The Anaheim Ducks went 27-50-5 in 2023-24, finishing with the third-worst record in the league. Despite improving from 23 wins in 2022-23 to 27 wins last campaign, the Ducks lost 50 games in regulation for the first time in franchise history. The Ducks will look to turn the page and take meaningful steps forward in 2024-25. The team has a new look following an off-season makeover that they hope will bring a renewed attitude. Players will wear the updated logo and uniform when pre-season action begins in late September.
The Ducks will face Pacific Division opponents 26 times while facing Central Division representatives 24 times and will face Eastern Conference opponents in 32 contests. Here are some matchups fans may want to circle on their calendars:
Season Opener Against Another Rebuilding Team (Oct. 12 – San Jose Sharks)
Anaheim will open the 2024-25 campaign with a back-to-back set of road games. The team will visit the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, October 12, before connecting with the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, October 13. The competition with the Sharks is more interesting than the fact that it is the first season.
The Sharks had the worst record in the NHL last season and received the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, leading to the selection of Macklin Celebrini. In his 17-year-old season, he became the youngest player to win the Hobey Baker Award, presented annually to the best ice hockey player in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). In 38 games for Boston University in his first season, he ranked second in the nation with 32 goals and third with 64 points. Celebrini, who turned 18 in June, will play his first season in the NHL in 2024-25 as a key part of the Sharks’ top-six team.
Celebrini could be compared to Ducks prospect Cutter Gauthier on Oct. 12. The 20-year-old Gauthier won the 2024 Hobey Baker Award after leading all scorers with 38 goals and ranking second overall with 65 points in 41 contests. second season with Boston College. He got a taste of the NHL in 2023-24, making his playoff debut for the Ducks against the Golden Knights on April 18. He had an assist in a 4-1 win and will be the centerpiece of the team’s offense in 2024. -25.
Celebrini, Gauthier, and Will Smith are among the top contenders for the 2025 Calder Trophy after playing in the NCAA. Smith and Gauthier are rivals now after being teammates at Boston College. The 19-year-old Smith led the nation with 46 assists and 71 points in 41 outings in his first season in 2023-24. He is expected to play a key role for the Sharks in the upcoming campaign. The Ducks and Sharks have intriguing young cores, and it will be interesting to see which team gets the better of the other in 2024-25.
Start of the Freeway Faceoff (Oct. 20 – Los Angeles Kings)
The four-game Freeway Faceoff series between the Ducks and Los Angeles Kings begins on Oct. 20 at the Honda Center in Anaheim’s second home game of the season. The Kings have won three of four contests against the Ducks in 2023-24. The Ducks’ lone win came on April 9, thanks to a 36-save performance by Lukas Dostal. Ryan Strome had a hand in two goals, including Frank Vatrano’s game-tying tally and Alex Killorn’s game-winner.
Related: More Anaheim Ducks Season Preview Articles
It has been a one-sided rivalry between the two sides recently, with the Ducks winning just two of their last 11 games. Still, it’s always a spirited contest when two big city rivals lock horns. The Ducks will host the Kings again in their traditional post-Thanksgiving game on Friday, Nov. 29, while visiting the Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, Feb. 8 and Thursday, April 10.
The Longest, Most Anticipated Match (Nov. 10 – Columbus Blue Jackets)
Fans were denied the chance to see the No. 1 pick. 2 and No. 3 overall picks in the 2023 NHL Draft played competitively last season. Leo Carlsson was fit for the first game between the two teams, while Adam Fantilli missed the second game due to injury.
Carlsson’s work was limited to the first half of the 2023-24 campaign due to the team’s strength and development plan. The game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 24 was his second consecutive game in the press box, which was a disappointing decision. Although Fantilli did very well, he had one goal and one assist, the Ducks came away with a 3-2 win. He missed the final 33 games of the season, including the Blue Jackets’ 7-4 win over the Ducks on Feb. 21, after suffering a calf injury against the Seattle Kraken on Jan. 28. Meanwhile, Carlsson set up Killorn’s goal. in defeat.
Barring any unforeseen or additional adverse circumstances, Carlsson and Fantilli should face each other for the first time in their NHL careers in November.
First Visit to Salt Lake City (Dec. 22 – Utah Hockey Club)
The Ducks will be in Salt Lake City for the first time in the regular season to take on the Utah Hockey Club at the Delta Center on Dec. 22. The former Arizona Coyotes won two of three games against the Ducks last campaign. The Coyotes made progress in 2023-24, scoring 18 more points than the Ducks. Anaheim still has a spot to cover to reach Utah, and it will be interesting to watch these two teams battle it out in 2024-25.
The Ducks will host Utah HC in the team’s home opener on Oct. 16, which is always a special time for fans, players, coaches, and managers. The team will visit Utah again on March 12, following the tournament in December.
Gauthier’s First Appearance in the City of Brotherly Love (Jan. 11 – Philadelphia Flyers)
Gauthier’s refusal to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers forced the organization to move him, and the Ducks were quick to jump on the bandwagon. Blueliner Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft were sent to the Flyers in exchange for Gauthier, who agreed to terms with his new team on April 11. Hot on the heels of Gauthier’s outstanding role as captain of the United States. in winning the gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, the trade sent international waves through the hockey world. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Flyers general manager (GM) Daniel Briere. “It has been going on for a while. We tried to give him space. We tried several times to contact him. He wouldn’t communicate … so at some point, we had to make a decision, and we thought about what happened a few days ago, this was probably the time to get the highest price. ”
Ducks GM Pat Verbeek was more than happy to add Gauthier’s skill set to a strong prospect pool that was already full of defensive depth. The thought of trading Drysdale, a skilled puck-mover plagued by injury problems, was a necessary sacrifice to get an immediate improvement in scoring. “He has an obvious talent for the six,” Verbeek said of Gauthier. “He can do many things. He can really shoot the puck, and he’s got some under-the-radar skills. His skating ability is top notch, in my opinion. I’ve always wanted to fast forward with our team, too [he] It certainly fills that ticket.”
The Ducks will host Drysdale again on Dec. 28 with open arms, but Gauthier won’t get a warm welcome from the Flyers’ faithful. Feelings of betrayal and anger over alleged entitlement would make Gauthier public enemy number one that night. The comparison to another top contender for the Calder Trophy in Matvei Michkov adds another layer of intrigue to what is sure to be an emotionally charged atmosphere.
The Young Core of the Ducks Will Showcase Their Skills
The Ducks could still have another big move on their hands before the start of 2024-25, but as it stands now, the proposed roster strongly points to talented prospects positioned to succeed. There will be growing pains in what could be an up-and-down season, but the Ducks expect to see a young core make a significant stride in 2024-25. The opportunity to go along with that journey and see for yourself how it all happens will be worth watching.
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