The Pond Press

John Carlson loved his time with the Anaheim Ducks.

After spending nearly two decades with the Washington Capitals organization, the veteran defenseman joined the Anaheim Ducks during the 2025–26 NHL season and immediately became a major part of the team’s playoff push and leadership group.

“I’ve loved my time. It’s a special place here for sure, with some extraordinary talent and a really bright future.”

Carlson finished his time with the Anaheim Ducks recording 14 points in 16 regular season games while averaging over 24 minutes of ice time per night. He also added 6 points in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games for Anaheim.

The longtime NHL defenseman and Stanley Cup champion brought veteran stability to a young Anaheim Ducks core featuring Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Cutter Gauthier, Lukas Dostal and Olen Zellweger during the Ducks’ return to the playoffs.

Jacob Trouba found a fresh start with the Anaheim Ducks.

After being traded from the New York Rangers during the 2024–25 NHL season, Trouba spoke openly during Anaheim Ducks locker room cleanout media availability about the difficult stretch he went through before arriving in Anaheim.

“Something I’ll always be appreciative of, Pat and the organization took a chance on me when I was down, and I was certainly down.”

The veteran defenseman rebounded with the Anaheim Ducks, posting 35 points in 81 games during the 2025–26 NHL season while averaging nearly 23 minutes of ice time per game. Trouba also appeared in all 12 Anaheim Ducks playoff games, bringing veteran leadership and physicality to a young Ducks roster.

Jacob Trouba became a major piece of Anaheim’s defensive core alongside Olen Zellweger, Jackson LaCombe and Radko Gudas as the Ducks pushed back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Radko Gudas says he is open to staying with the Anaheim Ducks.

The Anaheim Ducks captain spoke during locker room cleanout media availability and reflected on his time in Anaheim as his contract approaches expiration this offseason.

“I have a very soft spot for Anaheim after these few years here and if there is a chance for me staying here, I’m open to do that.”

Gudas played a major leadership role for the Anaheim Ducks during their rebuild and playoff push, helping establish a more physical identity and veteran presence for a young core that includes Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Cutter Gauthier, Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger and Lukas Dostal.

Despite appearing in just one playoff game with Anaheim due to injury, Gudas remained one of the most important voices in the locker room throughout the 2025–26 NHL season.

Cutter Gauthier revealed during Anaheim Ducks locker cleanout day that he suffered two broken vertebrae on the cross check he took against the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 30.

Just 21 days later, Gauthier was back in the lineup for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20.

The 22 year old went on to post 12 points (4G, 8A) in 12 playoff games for the Anaheim Ducks while playing through the injury during Anaheim’s run to the second round. 🤯

Gauthier’s toughness quickly became one of the biggest storylines of the Ducks’ postseason run, especially considering this was his first NHL playoff experience.

One of the future faces of the Anaheim Ducks was battling through far more than most people realized.

Jay Woodcroft was one of the most sought after coaching names in hockey before joining the Anaheim Ducks organization last offseason. Instead of immediately taking another NHL head coaching job, Woodcroft joined Pat Verbeek’s staff in Anaheim and helped guide one of the NHL’s youngest teams back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Now, after the Ducks’ playoff breakthrough season, Woodcroft is once again drawing major attention around the league for potential NHL head coaching openings.

Pat Verbeek made it clear he would never stand in the way of that opportunity.

“There’s only 32 of them.”
“That’s the pinnacle of his profession.”
“I would never hold him back from that.”

Woodcroft helped the Anaheim Ducks take a major step forward during the 2025–26 NHL season, as Anaheim improved to 92 points and won its first playoff series in years behind a young core featuring Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Troy Terry, Jackson LaCombe, and Lukáš Dostál.

Whether Jay Woodcroft remains with the Anaheim Ducks or lands another NHL head coaching job, his impact on this team was impossible to ignore.

The Anaheim Ducks’ season came to an end in Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights, but the belief inside the locker room hasn’t changed.

Troy Terry spoke after the loss about how much this Anaheim Ducks group learned during its playoff run, saying the team “earned the right” to be in that moment and that the experience will fuel them heading into next season.

The Ducks finished the season with 92 points after improving from 59 points to 80, then 92 over the last three years. Anaheim also won its first playoff series in years before pushing a veteran Vegas Golden Knights roster in Round 2.

Terry finished the 2025–26 NHL season as one of the Anaheim Ducks’ leaders once again, helping guide a young core featuring Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe, and Beckett Sennecke through the franchise’s biggest games in recent years.

“It’s hard.”
“We earned the right to be in a Game 6.”
“We’ll be hungry going into the summer.”

The message from the Anaheim Ducks locker room was clear after elimination: this group believes this is only the beginning.

Jacob Trouba’s future with the Anaheim Ducks remains one of the biggest storylines of the offseason.

The veteran defenseman confirmed extension talks with Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek took place around the NHL Trade Deadline, but nothing advanced far at the time. Trouba is now set to enter free agency for the first time in his NHL career.

This season, Trouba posted 35 points (10G, 25A) in 81 games during the 2025–26 NHL season while bringing physicality, leadership, and heavy playoff experience to Anaheim’s blue line. He also appeared in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Ducks during their postseason run.

With 906 NHL games, 358 career points, and 85 career playoff appearances, Trouba could become one of the Anaheim Ducks’ biggest offseason decisions.

That’s a wrap.

Huge things to come for the page. Stay tuned.

Thank you for all the support.

Anaheim Ducks vs Vegas Golden Knights

Game 6 TONIGHT.

See you soon 🫡

🚨 GIVEAWAY UPDATE 🚨

Yesterday, The Pond Press teamed up with to launch a giveaway for 50 custom Dia de los Mu***os themed Pond Press shirts. 🌹🦆

TODAY, we are announcing 35 WINNERS in the comments below.

If you won, you have TWO options:

• Have your shirt shipped directly to you
• OR pick it up tomorrow at Noble Ale Works in Anaheim before the Anaheim Ducks playoff game

If you choose to pick your shirt up at Noble Ale Works, you’ll also have the chance to enter our SECOND giveaway…

👀 We are giving away TWO Anaheim Ducks jerseys to fans who take a photo in front of the Cyberduck at Noble Ale Works WHILE wearing the Dia de los Mu***os Ducks shirt and tag us on your instagram story ( ).

The final 15 shirt winners have NOT been selected yet and will be announced on our social media pages in the coming days.

Didn’t win today?

We will also have a limited amount of these shirts available for purchase tomorrow at Noble Ale Works for anyone who still wants one. Fans who purchase a shirt at the event can also enter the jersey giveaway by taking a photo in front of the Cyberduck while wearing it.

📍 Noble Ale Works — Anaheim
⏰ Tomorrow before puck drop

See you there. 🦆