It’s no secret the Ducks are at a point where they feel ready to start the ascension out of the basement of the NHL standings. Knowing that’s their goal, many were left scratching their heads after an understated start to the offseason in which their two most significant moves were adding forward Robby Fabbri and defenseman Brian Dumoulin.
Teams who’ve surrounded the Ducks in the standings the last couple of seasons, like the San Jose Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Chicago Blackhawks, made substantial moves to upgrade their lineups this offseason and insulate their influx of young talent.
Where the Ducks differ from those teams is they have most of their future core in place, already having experienced the rigors of an NHL season, and having assumed the role they’ll have when the team is ready to actively contend.
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“You start to see some of the framework of what’s going to be here next year,” Ryan Strome stated during his exit interview in April. “Some of the young guys coming in and what they’re hopefully going to be and what another year will push them to be.”
The Ducks spent the previous two offseasons acquiring veterans meant to insulate, 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 prior, he signed Frank Vatrano (three years, $3.65 million) and Ryan Strome (five years, $5 million) to substantial contracts with the hopes of assisting in establishing a culture and setting a standard for the organization moving forward.
With most of the young core having gained precious experience in 2023-24, now with a firmer grasp of the demand and output necessary for success in the NHL, the veterans on the Ducks roster are ready to start relinquishing some of their more significant responsibilities to the next wave of supreme talent.
“Now it’s time to win more games and hopefully play meaningful games later on in the stretch,” Vatrano told NHL.com’s Jon Lane at the HT Foundation’s “Shoulder Check Showcase” on July 26. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to help this team succeed. We have great younger guys who are going to make big steps next year and we’re going to rely on them. We’re all playing for the same goal.”
Vatrano was the healthiest member of the Ducks roster in 2023-24 and was the only player to appear in all 82 games. Due to injury sustained by much of the Ducks forward group and his relentless work ethic, Vatrano played the season in a more elevated role than he had to this point in his career, setting career highs in goals (37), assists (23), points (60), and TOI (18:21) while earning himself 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 lead by example,” Strome said of Vatrano’s All-Star season. “He’s a huge part of this team. He cares so much. He puts so much into it. He’s a great role model for a ton of guys on our team with where his career path has gone.”
Since joining the Ducks two seasons ago, Strome has seen his production dip from .74 to .51 points per game when compared to his four-year stint with the New York Rangers.
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Consistency within the lineup has been difficult to come by for Strome, who played every position in the top-nine forward group in 2023-24. It’s a factor that is likely to remain and a reality 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 to be a guy that’s versatile,” Strome said. “It’s something I need to lean into. I told the coaches I’m ready to do whatever it takes. I don’t care where I’m at. I just want to have a big role in this thing and try to do my best to be better.
The Ducks training staff will hopefully have a lighter workload in 2024-25 than they had in 2023-24, which saw crucial pieces like Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Trevor Zegras, and Pavel Mintyukov all miss significant time due to injury. A healthier lineup would give way to more consistency and players slotted in roles better suited for their skill sets.
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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 by points percentage in 2022-23 (.354) and 2023-24 (.360). There does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel, and that light seems so bright it could be blinding with the volume and potency of young talent within the organization.
Veterans on the roster are committed to seeing the climb through and are willing to do what it takes to get there, including assuming whatever roles and responsibilities are required of them.
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