Anaheim Ducks 2026-2027

The upcoming season presents one of the last years for the current core of the Anaheim Ducks to compete for the cup. An aging core leaves GM VideoJ in desperation mode to try and finally claim that well-deserved championship this coming season. His name must be etched in the cup, forever immortalizing him as a champion among losers.

Up front the Ducks are still a formidable team. They have several weapons in each category. The main thing you could say they lack is a true #1 playmaking centre. That would be the biggest need for the offseason. Without any game changing rookies to inject into the team, they are forced to bring someone in from the outside. The lines shake out as such:

Brad Marchand – Boone Jenner – Alex Debrincat

Seth Jarvis – Shane Pinto – Bryan Rust

Connor McMichael – Mikael Backlund – Mavrik Bourque

James Van Riemsdyk – Isaac Lundestrom – Jonathan Huberdeau

Though he had an abbreviated season, being held to only 52 games, Brad Marchand still went 27 goals and 27 assists and is solidified on the first line. Alex Debrincat will flank him on the right wing, and for now, with no other real top line option, Boone Jenner (38 points in 67 games) provides some sandpaper grit on the top line, and some excellent defensive skill and faceoff prowess.

Seth Jarvis is a star and will continue to develop in the top 6 and receive powerplay time. Bryan Rust has shown that he is stainless steel, not slowing down with a season that saw him score 29 goals along with 36 assists. They will start the season centered by Shane Pinto, who leapfrogged McMichael this season, with a better stat-line.

Expectations for Connor McMichael were high after his emergence in the 24-25 season. However, last season with Washington, he regressed, instead of growing on his 57 point effort, only accruing a mere 46 points in 78 games (Only 14 goals). He will be relegated to bottom 6 duties, unless he has a change to rerate well. On the opposite side of him will feature rookie to the sim Mavrik Bourque. Mavrik Bourque had a solid season with a 20/21 goals and assists campaign and looks to make some noise in his first year with the RHL Ducks. Mikael Backlund is a strong veteran but disappointed offensively last season )again, Calgary = gross). This 3rd line has a ton of pressure on both of them to show their worth this year. Each of them has something to prove.

Lastly, James Van Riemsdyk is still swinging. He had a fine year, warranting a bottom line role, hopefully chipping in some points here and there. Isac Lundestrom never developed into what GM VideoJ had hoped, but will have decent ratings for a 4th line centre. And finally Jonathan Huberdeau looked like he would be on the upswing after his 62 points in 2024-2025, but disappointed, as did nearly everyone on Calgary, with only 25 points in 50 games. He also played nearly a minute and a half less per game. He will look to bounce back into the top 6 with hopefully a good rerate mid next season.