Another season, another round of lukewarm expectations for the Anaheim Ducks. It seems like every year, fans convince themselves, “this is our year,” only to watch the team skate its way to a familiar spot somewhere in the middle-to-bottom of the Pacific Division standings. Let’s be real, are we looking at a serious contender or just another season of “almosts” and “what ifs?”
Will the Ducks Defy the Doubters?
The big question hanging over the Honda Center is whether the Ducks can finally exceed the basement-level expectations set for them. Last season, they managed to scrape together 80 points, finishing a distant 6th in the division. It was an improvement, sure, but hardly the stuff of legends. Vegas has set its Over/Under for the 2025-26 season at 84.5 points. That’s a vote of… well, not confidence, but maybe mild optimism? It suggests they see a team that’s treading water, not quite good enough to make a real playoff push, but not bad enough to be a total embarrassment either.
Their odds to make the playoffs are a tempting +250, but the much more telling number is the -325 odds to miss them. The house always wins, folks, and the house is betting heavily against a postseason appearance for our feathered friends.
A Look at the Roster’s Reality
So, where does this leave us? The Anaheim Ducks have a collection of promising young talent mixed with some seasoned veterans. It’s a classic recipe for a team stuck in neutral. Can the kids take that next big leap? Will the vets find one more gear? These are the questions that will define their season.
Let’s face it, finishing 21 points behind the division-leading Golden Knights last season wasn’t a fluke. It was a clear indicator of the talent gap. While teams like Vegas, Los Angeles, and Edmonton are loading up for deep playoff runs, the Ducks are still trying to figure out their identity. Are they a hard-nosed defensive team? A high-flying offensive squad? Right now, they’re a bit of a mishmash, which rarely translates to success in the brutal Western Conference. It also feels weird that Trevor Zegras is not a Duck anymore.
The schedule doesn’t do them any favors either, with an early-season road trip that sends them to face powerhouses like Boston, Tampa Bay, and Florida. If they come out of that stretch with their heads above water, it might be a sign of progress. But let’s be honest, a 9-game losing streak on the road last year doesn’t exactly inspire confidence that they’ll suddenly become road warriors.
The Verdict on the 2025-26 Season
Here’s the bottom line: for the Anaheim Ducks to be a legitimate threat, a lot has to go right. Their young stars need to blossom into consistent, game-changing players, not just flash their potential every few weeks. The goaltending needs to be stellar, and the coaching staff needs to find a system that maximizes the roster’s strengths. Then again, this team thinks it is a good idea to hire Joel Quenneville to coach. You know the man who knew sexual assault was going on and did nothing about it.
Is it possible? Of course. This is the NHL, where chaos reigns supreme. But is it probable? Not really. Expect another season of frustrating inconsistency, flashes of brilliance followed by baffling losses, and ultimately, a team that finds itself on the outside looking in when the playoffs roll around. They’ll probably hit the over on that 84.5-point total, but don’t clear your schedule for a parade down Katella Avenue just yet.
This team is the definition of “a work in progress.” And for the long-suffering fans, the progress just isn’t happening fast enough.
