- Although Ducks winger Max Jones has received a clean bill of health after recovering from a torn chest muscle, he’ll be held out for the rest of the year for precautionary reasons, relays Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register. The 24-year-old has missed all but two games this season due to the injury and will look to lock down a full-time spot in the lineup in training camp. In the meantime, he’ll likely continue to take part in Anaheim’s practices in a non-contact jersey.
- In a separate column, Teaford adds that center Sam Carrick isn’t expected to return this season due to a lower-body injury. The 30-year-old had just 11 points in 47 over parts of five NHL campaigns heading into 2021-22 but he has basically been a regular for the Ducks this season, collecting 19 points (including 11 goals) in 64 games. Carrick will be an unrestricted free agent in July.
Ducks Rumors
Snapshots: Byron, Team Canada, Perbix
Paul Byron can’t catch a break. The veteran forward has been limited to just 26 games this season due to injury. While many of these absences came while Byron was recovering from hip surgery, he has continued to be in and out of the lineup ever since he returned. The Montreal Canadiens announced that he was returning to the lineup on Tuesday night – but the return was short-lived. Less than two periods into the game, the Habs revealed that Byron has left the game and would not return due to a lower-body injury. Its unclear if this is another new injury or a reoccurrence of his hip issue. Either way, with just five games remaining in a lost season, it might be time for Montreal to simply shut Byron down for the year. Byron has one year remaining on his contract and will be back with the Canadiens in 2022-23 if he isn’t traded or bought out.
- The Canadian entry into the upcoming IIHF World Championship may look very familiar to the fans of a Canadian NHL team. Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun writes that Senators head coach D.J. Smith, who will be an assistant for Team Canada, has recruited several of his star players to join the tournament. If healthy, Drake Batherson, Connor Brown, and Thomas Chabot will suit up for Canada. Health is a question though; Chabot is currently on the injured reserve with a fractured hand and Batherson and Brown have both missed time due to injury this season and may not rush to play extra games if those issues flare up.
- Another notable name has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. Defenseman Jack Perbix, an Anaheim Ducks fourth-round pick in 2018, is leaving the University of Minnesota. Most would have expected that if Perbix was leaving the Gophers, it would be for the NHL. Older brother Nick Perbix, a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect, signed his entry level contract last month after four years at St. Cloud State University. Rather than follow suit, Jack will instead stay in college for his senior year but will don a different jersey and have a different name on his degree.
Jackson LaCombe Staying At Minnesota
- The University of Minnesota announced that All-American defenseman Jackson LaCombe would be staying with the Gophers for next season, his fourth and final of NCAA eligibility. LaCombe was the Anaheim Ducks second round selection, 39th overall, in 2019, and would be eligible to become a free agent after this coming season if he chooses not to sign with Anaheim. While that is clearly of-note on LaCombe, it’s not yet apparent if that is of concern to Anaheim. LaCombe’s return could easily be a bit of unfinished business with Minnesota, much the same as it is for Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Matthew Knies, who is also returning to the Gophers. Minnesota lost in the semifinals of the Frozen Four to Minnesota State, who was then defeated by the University of Denver in the final. In three years on Minnesota’s blueline, LaCombe has 10 goals and 54 assists in 103 games.
Anaheim Ducks Expected To Retain Dallas Eakins
At the end of this season, the three-year contract that Dallas Eakins signed as head coach of the Anaheim Ducks in 2019 will expire. With the team now under new management after hiring general manager Pat Verbeek earlier this year, some questioned whether Eakins would be retained. Elliott Teaford of the OC Register reports that the team is expected to retain Eakins for at least one more season, with Verbeek set to clarify the situation this week. The Athletic has also reported that the Ducks coach will be back in 2022-23, and notes that the original deal may have contained an option for a fourth year.
Eakins, 55, has been with the Ducks organization since 2015, first serving as head coach of the San Diego Gulls for four seasons before taking over behind the Anaheim bench in 2019. During his time at the NHL level, the team has had middling results, though the development of players like Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and especially Troy Terry has been celebrated.
Once a rising star in the coaching ranks, expected to have a long, successful career, Eakins’ first chance behind the bench of an NHL team didn’t go well. In 2013 he was hired as the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, a team loaded with young talent that included the 25-and-under group of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, David Perron, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Sam Gagner, Justin Schultz, Nail Yakupov, and Jeff Petry. Things almost immediately went south, and after missing the playoffs badly in his first year, Eakins was dismissed just 31 games into his second season with the Oilers.
Again, though, he showed he could get outstanding results at the AHL level, taking the Gulls to the playoffs three times and winning four total playoff rounds. When Randy Carlyle was fired by the Ducks in 2019, Eakins became an obvious choice to replace him after paying his dues at the minor league level. Still, the organization took its time and interviewed several other candidates before eventually handing him the job.
Now, after some early success this season, the Ducks once again find themselves well below .500 and outside the playoff picture. They sold off several key players at the deadline and will lose captain Ryan Getzlaf at the end of the year to retirement. There should be a ton of pressure on Eakins and the team to take another step forward next season, especially if his contract is only extended by one year.
Jackson LaCombe To Decide In Next Few Days Whether Or Not He'll Turn Pro Next Season
- While the Ducks signed a key college prospect today when they inked Blake McLaughin, another of their NCAA prospects is still deciding whether he should turn pro or stay in school. Eric Stephens of The Athletic reports that defenseman Jackson LaCombe will likely need a few more days to decide if he’s going to return for his senior season with Minnesota. The 21-year-old was a second-round pick of Anaheim back in 2019 (39th overall) and had 30 points in 39 games with the Golden Gophers this season.
Anaheim Ducks Sign Blake McLaughlin
Despite the disappointment of his team being unable to capture the NCAA’s National Championship, having been eliminated in the semifinals, there is some good news coming for Minnesota Gophers winger Blake McLaughlin. The Grand Rapids, Minnesota native has signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks, the team announced. His deal begins in the 2022-2023 season and McLaughlin will join the AHL’s San Diego Gulls for the rest of this season on an amateur tryout agreement.
McLaughlin, 22, was the 79th overall selection in the 2018 draft and has played four seasons at the University of Minnesota. He was an instantly meaningful scorer for the team, scoring 20 points in 35 games as a freshman, and he finished this season as one of the team’s most important players, tying Toronto prospect Matthew Knies for second in team scoring with 33 points. (in 39 games) McLaughlin has impressed coaches throughout his career as a prospect with his work ethic and all-around ability, and the transition to the professional game should be more seamless for him than it is for some other prospects.
For the Ducks, by signing McLaughlin the team gets a well-developed prospect who is either already or close to being NHL-ready. The team already boasts significant young talent up front, led by stars such as Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry, so McLaughlin won’t be expected to shoulder a significant load, but with the game he plays, it wouldn’t be surprising if he got a look next to some more talented players to see if they have chemistry. Given that McLaughlin is a senior player and could have had the opportunity to hit the open market and sign wherever he pleased, securing McLaughlin’s signature on an entry-level deal is a nice bit of work by new GM Pat Verbeek.
Ryan Getzlaf To Retire After 2021-22 Season
After a long, successful career, Ryan Getzlaf will hang up his skates at the end of this season. The Anaheim Ducks captain announced today that he will retire following the 2021-22 campaign, having only ever played for one franchise. In a statement, Getzlaf explained:
It’s been an honor to play in the NHL and spend my entire professional career with one organization. None of this would have been possible without my family, who offered unwavering love and support each step of the way. Thank you to our owners, Henry and Susan Samueli, for leading an organization committed to success on the ice, but more importantly, to making a positive impact in our community and to those in need.
Getzlaf, 36, played 17 seasons with the Ducks, debuting in 2005 after the lockout and basically never leaving the lineup. Named captain in 2010 after the departure of Scott Niedermayer, he has been the face of the franchise for more than a decade. Now, as the team transitions to a new core, he’ll step away from the game and allow younger players like Trevor Zegras to take the spotlight in Anaheim.
It’s been an incredible career for the 19th overall pick in 2003. Getzlaf has played in 1,150 games, registered 1,013 points, and raised the Stanley Cup in 2007. He sits as the team’s all-time leading scorer, with 200 more assists than Teemu Selanne who sits in second place. In fact, Getzlaf’s 731 career assists are actually good for 51st on the all-time NHL list–he could climb into the top-50 by season’s end.
There was also plenty of international success for the big center. Twice Getzlaf took home Olympic gold medals as part of Team Canada, while also winning World Cup, World Junior, and U18 golds along the way. While he never secured a World Championship gold to enter the “Triple Gold Club,” he did serve as captain of Canada at the event, in which he participated twice. Part of the famous 2003 draft class that will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the best ever, he sits just 21 points behind Eric Staal for the top in the entire group.
Even this year, at the end of his journey, Getzlaf has shown some of his patented playmaking ability, racking up 28 assists in 49 games. While the days of his prime are long behind him, he still has been rather effective for the Ducks in his final year.
Known outside the rink for his community efforts, Getzlaf was also praised by Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli for his work off the ice:
We are so proud of everything Ryan has accomplished in an amazing 17 years playing for the Ducks. While we will all remember his leadership qualities on the ice, it is his community-first approach that has cemented his legacy in Orange County. In addition to spearheading the Ducks Learn to Play Program and numerous other organizational charitable initiatives, he launched his own such event with the Annual Getzlaf Shootout to benefit CureDuchenne, raising over $4.27 million to date.
Getzlaf never did win any major individual awards, though he finished second in Hart Trophy voting in 2014. Like his playstyle that always favored setting up a teammate over taking the shot himself, his career will be remembered more for team success–in the NHL and internationally–than any personal accolades.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Troy Terry Won't Play Sunday
- Ducks winger Troy Terry will miss tonight’s game against Edmonton due to the facial injuries sustained on Friday against Arizona, reports Eric Stephens of The Athletic. He’s expected to be re-evaluated later today with a determination of how much more time he might miss to be made at that time. The 24-year-old has had a breakout year, recording more points (57) than he had in his first 129 career games over parts of four seasons (48).
Anaheim Ducks Sign Josh Lopina
After his University of Massachusetts was eliminated from the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament on Friday, 2021 draft pick Josh Lopina signed his entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks today, per the team. Lopina will sign an amateur try-out contract (ATO) with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls for the remainder of the season, getting a sneak peek of hockey life within the Ducks organization. The terms of his NHL deal are not yet available.
Lopina was a bit of a surprise pick last year in the fourth round, but the double-overager came into the draft with a strong freshman season at UMass under his belt (23 points in 29 games) and an NCAA championship. He’s improved on those numbers this season, scoring 12 goals and 27 points in 27 games, the first time at any recorded level that Lopina has had a point-per-game season.
Undoubtedly a late bloomer, Lopina will get a chance to continue his upward rise in the Ducks organization. Likely destined for a full-time AHL role next season, he’ll get a chance to grow there alongside other Ducks youngsters like Jacob Perreault and the newly-acquired Drew Helleson.
Getzlaf Plans To Discuss Future With Ducks Soon
Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf plans to discuss his future with the team soon, notes Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register. At this point, no decision has been made as to whether or not the 36-year-old intends to return for an 18th NHL season with GM Pat Verbeek recently indicating that Getzlaf will “remain a Duck for whenever he decides not to play anymore”. After scoring just five goals last season, Getzlaf only has three this year but he sits second to only Trevor Zegras on the team in assists. He has a base salary of $3MM this season with another $1.5MM in incentives and his next contract – should he choose to sign one – should check in a bit lower in terms of total cost.