The Anaheim Ducks are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2018. They beat Edmonton in the first round before falling to Vegas in the second. That’s progress. But the offseason has already been a blender.
General manager Pat Verbeek has moved Olen Zellweger to Buffalo. He traded the rights to John Carlson and Radko Gudas. He sent Mason McTavish to St. Louis. The Ducks now have nearly $50 million in cap space and a pile of draft picks. That’s a lot of flexibility. But it also means the roster has holes.
The RFA situation is the first order of business
Trevor Zegras is gone. McTavish is gone. Zellweger is gone. That’s a lot of young talent out the door. But the Ducks still have three restricted free agents who need new deals: Pavel Mintyukov, Cutter Gauthier, and Leo Carlsson.
Mintyukov isn’t the biggest name of the three, but he’s been solid. The 22-year-old defenseman has 17 goals and 52 assists over 204 games. With Jacob Trouba likely hitting the open market, keeping Mintyukov becomes even more important.
Gauthier was the fifth overall pick by Philadelphia in 2022 but refused to sign there. He ended up in Anaheim after a trade, debuted in 2023-24, and just posted a 41-goal, 28-assist season. That’s a breakout. Carlsson, the second overall pick in 2023, had 29 goals and 38 assists this year. He’s 21 and already an alternate captain. Those two are the future, alongside Jackson LaCombe.
Locking up all three is going to cost money. According to AFP Analytics, signing Gauthier, Carlsson, and Mintyukov alone eats up a chunk of that $50 million. But the Ducks have room.
The middle six isn’t set yet
Even after the RFAs are signed, the Ducks still need help in the middle six. Problem is, the free agent market is thin. The top forwards available are restricted free agents like Jason Robertson and former Duck Trevor Zegras. Unlikely they hit the open market.
Alex Ovechkin is technically an unrestricted free agent. But is he leaving Washington? Probably not. So who’s actually available?
Mason Marchment is one option. He split last season between Seattle and Columbus, scoring 19 goals with 26 assists. Not a monster year, but he set a career high in assists. Anders Lee is older — 35 — but consistent. He’s scored at least 19 goals in each of the last five seasons, with three of those hitting 28 or more. He’s also topped 40 points in four of those five years. The Ducks can overpay for one or both of these guys without hurting their cap situation long term.
Verbeek should swing for something bigger
The Western Conference is brutal. Vegas and Edmonton have represented the West in four of the last five Stanley Cup Finals. The Ducks finished third in the division this year, but with McTavish and Zellweger gone and other teams getting better, standing still isn’t an option.
Anaheim has its first-round pick for the next four years plus three second-rounders in 2027 alone. They have young prospects like Roger McQueen, Ethan Procyszyn, Tristan Luneau, and Stian Solberg. It’s time to use some of that capital.
The two biggest names that could shake things up: Zach Werenski and Jason Robertson. Werenski is one of the best defensemen in the world. Pairing him with Jackson LaCombe would give the Ducks a top pairing that rivals anyone in the conference. It would cost a lot — prospects, picks, salary — but the Ducks have all of that.
Robertson is a different case. He keeps turning down extension offers from Dallas. If he’s willing to sign long term in Anaheim, the Stars might move him for less than his actual value just to get out from under the negotiation. The Ducks have the money to make him one of the highest-paid players in the league.
AFP Analytics estimates that signing Gauthier, Carlsson, Mintyukov, Robertson, and taking on Werenski’s contract would cost about $47.9 million. The Ducks have that in cap space. They just need to pull the trigger.
This is the window. The Ducks have young stars, cap room, and a division that won’t get any easier. Verbeek built this war chest for a reason. Now’s the time to spend it.
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