Speculation: 2025-26 Ducks Defense (Overview)

[branmuffin17]

As I did with Forwards, wanted to discuss an overview and get your opinions for next year's defensemen, including concepts of trade/signings, prospects potentially moving to the NHL, etc. Using CapWages for reference.

Current Roster ($14,687,500 tied up in signed players)

• Signed for 2025-26: 5 defensemen (Trouba, Gudas, LaCombe, Minty, Zell)
  • Assuming here that all will be back for the next season. Trouba and Gudas possibilities for trading at the deadline, with alternative possibility that one or both are re-signed for shorter term (e.g. 2 years)?
• Current UFAs: Kylington is the only one. Assume he's not going to be re-signed, or that he's a possibility for the Gulls, not the Ducks.
• Current RFAs: Helleson is the only one. Proved himself well as a 3rd pair defensive D. Thinking he gets a $1.5-2M x 2 year contract?

Prospects (won't talk about signed status for 2025-26 or beyond, assume everyone mentioned will be retained)

• Potentially ready for full NHL duty consideration (IMO): Hinds, Moore? (Am I overlooking anyone else here? Maybe Biakabutuka?)
  • Been hoping Hinds will be ready sooner than later. Don't know where he fits in though, as he's LD, and currently would be behind LaCombe, Minty and Zelle.
  • Actually I don't know much about Moore and haven't followed him. Age 23 means potentially more likely to have a chance w/ the Ducks sooner than later?
• More seasoning needed (*but excited for their potential*): *Solberg*, *Luneau*, Warren, Dionicio. (Anyone else I should be excited about?)
  • Should I be excited about Dionicio?

Lines (mostly categorizing to consider what's needed)

• Assumed locks for the Ducks (unless traded, and LaCombe for sure not being traded): LaCombe, Gudas, Trouba, Minty, Zell, Helleson.
• Space: Nothing in the top 6 unless there's a trade or injury.
• Need: Could really use a 1 or 2 RD. Makes Gudas or Trouba or both expendable.
  • LaCombe: 1 LD, PP or PK
  • Gudas: 2 or 3 RD, PK
  • Trouba: 2 or 3 RD, PK
  • Minty: 2 or 3 LD, PP
  • Zell: 3 LD, PP
  • Helleson: 3 RD, PK

From above, I think it's obvious we lack a top-line talent to play w/ LaCombe. Those minutes are too much for Gudas or Trouba.

Did I get anything wrong here? Thoughts on who we'll keep / re-sign / trade?

 

[Sendhelp2Anaheim]

As I did with Forwards, wanted to discuss an overview and get your opinions for next year's defensemen, including concepts of trade/signings, prospects potentially moving to the NHL, etc. Using CapWages for reference.

View attachment 1034561

Current Roster ($14,687,500 tied up in signed players)

• Signed for 2025-26: 5 defensemen (Trouba, Gudas, LaCombe, Minty, Zell)
  • Assuming here that all will be back for the next season. Trouba and Gudas possibilities for trading at the deadline, with alternative possibility that one or both are re-signed for shorter term (e.g. 2 years)?
• Current UFAs: Kylington is the only one. Assume he's not going to be re-signed, or that he's a possibility for the Gulls, not the Ducks.
• Current RFAs: Helleson is the only one. Proved himself well as a 3rd pair defensive D. Thinking he gets a $1.5-2M x 2 year contract?

Prospects (won't talk about signed status for 2025-26 or beyond, assume everyone mentioned will be retained)

• Potentially ready for full NHL duty consideration (IMO): Hinds, Moore? (Am I overlooking anyone else here? Maybe Biakabutuka?)
  • Been hoping Hinds will be ready sooner than later. Don't know where he fits in though, as he's LD, and currently would be behind LaCombe, Minty and Zelle.
  • Actually I don't know much about Moore and haven't followed him. Age 23 means potentially more likely to have a chance w/ the Ducks sooner than later?
• More seasoning needed (*but excited for their potential*): *Solberg*, *Luneau*, Warren, Dionicio. (Anyone else I should be excited about?)
  • Should I be excited about Dionicio?

Lines (mostly categorizing to consider what's needed)

• Assumed locks for the Ducks (unless traded, and LaCombe for sure not being traded): LaCombe, Gudas, Trouba, Minty, Zell, Helleson.
• Space: Nothing in the top 6 unless there's a trade or injury.
• Need: Could really use a 1 or 2 RD. Makes Gudas or Trouba or both expendable.
  • LaCombe: 1 LD, PP or PK
  • Gudas: 2 or 3 RD, PK
  • Trouba: 2 or 3 RD, PK
  • Minty: 2 or 3 LD, PP
  • Zell: 3 LD, PP
  • Helleson: 3 RD, PK

From above, I think it's obvious we lack a top-line talent to play w/ LaCombe. Those minutes are too much for Gudas or Trouba.

Did I get anything wrong here? Thoughts on who we'll keep / re-sign / trade?

Defense is prob a bit tougher.... especially if you are under the impression the idea is to keep Gudas/Trouba, and you think Zellweger and Mintyukov need to be in the line up developing.... really leaves you with possibly 1 RHD spot availabe.

That last RHD already has a tough battle going with Helleson, Luneau, and Moore.

I think having Gudas and Trouba is overkill... and would love the replace 1 of them... but who Ekblad? Fabbro? do we look trade route... like a noah dobson/Byram type?

 

[JAHV]

Gudas and Trouba are definitely redundant, and the right side of the defense as currently constructed is not playoff caliber. The left side is only playoff caliber if you assume Mintyukov and Zellweger both take significant steps forward. And that LaCombe doesn't take a step back.

I'm certainly excited about the future of the defense, but Verbeek is going to need to weigh the imperative of making the playoffs in the upcoming year (which probably means either trading one of the young d-men or at the very least keeping them on the bench or in the AHL) or allowing the youngsters to continue to develop under a better coach and taking the risk that they're not going to be good enough yet.

The best way to thread the needle is to trade Gudas and acquire a RD in a separate transaction who can play first pairing minutes alongside LaCombe. That's going to be difficult for many reasons.

 

[Hey234]

My guess is that the defense is going to look pretty much the same as last season. Logically, Gudas and/or Trouba will be not be on the team the following season. Unless a long-term, high-end RHD falls into their lap, it seems likely those two players are a decision for later in the season.

IMO, the main issue on defense is a long-term partner for LaCombe. Some combination of Mintyukov, Zellweger, Solberg, Luneau, Moore, & Helleson will make up the bottom 4. However, either due to ability or type of play, none of those players are ideally suitable for LaCombe.

My focus would be to acquire a player Willander from Vancouver because something like that could solve a lot of issues. Someone who is ready for AHL/NHL play and has the ideal type of play and ability to match someone like LaCombe. Picks/prospects outside of a few should all be on the table for these type of moves.

 

[Rybread86]

I agree, our D likely isnt going to change much, if at all, going into next season.

I think its almost certain this will be our last season with both Trouba and Gudas. I think the biggest thing is how either/both of them adapt and change with Q at the helm. Q could absolutely help to revitalize both of them.

I do think this may be the year we see some D prospects traded. Potentially packaged for a RHD. We just seem to have such a wealth of talent in the system, if Beeker really wants to push for playoffs, getting someone to play top pairing minutes with Lacombe seems like a no brainer. Easier said than done though.

 

[JAHV]

I agree, our D likely isnt going to change much, if at all, going into next season.

I think its almost certain this will be our last season with both Trouba and Gudas. I think the biggest thing is how either/both of them adapt and change with Q at the helm. Q could absolutely help to revitalize both of them.

I do think this may be the year we see some D prospects traded. Potentially packaged for a RHD. We just seem to have such a wealth of talent in the system, if Beeker really wants to push for playoffs, getting someone to play top pairing minutes with Lacombe seems like a no brainer. Easier said than done though.

I have high hopes for Q as a coach, but he's not a miracle worker. I think the best way to revitalize those guys is to play them fewer minutes. I'm just not sure how to do that with their other options being Helleson, Luneau, and Moore. Or throwing a lefty over there.

I think Trouba and Gudas are going to remind Q an awful lot of the well-used versions of Seabrook and Keith in 17-18. They're just not going to be difference-makers at this stage of their careers. I don't think the Ducks are going to trade either one of them (maybe Gudas at the deadline). But I do think the playoff push is going to be difficult with them anchoring the right side.

 

[Rybread86]

I have high hopes for Q as a coach, but he's not a miracle worker. I think the best way to revitalize those guys is to play them fewer minutes. I'm just not sure how to do that with their other options being Helleson, Luneau, and Moore. Or throwing a lefty over there.

I think Trouba and Gudas are going to remind Q an awful lot of the well-used versions of Seabrook and Keith in 17-18. They're just not going to be difference-makers at this stage of their careers. I don't think the Ducks are going to trade either one of them (maybe Gudas at the deadline). But I do think the playoff push is going to be difficult with them anchoring the right side.

Well, that could be one of the ways the new coaching staff helps those guys out. But systems and pairings will also help. Special teams use, or lack thereof could help too.

Im not trying to insinuate that Q is going to be a miracle worker for those 2 and get them back to their primes, but he has the ability to make them both far more useful and put them into positions to succeed.

 

[branmuffin17]

Gudas and Trouba are definitely redundant, and the right side of the defense as currently constructed is not playoff caliber. The left side is only playoff caliber if you assume Mintyukov and Zellweger both take significant steps forward. And that LaCombe doesn't take a step back.

I'm certainly excited about the future of the defense, but Verbeek is going to need to weigh the imperative of making the playoffs in the upcoming year (which probably means either trading one of the young d-men or at the very least keeping them on the bench or in the AHL) or allowing the youngsters to continue to develop under a better coach and taking the risk that they're not going to be good enough yet.

The best way to thread the needle is to trade Gudas and acquire a RD in a separate transaction who can play first pairing minutes alongside LaCombe. That's going to be difficult for many reasons.

Yes, my hope is that we would have only one of Gudas or Trouba...though for the time being, if we consider partners for Minty and Zell, both of them would be functional stay-at-home Ds and allow them to explore their offensive sides more. Ideally, I would say we keep one of them in the 2 RD/3 RD spot, keep Helleson for the other spot, and get a 1 RD to pair with LaCombe, but finding an actual 1 RD without trading really good prospects or other core players away will be difficult.

Of course we have to worry about injuries throughout the season too.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

I might be in the minority, but I think Verbeek should acquire a Dumoulin-type defenseman to eat up minutes. We can’t just ice two veteran defenseman and have the rest of the bunch figure it out on their own.

The jury is still out on Helleson. I know Verbeek acquired him, but he seems so inconsistent with his game.

Mintyukov is still (in my eyes) a project number 1 defenseman. Just needs a bit of time so come into his own like LaCombe.

It’s nothing against Zellweger, but I’ve been thinking that he could be trade bait in the now or future. There is perhaps an over abundance of defense that will be playing in the minors and or drafted in the upcoming summer that may push him out. Luneau is knocking on the door, Moore has had a glowing review, Hinds and Warren are developing nicely and Stolberg is also in that mix.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

If we're truly serious about the playoffs, then Verbeek needs to replace one of Gudas or Trouba with a top-4 stay-at-home RD younger than either. One of Gudas or Trouba is then traded away.

Although, I have a feeling that we're just running it back. The only unknown is the fringe vet 7D.

If that remains true, then I'd like to see...

LaCombe - Trouba
Zell - Gudas
Minty - Helleson
extra: fringe vet D.

I think Trouba has better endurance than Gudas, since Trouba is 30 years old and Gudas is 34 years old, soon to be 35 years old in June.

Both Zell and Minty need to take big steps going into their third season in the NHL. Zell has done a better job in a top-4 role than Minty, but that could be because he has the highest OZ Start % at 56.3% among defensemen who have played at least 10 games. Minty has struggled playing a defensive role as an OFD in a top-4 role. Helleson needs some burn into the top-4 just to see if he can handle top-4 mins and competition or is he just another Vaakanienen, a third pairing, stay-at-home D that Verbeek can package away? In my mind, this is year 4 of the reset rebuild and yet another development season, especially for our defensive youths. The Samueli's see it as the Ducks heading into year 8 of a continual rebuild.

When Minty was finally demoted to the third line, then his play got better. That is concerning because Minty is looked upon as that two-way D to solidify the top-4D as either Zell or Luneau will be in a sheltered role.

Our best defensive d-men are LaCombe and Helleson. Our best offensive d-man is LaCombe. There-in lies the the problem with our youth, we have only one two-way D. We really don't know what we have in Moore since it's a minute sample with a heavily sheltered OZ Start%. Moore should be starting in San Diego, unless he can supplant Helleson.

 

[MCB]

About Gudas: I wish they would use him the way they did his first year with us, I don't have the stats but when he played less minutes he seemed much better than he looked this last year.

About Trading: I know we will probably have to trade one of the defense men (looking like zell right now) but Everytime I think about it I get worried about last time we did this and lost Theodore, vats, etc. I know it's most likely necessary but I hope we choose wisely this time. (And now the scene from Indiana Jones is stuck in my head "he chose.... Poorly") I'm just glad I don't have to be the one to make the decision on who the odd man out is.

 

[Rybread86]

About Gudas: I wish they would use him the way they did his first year with us, I don't have the stats but when he played less minutes he seemed much better than he looked this last year.

About Trading: I know we will probably have to trade one of the defense men (looking like zell right now) but Everytime I think about it I get worried about last time we did this and lost Theodore, vats, etc. I know it's most likely necessary but I hope we choose wisely this time. (And now the scene from Indiana Jones is stuck in my head "he chose.... Poorly") I'm just glad I don't have to be the one to make the decision on who the odd man out is.

And thats what Im hoping for, reduced minutes for Gudas. I know hes the captain but minute eating isnt his game. Have to use him more situationally and take some minutes frm him so he can focus on his game which is a physical burden.

On the trading away... Zell can be good, but hes not going to be Theodore good. Vats is a hard comparison because for all the talent he had, he couldnt stay healthy and that was already a glaring issue in my eyes when they decided to make Theo the trade chip and not Vats or someone else. If we are trading a Zell+ to get a top 4... top 2, pairing RHD, its a good trade as long as that RHD coming back is within an age range that makes sense for this core.

 

[branmuffin17]

I might be in the minority, but I think Verbeek should acquire a Dumoulin-type defenseman to eat up minutes. We can’t just ice two veteran defenseman and have the rest of the bunch figure it out on their own.

The jury is still out on Helleson. I know Verbeek acquired him, but he seems so inconsistent with his game.

Mintyukov is still (in my eyes) a project number 1 defenseman. Just needs a bit of time so come into his own like LaCombe.

It’s nothing against Zellweger, but I’ve been thinking that he could be trade bait in the now or future. There is perhaps an over abundance of defense that will be playing in the minors and or drafted in the upcoming summer that may push him out. Luneau is knocking on the door, Moore has had a glowing review, Hinds and Warren are developing nicely and Stolberg is also in that mix.

I wish we'd kept Dumoulin and traded Gudas or Trouba...and I DO love Gudas for who he is, just don't want him on the top line.

 

[Big Fat Rebound]

It leaked through some not exactly reputable sources, but I wouldn't be surprised if we do indeed find out Gudas is having surgery sooner than later, which would explain a lot of his problems. Dude looked like he couldn't move for the final 20 games of the season (and if true, it's inexcusable if the organization knew about the severity and still allowed him to play through it).

 

[duckpuck]

It leaked through some not exactly reputable sources, but I wouldn't be surprised if we do indeed find out Gudas is having surgery sooner than later, which would explain a lot of his problems. Dude looked like he couldn't move for the final 20 games of the season (and if true, it's inexcusable if the organization knew about the severity and still allowed him to play through it).

I agree he may have been hurt, but without knowing the nature of the injury, not sure why you're faulting the organization for letting him play. Lots of guys play injured. Just because they were eliminated from the playoffs doesn't mean the games were not important for development, etc.

I would only fault the team if playing made the injury worse or delaying the surgery (if any) would prevent him from starting next season on time.