Follow me on Twitter:
@Hockey_Comps
Follow HockeyBuzz Ducks on Twitter:
@HB_Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks' season-opening roster was released, featuring 12 forwards, eight defensemen and two goalies.
In goal, John Gibson will return as the team’s starter, but Lukas Dostal notably earned the Ducks' backup role, with Alex Stalock heading down to the AHL. It'll be interesting to see how much of the workload Dostal is able to take from Gibson.
On the new-look blue line, Cam Fowler, Jamie Drysdale, Urho Vaakanainen are the three main returners (and even Drysdale and Vaakanainen combined for just 31 games with the team last year). While Radko Gudas and Ilya Lyubushkin are the team’s notable offseason additions, three prospects in Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov and Tristan Luneau all cracked the roster as well.
Meanwhile, Lassi Thomson, who was just recently claimed by the Ducks off waivers from the Ottawa Senators, was cut by Anaheim and re-claimed by the Senators.
LaCombe seemed like the most likely of the prospect group to make the team heading into camp, given he got a big role in limited action with the Ducks last year and the team has openings on the left side of their defense group. However, Pavel Mintyukov was a really interesting addition, putting together a great preseason and earning a role, when a few weeks ago it seemed like Olen Zellweger may have been the more likely one to make the jump right to the NHL.
Then finally, Tristan Luneau was a bit of a surprise addition. Luneau was selected by the Ducks in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft and had an excellent season in the QMJHL, earning the league’s Defenseman of the Year honours. However, Luneau still has another year of CHL eligibility remaining, meaning he either needed to make the jump right to the NHL or head back to junior hockey, with no ability to play in the AHL instead. With a fairly packed right side, it’ll be interesting to see how the team opts to use Luneau, and if he ends up sticking with the team past a nine-game trial run.
Regardless though, it’s a very different look for the team’s blue line and especially while incorporating some young talent as expected, the group should be a lot more fun to watch.
Up front, the forward group features Trevor Zegras, Troy Terry, Adam Henrique, Ryan Strome, Mason McTavish, Frank Vatrano, Brock McGinn, Jakob Silfverberg, Max Jones, Sam Carrick, Brett Leason and Benoit-Olivier Groulx.
Meanwhile, Zack Kassian was released from his professional tryout.
11 of the 12 forwards initially named to the roster were members of the team last year, but the one notable addition was Groulx. The center is 23 years old and has played 20 games with the Ducks over the last two years, but has spent the majority of the last three seasons with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. However, with several injuries within the forward group, Groulx should get a better opportunity.
Also joining the forward group though will be Ross Johnston, who the Ducks claimed off waivers from the New York Islanders today.
Johnston is 29 years old and had spent his entire career with the New York Islanders to this point. However, across the last six seasons, the winger has never played more than 32 games in a season, despite his contract carrying a $1.1 million cap hit until 2026.
While Johnston can bring physicality and toughness, that’s about it. To me, this was an odd waiver claim for the Ducks and I don’t know that Johnston is going to get much of a role with the team (and probably shouldn’t). Anaheim already has Max Jones who plays a similar style and has more skill to his game and it’s another waiver claim from Pat Verbeek targeting the bottom of the lineup.
The other part of this is that Johnston is under contract for three more seasons. Right now, the Ducks begin the year with three NHL-caliber forwards on injured reserve, in Leo Carlsson, Alex Killorn and Isac Lundestrom. As each player becomes healthy, the team will need to make room for them on the roster, and if Johnston isn’t being sent down, it’ll be interesting to see who is instead.
Regardless, the Ducks have some new faces within the group, both as a result of offseason additions and internal promotions. While this may not be the year they find their way back to the postseason, they should be an interesting team to track.
OTHER ARTICLES FROM OCTOBER
Ducks sign Trevor Zegras to three-year contract extension
Ducks sign Jamie Drysdale to three-year contract 
Anaheim Ducks Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»