Anaheim Ducks face blue-line overhaul after massive Leo Carlsson offer sheet

Fresh off their first playoff appearance in eight years, the Anaheim Ducks head into the 2026-27 season looking very different on the back end and on the salary-cap ledger. In a Pacific Division that lacked a true powerhouse last year, Anaheim now has to manage an expensive core piece in Leo Carlsson while breaking in a young, largely rebuilt defence.

Carlsson’s massive deal forces tough cap decisions

The off-season in Anaheim revolved around Carlsson. The Philadelphia Flyers signed the young top-line centre to an offer sheet, pushing the Ducks into matching a five-year deal worth 18 million per season. The financial weight of that commitment quickly showed, as Anaheim moved winger Chris Kreider in order to remain cap compliant.

Separately, the Ducks cut ties with a disappointing Mason McTavish, dealing him to the St. Louis Blues for two first-round picks. Highly regarded blueline prospect Olen Zellweger was moved to the Buffalo Sabres for a young centre and a second-round pick. The result is a forward group clearly built around Carlsson, with support from Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke, Troy Terry and veteran Mikael Granlund.

Blue-line turnover puts pressure on young defencemen

The biggest question, however, is on defence. Veterans John Carlson, Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas have all departed, stripping away a large chunk of experience on the right side. Jackson Lacombe remains the key piece on the back end after a 58-point season in which he logged close to 25 minutes a night, yet he did not receive a single Norris Trophy vote.

Behind him, the Ducks are counting on sizeable steps from Pavel Mintyukov and Drew Helleson, both poised for expanded roles. Quebec-born defenceman Tristan Luneau, 22, is expected to finally crack the NHL roster after two full AHL seasons of 52 and 41 points. A broader wave of movement has touched other veterans such as Petr Mrazek, while names like A. J. Greer, Nick Jensen and Laurent Brossoit are among the recent additions linked to Anaheim’s depth chart.

Dostal holds the crease behind a defence in flux

In goal, Lukas Dostal has been the Ducks’ undisputed No. 1 since John Gibson’s departure. His numbers leave room for improvement: over the past two seasons his goals-against average sits at 3.10, and last year his save percentage dipped below .900. Stabilizing his play will be crucial behind a younger, less proven defence.

Even with the blue-line concerns, Anaheim’s offensive talent gives the club a chance to stay relevant in a Pacific Division that saw its top team, Vegas, finish with only 95 points last season. How head coach Joel Quenneville organizes his defensive structure around Lacombe and the emerging defenders will likely determine whether the Ducks build on last year’s progress or slide backward in 2026-27.