The Anaheim Ducks just finished a season that felt like a real step forward. They made the playoffs. They beat Edmonton in six games. They didn’t look like a team that was just happy to be there.
But now the roster is staring at a potential free-agent disaster on the blue line. According to multiple reports, all three of the Ducks’ veteran defensemen could walk this summer. Not one. Not two. All three.
John Carlson has already made it clear he wants out. He’s reportedly looking to head back to the East Coast, which is a tough pill for Ducks fans after he put up six points in the playoffs. But that might not even be the worst of it.
Trouba and Gudas Likely to Test the Market
Jacob Trouba is expected to hit unrestricted free agency rather than re-sign in Anaheim, per Pro Hockey Rumors. That’s a big one. Trouba played 81 games this season and posted 35 points. He also scored a goal in the postseason. He’s not some depth piece. He’s a top-four defenseman who logs real minutes.
Then there’s Radko Gudas. The 36-year-old captain is coming off a three-year deal with a $4 million AAV. He saw his role shrink this past season, skating just 16:10 per game and only 1:36 on the penalty kill. He played in 56 regular-season games and appeared in just one playoff game. But losing a captain — even one whose role has diminished — isn’t something you just shrug off.
Gudas is the kind of player whose value doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet. He’s physical. He’s vocal. He’s the guy other teams hate playing against. Losing that from the room matters.
This Would Be a Hard Reset the Ducks Didn’t Plan For
Anaheim finished with 92 points in the regular season. That’s a solid year. They upset the Oilers in a six-game thriller before falling to Vegas. The expectation was that this team would keep building, not get gutted on defense.
If all three leave, you’re suddenly looking at a blue line that’s largely unproven. The Ducks have some young defensemen in the pipeline, but throwing them into top-four roles without some veteran presence is a gamble. Teams don’t usually recover quickly from losing their top three defensemen in one offseason.
There’s still time for Anaheim to work something out. Free agency doesn’t open until July. But the reports coming out of the organization don’t sound optimistic. Trouba and Gudas testing the market feels like more than just a negotiating tactic.
The Ducks made real progress this year. They just might have to watch three key pieces of that progress walk out the door in the same summer.
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