IRVINE –– The Ducks finally see a bright glimmer at the end of their tunnel, but if they persist in their losing habits, it may just be a train barreling down on yet another season, which will begin Thursday in Seattle.
The Ducks, who had never failed to qualify for the postseason for more than three consecutive campaigns and were coming off the winningest five-year stretch in franchise history from 2013 to 2018, have now missed the playoffs seven seasons in a row. That’s not only the most in Ducks lore but also the longest active slump in the West, trailing only Detroit (nine seasons) and Buffalo (13 campaigns) league-wide.
Enter Joel Quenneville, a coach that arrived with some serious baggage but luggage that also contained four Stanley Cups, including three as a head coach with the Chicago Blackhawks. After a lengthy news conference justifying the hiring of Quenneville, who was suspended from NHL employment for his improper conduct amid a sexual abuse scandal in Chicago, the Ducks also hired three reputed assistants to pivot toward putting an end to their funk.
The ‘Q’ factor
Quenneville and General Manager Pat Verbeek were teammates in two different stops (New Jersey and Hartford) during their playing careers, and now they are reunited in Anaheim. Quenneville had taken over the Chicago Blackhawks’ then-youthful group and stewarded them on an ascent that has been unrivaled in the salary-cap era, winning titles in 2010, 2013 and, as Ducks fans remember all too well, 2015.
But Quenneville has not coached since 2021, when he was abruptly ousted from his post with the Florida Panthers by the NHL’s decision to suspend him from seeking employment. He’s now 67, making him the league’s oldest active head coach. He coached Florida to consecutive first-round exits, and subsequently the Panthers won the Presidents’ Trophy under Andrew Brunette, followed by three Eastern Conference crowns and two Stanley Cups under Paul Maurice.
Quenneville is now tasked with making a once model franchise relevant again. Frank Vatrano played under him in Florida, and as a group, the Ducks were enthusiastic about being guided by a coach with the gravitas of Quenneville.
“The message it sends to the players [is impactful], any time you can bring in a guy of that caliber. We’ve had some great coaches in here, but it feels like the time is now,” said Troy Terry, who now has the longest tenure on the team.
Leo season
OK, the Swedish center is actually a Capricorn, but Leo Carlsson’s campaign could be make-or-break for the Ducks. While he competed in more games and raised his scoring average marginally last season, the 20-year-old former No. 2 overall pick is now firmly in the No. 1 center role.
With Mason McTavish behind him and the former face of the franchise, Trevor Zegras, having been unceremoniously jettisoned in a trade to Philly, Carlsson is more at the fore than ever. He showed serious promise in the preseason finale, when he all but singlehandedly forced overtime in what had been a four-goal game with two goals and a primary assist down the stretch. Carlsson also headed The Athletic’s list of 2025-26 breakout candidates.
He represented the Tre Kronor at last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off and should be on his way to Milan to don gold and blue once again at the Olympics. His vision, skill and ability to navigate the neutral zone are already top-notch, and the sooner his body and game fill out, the sooner the Ducks could have a true superstar in their midst.
“Consistency for a young player is what you want to get to, but I thought last year he really trended in the right fashion,” Quenneville said. “He’s going into the regular season feeling good about himself and he should be excited about having a strong year and being a big part of our leadership group.”
Front-office pressure
Verbeek was brought in to chop up the remnants of the Ducks’ prosperous period under his predecessor, Bob Murray, and promptly stockpiled a formidable crop of young talent. Now, it’s time for those seeds to bear fruit, as Verbeek finally has the blessing of ownership to stop dinking and doinking and start spending and competing.
Gone are the days of taking on contracts just to hit the cap floor and seeking players to flip at the trade deadline in another deflating purge of talent. Chris Kreider, Ryan Poehling, Mikael Granlund and Petr Mrázek were all added to the mix –– and at least the chance of competition. The playoffs are no longer an abstract concept, but Verbeek’s Ducks will have plenty of work ahead to reify their aspirations.
Having taken the helm in 2022, only three players who dressed for the Ducks that season remain on the roster today: Lukáš Dostál, Mason McTavish and Troy Terry. This is now Verbeek’s team, and he no longer enjoys the convenience of low expectations.
“It feels like now, with Pat, most of the guys here are guys he brought in, so it feels like it’s different,” Ryan Strome said. “It also feels like some of our young players are a couple years ahead of where they were before. They’re ready to take premier roles, you add in the new coaching staff, and you’ve got to think that the takeoff is probably going to start now.”
