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An in-depth look at the Anaheim Ducks in 2026-27: Canucks Pacific Previews

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

By Lachlan Irvine

Aug 25, 2026, 16:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 24, 2026, 23:38 EDT

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The Pacific Division in 2026-27 is a top-heavy division made up of two groups: the Haves and the Have-Nots. The gap between the best and worst has never been larger, and the Vancouver Canucks sit firmly at the bottom. Seven teams stand in their way on the path back to contention, and we’re going to look at all of them over the next two weeks in our Pacific Previews series.

Today we’re looking at the Anaheim Ducks.

The Anaheim Ducks took a massive step forward in 2025-26. The question on everyone’s mind: can they do it again?

Anaheim did everyone in Western Canada a big favour by knocking out the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, making two different statements in one swoop. One, the Ducks have all the offensive firepower to keep up with the titans. And two, their contention window is just beginning to open.

That’s not to say the Ducks don’t have a lot of work to do before they’re considered a Stanley Cup favourite. And they’re already facing a major predicament, thanks to Danny Briere and the Philadelphia Flyers.

After the Flyers signed Leo Carlsson to an offer sheet for seven years at a league-record $18 million AAV, the Ducks were forced to match the deal and keep their budding star. That hefty paycheque has left Ducks GM Pat Verbeek with little cap space left over for leading scorer and restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier. Sometimes quick success comes back to haunt you.

Gauthier is certainly entitled to a pay raise, and thanks to his teammate Carlsson resetting the entire market, he’s currently priced out of the Ducks’ $9 million in cap space. He reportedly rejected a four-year deal for $13 million a year already, and a training camp holdout isn’t out of the question. It sure looks like whatever agreement the Ducks and Gauthier reach will result in some budget/roster cuts elsewhere.

The Ducks have a nucleus of talented youth across their depth chart on par with their state rivals, the Sharks. Beckett Sennecke, Pavel Mintyukov and Jackson LaCombe are already here. Roger McQueen, Nikita Klepov and Marcus Nordmark are on the way. They also have their goalie of the future in Lukas Dostal, who got a trial by fire in the postseason against the Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights.

But somewhat ironically, for all the success the Ducks found last season breaking through to the playoffs and winning a series, they were also the one Pacific team that the Canucks did well against. The Canucks won three of their four matchups in 2025-26, and created one of their few lasting moments: Curtis Douglas’ first NHL goal.

Canucks/Ducks fun fact: Drew O’Connor was a Duck killer last season. O’Connor scored in three of four matchups, two of which were game winners.

Anaheim’s roster has a strong balance of skilled young players and valuable veterans like Alex Killorn and Chris Kreider. The Ducks have to replace a few of them after losing Radko Gudas, Jacob Trouba and John Carlson in the offseason. They also dealt Olen Zellweger and Mason McTavish for draft picks, trading from places of strength to get back picks and prospects for the future.

The expectations for the Ducks are to take the next step together as a team that can push for division titles as torchbearers like Vegas and Edmonton start to leave their peak years. But with Gauthier still unsigned, a lot of roster shuffling, and prospects yet to make the NHL jump, the Ducks will first have to prove last season wasn’t a flash in the pan.