2023-24. It’s a factor that will likely remain and a reality that Strome is prepared to accept.
“At this point, I’m used to it. Part of who I am as a player at this point in my career is being an all-around guy,” Strome said. “It’s something I need to lean on. I told the coaches I’m ready to do whatever it takes. I don’t care where I am. I just want to play a big role in this and try to do my best to be better.”
We expect the Ducks’ coaching staff to have a lighter workload in 2024-25 than in 2023-24, which saw crucial pieces like Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Trevor Zegras and Pavel Mintyukov miss significant time due to injuries. A healthier roster would give way to more consistency and players allocated to roles better suited to their abilities.
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The Ducks are in the midst of the worst six-year stretch in franchise history, including the two worst seasons in franchise history in points percentage in 2022-23 (.354) and 2023-24 (.360). There appears to be light at the end of the tunnel, and that light appears so bright it can be blinding with the volume and power of young talent within the organization.
The veterans on the list are committed to staying on track and are willing to do whatever it takes to get there, including taking on whatever roles and responsibilities are required of them.
