Speculation: 2025-26 Ducks Defense (Overview)

[JAHV]

I guess I'm more skeptical off of 1 good season given we're talking 7-8 mill. If he regresses we could be on the hook for 3-4 mill on an over pay for 8 years.

He'd have to regress A LOT at a time when it's possible and maybe even probable he gets a bit better. If he takes a step forward under a new regime, that also means we're on the hook for an extra $3-$4 million per year and it skews the payroll structure even more.

I understand the skepticism, but again, this was not a cheap statistic-fueled season. It was driven by improvements in all of the underlying performance measures. I have a hard time believing he'll just forget how to do all that stuff next year.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I guess I'm more skeptical off of 1 good season given we're talking 7-8 mill. If he regresses we could be on the hook for 3-4 mill on an over pay for 8 years.

I'm more impressed he did it while carrying Gudas as a top-pairing guy who plays all three aspects of the game: ES, PP, and PK.

I see LaCombe having two good seasons. Last year, Cronin cited he was the most improve player on the team. The way LaCombe closed out the season, he was the best of our youths and displayed he's a two-way guy. He did it again this year and upped his game to become that "apex predator" by doing work in the off-season. His merits get rewarded by joining team USA at Worlds.

If you see it as just LaCombe came out of nowhere this year, then I'd be feeling like you that his prospect is still sus. If you see LaCombe in a two-year lens and noticed progression at the end of each season, then it's not really a gamble.

LaCombe still is under contract on a really cheap deal for one more season. He doesn't have to sign anything this summer and can wait next summer. A problem does arise if LaCombe sustains or improves upon this past season with the other teammates requiring new contracts.

Needs a new contract in summer of 2026

• LD LaCombe
• C Carlsson
• LW Cutter
• LW Zegras
• LD Zell
• LD Minty

If LaCombe, Carlsson, Cutter, and Zegras all improve, then the Ducks might be paying even higher rates with an even higher salary cap for that summer.

 

[branmuffin17]

So @branmuffin17

Where’s the goalie overview!

No respect!

LOL I mean, I don't know that much about Clang or the other goalie prospects. I honestly have no clue what the true plan is with Gibby. I've known for the past couple of years that Dosty is our goalie of the future and called him out as such previously.

I know that Dosty is an RFA and it would be interesting to see what he'll be signed to, and for how long.

I've heard that Gibby actually really likes it w/ the Ducks, there's so much conflicting info and trade discussion, it's getting tiring. Gibby definitely seems to get hurt more these days but maybe with less serious games, they're just being preventative in making sure anything doesn't threaten to become a more chronic issue.

I'm comfortable re-signing Dosty to a 5-7 year contract at $5-6M (is that reasonable?), AND also keeping Gibby for a 1A/1B setup, especially if we're planning to be in the playoffs next year. They are the obviously the biggest reason we had so many more points, and I expect they'll be relied upon again next year, even if our players continue to take steps forward.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

LOL I mean, I don't know that much about Clang or the other goalie prospects. I honestly have no clue what the true plan is with Gibby. I've known for the past couple of years that Dosty is our goalie of the future and called him out as such previously.

I know that Dosty is an RFA and it would be interesting to see what he'll be signed to, and for how long.

I've heard that Gibby actually really likes it w/ the Ducks, there's so much conflicting info and trade discussion, it's getting tiring. Gibby definitely seems to get hurt more these days but maybe with less serious games, they're just being preventative in making sure anything doesn't threaten to become a more chronic issue.

I'm comfortable re-signing Dosty to a 5-7 year contract at $5-6M (is that reasonable?), AND also keeping Gibby for a 1A/1B setup, especially if we're planning to be in the playoffs next year. They are the obviously the biggest reason we had so many more points, and I expect they'll be relied upon again next year, even if our players continue to take steps forward.

In Verbeek's road interview with Cam & Strick, Verbeek politically stated the goalie situation is a 1A/1B. That should prevent any "Gibson wants out of Anaheim" articles for this summer with the context the Ducks want to make the playoffs next season.

Although, I do have a thought about our goalie situation. We will have too many youths in the AHL/ECHL with Suchanek, Clara, Clang, and Buteyets. Suchanek was out all last season and we don't know what we have in him when he returns. Injuries happen and I don't want to run Dostal down again when Gibby gets hurt. I think we should sign vet Husso to keep in the AHL. His play was revived under us, but in a small sample. Maybe sign him to a one-year deal to continue his rehabilitation back into an NHL goalie under Sudsie's overview?

 

[KaseMeOutside]

Are we so confident that last year was the real deal with Lacombe? Because the extension people are asking for could turn real bad if it wasn't.

Why would we not be confident? Is he going to forget how to play?

 

[DavidBL]

Why would we not be confident? Is he going to forget how to play?

Because it was 1 season. Sometimes guys have great seasons and never replicate the success. Not say that will happen but generally I'd like to see something more than once before I shell out the big bucks. It may cost you a little more on the back end but could save you tons as well. Hence the question of the confidence level. Everyone else appears to be so I guess I'm the minority. That's fine. I'm not going to be upset if they sign him long term this summer.

 

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

Why would we not be confident? Is he going to forget how to play?

I mean he makes a fair point. I’m confident in him to continue to develop and prove he is that player, also that I’m confident Leo and Cutter will take major steps in 1-2 years (hopefully next year). Signing players early does 2 things, you may be able to get them cheap if they continue to progress, or you have Casey middlestadt making $6 mil on your roster.

Also moritz seider is a stud, but he hasn’t eclipsed his point total in the 3 years since his rookie year. He has been - in +\- every year too. Signed to 8+ mil, is he worth it? Yes! Has he taken major steps towards being above a 40-46 point player ? Not yet.

Now he’s only 23, and never put below 40 pts, LaCombe just put up his first 40+ point season and he’s 24.

Lock him up now and he continues it’s a steal, lock him up now, and he falters it’s a bad contract, lock him up now and production stays relatively the same, it’s a good contract.

I say all this knowing I would lock him up to an extension right now, doesn’t mean it a 100% lock to be the right move.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

I mean he makes a fair point. I’m confident in him to continue to develop and prove he is that player, also that I’m confident Leo and Cutter will take major steps in 1-2 years (hopefully next year). Signing players early does 2 things, you may be able to get them cheap if they continue to progress, or you have Casey middlestadt making $6 mil on your roster.

Also moritz seider is a stud, but he hasn’t eclipsed his point total in the 3 years since his rookie year. He has been - in +\- every year too. Signed to 8+ mil, is he worth it? Yes! Has he taken major steps towards being above a 40-46 point player ? Not yet.

Now he’s only 23, and never put below 40 pts, LaCombe just put up his first 40+ point season and he’s 24.

Lock him up now and he continues it’s a steal, lock him up now, and he falters it’s a bad contract, lock him up now and production stays relatively the same, it’s a good contract.

I say all this knowing I would lock him up to an extension right now, doesn’t mean it a 100% lock to be the right move.

I understand what you guys are saying but it isn't like we are basing this on something that could be subject to variance like points. The underlying numbers are great,he passes the eye test. Is it a risk? Maybe but look at our future cap sheet...we've got to find some potential value. This is someone we can find it with if he's interested.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

You guys realize now that q is here he's going to unleash the offense in both zellweger and myntikov. But q loves his right handed shots. The defense is a big log Jam. We need to make trades happen

 

[Hockey Duckie]

You guys realize now that q is here he's going to unleash the offense in both zellweger and myntikov. But q loves his right handed shots. The defense is a big log Jam. We need to make trades happen

I don't know much what Q will bring. He hasn't been in the league for four years.

The defense is a log jam by numbers, but not by quality.

Top-pairing D: LD LaCombe
Top-4D: none
Bottom pairing: RD Gudas, RD Trouba, RD Helleson, LD Zell, and LD Minty

We are banking on Zell and Minty taking a big step next season to be a middle pairing D. I dunno b/c learning defense is difficult for our OFD's, including RD Luneau.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

I don't know much what Q will bring. He hasn't been in the league for four years.

The defense is a log jam by numbers, but not by quality.

Top-pairing D: LD LaCombe
Top-4D: none
Bottom pairing: RD Gudas, RD Trouba, RD Helleson, LD Zell, and LD Minty

We are banking on Zell and Minty taking a big step next season to be a middle pairing D. I dunno b/c learning defense is difficult for our OFD's, including RD Luneau.

Damn you really think we dont have any top 4 d? Dont be surprised when solberg is here to stay

 

[lwvs84]

I don't know much what Q will bring. He hasn't been in the league for four years.

The defense is a log jam by numbers, but not by quality.

Top-pairing D: LD LaCombe
Top-4D: none
Bottom pairing: RD Gudas, RD Trouba, RD Helleson, LD Zell, and LD Minty

We are banking on Zell and Minty taking a big step next season to be a middle pairing D. I dunno b/c learning defense is difficult for our OFD's, including RD Luneau.

That's probably a little harsh... a few of those guys could probably be/are #4 D, the problem is we have a 1/2 guy in LaCombe and a bunch of 4/5/6 guys asked to be #2/3 guys. For example, if you had a good #3 RD (more of a defensive oriented guy) playing on the second pair with Mintyukov, he'd look a lot better. In the context of this team, though, I agree.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Damn you really think we dont have any top 4 d? Dont be surprised when solberg is here to stay

Unless you think a top pairing D LaCombe isn't a top-4D, then I'd say you're incorrect.

I hope to see Zell and Minty become top-4D next season, but they were not that this past season.

Solberg didn't dominate at the SHL level last year. He also wasn't the best youth D in the AHL when he came over at the end of the season. Solberg is still a year or two away from the NHL. He needs more of that calm, poised consistency in his defensive game while developing his offense to become a top-4D. And then he has to establish himself at the NHL level.

I have had hopes that Solberg would be refined into a top-4D than simply a body blasting 3rd pairing when we drafted him. He has had a rough time conforming to a controlled atmosphere in the SHL that Anaheim recalled him to North America. Similarly, LD Dionicio also had a rough time conforming to a controlled atmosphere in San Diego and was sent away to the Swiss league.

Let's have patience and look at bigger sample sizes.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

That's probably a little harsh... a few of those guys could probably be/are #4 D, the problem is we have a 1/2 guy in LaCombe and a bunch of 4/5/6 guys asked to be #2/3 guys. For example, if you had a good #3 RD (more of a defensive oriented guy) playing on the second pair with Mintyukov, he'd look a lot better. In the context of this team, though, I agree.

From Money Puck, with a 200 minutes requirement per pair. There are a total of 170 defensive pairings ranked for each stat. We're all at the bottom. A Minty-Helleson pairing is a third pairing role.

 

[Webster]

@Hockey Duckie Sorry, but if you think Solberg is 1-2 years away from the NHL, I'd say you are in the minority here.

I've noticed Ducks managers are thrilled about him. Verbeek said he loves Solberg's toughness and aggressiveness, something I think the Ducks lack. Then I watched his game at the Worlds last year, it made him a 1st round pick. And this year at the Worlds he's been amazing, with the hatty against USA, and 12 hits against Germany. Now he plays hard and still plays well defensively, that's great to see.

Do as he does, don't look back at the SHL. Färjestad tried to kill his physical game, it turned into a conflict and hampered his development. That's why the Ducks pulled him out of there.

To me Solberg looks NHL ready soon, and he looks like a future leader for the Ducks.

 

[lwvs84]

From Money Puck, with a 200 minutes requirement per pair. There are a total of 170 defensive pairings ranked for each stat. We're all at the bottom. A Minty-Helleson pairing is a third pairing role.

View attachment 1036782

View attachment 1036784

Again, in the context of this team I agree. The problem is Gudas (a 4 at best) is our #2. If you have the Minty pair as 2nd pairing, he's with a 3rd pairing guy. Trouba might be able to be a #4, but Zellweger is a bottom pair guy. Minty, Trouba, and Gudas MIGHT be able to a #4, but we don't have another top pairing guy and a #3 to take on some of the heavy lifting. Combine that with a horrible system and their numbers will be bad. One of those things should be fixed (the system), so we'll see if that fixes some of the problems. We probably won't have another top 3 D unless/until one of the kids develops like LaCombe did.

 

[Deuce22]

I don't understand how the Ducks go from the middle of a rebuild to all of their young players instantly being top six forwards or top 4 D. Even with the hiring of Quenneville, patience is required. Endlessly pointing out that Zellweger and Mintiyukov are 3rd pairing guys is ridiculous. They are 21 and played in a crap man-to-man chase system. Leo, Cutter, and Mac are great prospects. They are learning at the NHL level. This team will be great when the young studs mature and grow into roles that they can handle. Not because Verbeek signs a FA.

 

[DaGeneral]

@Hockey Duckie Sorry, but if you think Solberg is 1-2 years away from the NHL, I'd say you are in the minority here.

I've noticed Ducks managers are thrilled about him. Verbeek said he loves Solberg's toughness and aggressiveness, something I think the Ducks lack. Then I watched his game at the Worlds last year, it made him a 1st round pick. And this year at the Worlds he's been amazing, with the hatty against USA, and 12 hits against Germany. Now he plays hard and still plays well defensively, that's great to see.

Do as he does, don't look back at the SHL. Färjestad tried to kill his physical game, it turned into a conflict and hampered his development. That's why the Ducks pulled him out of there.

To me Solberg looks NHL ready soon, and he looks like a future leader for the Ducks.

He will still only be 19 when the year starts. He won’t jump Minty, zell, or Luneau

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

From Money Puck, with a 200 minutes requirement per pair. There are a total of 170 defensive pairings ranked for each stat. We're all at the bottom. A Minty-Helleson pairing is a third pairing role.

View attachment 1036782

View attachment 1036784

It really shouldn't come as a surprise to people that our defensemen were terrible since we all watched 82 games. They're bad. They have potential but potential isn't reality.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

@Hockey Duckie Sorry, but if you think Solberg is 1-2 years away from the NHL, I'd say you are in the minority here.

I've noticed Ducks managers are thrilled about him. Verbeek said he loves Solberg's toughness and aggressiveness, something I think the Ducks lack. Then I watched his game at the Worlds last year, it made him a 1st round pick. And this year at the Worlds he's been amazing, with the hatty against USA, and 12 hits against Germany. Now he plays hard and still plays well defensively, that's great to see.

Do as he does, don't look back at the SHL. Färjestad tried to kill his physical game, it turned into a conflict and hampered his development. That's why the Ducks pulled him out of there.

To me Solberg looks NHL ready soon, and he looks like a future leader for the Ducks.

You keep saying that Farjestad was trying to kill his physical game, but Solberg lead the team in hits. Stop conflating Solberg's inability to play controlled with his physical game. Solberg's inability to control his excessive actions has caused Farjestad to rein him in. They want to develop Solberg into a poised player as well as find ways to improve his offensive output. He has physical makeup for the game, but he still needs to learn the game if he's going to become a top-4D instead of a bottom-6 banger.

What is hilarious is that the Ducks had the same problem with another defensive prospect in LD Dionicio down in San Diego, the Ducks' AHL minor league team. Dionicio cannot control his excessive actions on the ice and the Ducks shipped him away to Switzerland. It seems shipping out prospects who need attitude adjustment is the org's only form of a serious warning/wakeup call.

To you, you like flashes and hype. Yet Solberg didn't dominate the SHL. If he cannot dominate the SHL, then how is he going to dominate the NHL when he's still in his development stages? We both want the same thing (I think), such that we want Solberg to be a top-4D in the NHL. The difference between us is you want that flash now and I want that consistent dominance at lower levels first before jumping to the NHL.

 

[DucksRoll]

@Hockey Duckie Sorry, but if you think Solberg is 1-2 years away from the NHL, I'd say you are in the minority here.

I've noticed Ducks managers are thrilled about him. Verbeek said he loves Solberg's toughness and aggressiveness, something I think the Ducks lack. Then I watched his game at the Worlds last year, it made him a 1st round pick. And this year at the Worlds he's been amazing, with the hatty against USA, and 12 hits against Germany. Now he plays hard and still plays well defensively, that's great to see.

Do as he does, don't look back at the SHL. Färjestad tried to kill his physical game, it turned into a conflict and hampered his development. That's why the Ducks pulled him out of there.

To me Solberg looks NHL ready soon, and he looks like a future leader for the Ducks.

You're being unrealistic. You're also confusing positive words and excitement with being NHL ready. They can be very excited about development progress while still not being ready to call him up for at least a year.

And if you read the guys who watch the Gulls - like Defend the Nest on X - they agree that Solberg very much needs more time to develop. It's exciting to see him getting better because even late first rounders are not a sure thing to even make the NHL as a bottom pair guy, but let's mix in a dose of realism with the excitement.

 

[Hey234]

I can't imagine why the Ducks would want Solberg playing in the NHL next season. The Ducks moved vets so that LaCombe, Mintyukov, and Zellweger could play and now one of them is being bumped for a player with very little experience in North American hockey. It makes no sense. Let him learn and dominate in the AHL. There is no rush. The best teams in the league have depth and let players develop appropriately.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I don't understand how the Ducks go from the middle of a rebuild to all of their young players instantly being top six forwards or top 4 D. Even with the hiring of Quenneville, patience is required. Endlessly pointing out that Zellweger and Mintiyukov are 3rd pairing guys is ridiculous. They are 21 and played in a crap man-to-man chase system. Leo, Cutter, and Mac are great prospects. They are learning at the NHL level. This team will be great when the young studs mature and grow into roles that they can handle. Not because Verbeek signs a FA.

You seem to contradict yourself in the same paragraph. You say quit pointing out the youth D are weak (3rd pairing), but then cite they're still young and will be great once they mature as well as grow into roles they can handle. Yet, you left out another youth that took his game to another level last year in the same "crap man-to-man chase system" as a part of the Ducks top pairing set. LaCombe set a standard and you're offended that we appropriated identify the rest of our youths are 3rd pairing guys right now?

What's even more egregious with your cringy white knighting is that if we're to be a playoff team next year and no additional changes occur on the blue line, then the determinant will be Zell and Minty. If they don't improve their status from 3rd pairing players, then we might be stuck in neutral. We want them to improve, but neither one showed great improvement to end the season. Last season, I was able to identify that LaCombe did improve his play to where he was our best two-way player. LaCombe breaking out this season didn't happen out of nowhere.

Although, I am hoping Zell or Minty can break through out of nowhere for this coming season... just not too confident in it occurring this coming season. If Samueli didn't put the ultimatum that we'd be a playoff team next year, then I wouldn't focus much on Zell and Minty continuing to develop their skill this season. I think next season is where they start putting things together like LaCombe's rookie season and 2026-27 is when they both can take a huge leap in development. In my eyes, we're still in year 4 of the reset rebuild and it's another development season. That ultimatum says we're done developing even though we're still in a premature stage with most of our youths.

 

[Webster]

He will still only be 19 when the year starts. He won’t jump Minty, zell, or Luneau

I'm telling you what I'm hearing inside the hockey community. If he can play at the NHL level, and he has no problems there based on how he outperforms many NHL players already, he's basically NHL ready.

You're talking about jumping guys, that's a GM decision. If he wants more physicality, the players you mentioned don't play Solberg hockey. Trades can be made to create room.

Most experts, including NHL media, agree...if he doesn't make Ducks roster out of camp, calling him up at some point next season is very realistic.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

I'm telling you what I'm hearing inside the hockey community. If he can play at the NHL level, and he has no problems there based on how he outperforms many NHL players already, he's basically NHL ready.

You're talking about jumping guys, that's a GM decision. If he wants more physicality, the players you mentioned don't play Solberg hockey. Trades can be made to create room.

Most experts, including NHL media, agree...if he doesn't make Ducks roster out of camp, calling him up at some point next season is very realistic.

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