Ducks end 8-year drought: Anaheim storms back into the Stanley Cup playoffs
Hear them waddle, hear them quack, the Anaheim Ducks are on attack!
The Anaheim Ducks are back in the postseason for the first time in eight years, marking a major milestone in the franchise’s rebuild. Their last playoff appearance came in 2018, when they were swept in the first round by the San Jose Sharks.
Anaheim finished the 2025–26 regular season with a 43–33–6 record, good for 90 points and third place in the Pacific Division.
Despite leading the division for much of the season, the Ducks ultimately settled into a playoff position—an outcome that seemed unlikely just a few years ago.
In just three seasons, the Ducks have undergone a complete transformation. During the 2022–23 campaign, Anaheim finished with a dismal 58 points (23–47–12), signaling the need for major changes.
One of the most notable moves in this turnaround was hiring head coach Joel Quenneville. When the 2025–26 season began, he had not coached an official NHL game in nearly four years. His return helped stabilize the team as it began to show signs of real progress.
'Quacking' through the season’s highs and lows
The Ducks opened the season strong, stacking early wins and building momentum. However, adversity struck about six weeks in, when the team endured a brutal nine-game losing streak.
They responded impressively with a seven-game winning streak, fueled by improved defensive play—an area that had plagued them early on. Still, the regular season ended on a sour note, as Anaheim went 1–6–2 in its final stretch.
Despite that stumble, the Ducks clinched a playoff berth just one week earlier, aided by a San Jose Sharks win over the Nashville Predators.
Anaheim made several bold moves to accelerate the rebuild:
- On June 12, 2025, the Ducks acquired forward Chris Kreider and a 2025 fourth-round pick from the New York Rangers in exchange for Carey Terrance and a third-round pick. Kreider, who had nearly reached 40 goals just two seasons prior, brought veteran scoring presence.
- On June 23, 2025, Anaheim traded Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers for Ryan Poehling and two draft picks. Poehling responded with a breakout season (11 goals, 25 assists) and earned a four-year extension.
- On January 16, 2026, the Ducks added forward Jeffrey Viel from the Boston Bruins, bolstering both physicality and defensive depth.
- A blockbuster deal came on March 5, 2026, when Anaheim acquired veteran defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals. The trade included a conditional 2026 first-round pick—triggered by Anaheim making the playoffs—and a 2027 third-rounder. Carlson, one of the league’s elite defensemen, previously posted a 75-point season (15 goals, 60 assists in 2019–20).
The Ducks’ resurgence is driven largely by a talented young core. The roster features 15 players under the age of 30, including 20-year-old Beckett Sennecke, the youngest on the team.
Key developments include:
- A contract extension for Mason McTavish following a strong previous season
- An eight-year deal for defenseman Jackson Lacombe, whose growth—especially after the Olympic break—has been significant
- Goaltender Lukas Dostal emerging as a foundational piece, despite late-season struggles (averaging 3 goals allowed per game)
Top goal scorers from this group include:
- Cutter Gauthier (41)
- Leo Carlsson (29)
- Beckett Sennecke (23)
- Troy Terry (19)
- Mason McTavish (17)
- Ryan Poehling (11)
While the youth movement is strong, Anaheim’s veteran presence has been just as important. The Ducks carried nine players between ages 32 and 36 this season.
- Chris Kreider contributed 22 goals
- Alex Killorn added 15
- Mikael Granlund caught fire after the Olympic break, including a hat trick against the Calgary Flames and a stretch of seven goals in five games
Defensively, leadership came from captain Radko Gudas, along with Jacob Trouba and John Carlson.
How to watch the Ducks in the playoffs
Now, the Ducks turn their attention to proving they belong among the NHL’s elite. Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs begins Monday, April 20, at 7 p.m. from Rogers Place. The games will be broadcast on ESPN2, Victory+, and KCOP-13.
Games 3 and 4 will shift back to Anaheim, giving fans a long-awaited chance to witness playoff hockey once again.
