"The Anaheim Ducks are a Defector-certified Fun Team, despite our firmly entrenched traditionalist bias against the idea of two hockey franchises in the Los Angeles market. The Ducks have spent the last seven years in complete irrelevancy after crashing out of a solid but hardware-free era. Over their time in the toilet, they've stocked up on young talents who, so far this year, have piled up more goals than anyone in the league but Colorado."
"First, let me tell you who the good Ducks are. Leo Carlsson, 20 years old, is looking like their 1C of the future and currently sits tied for fifth in the NHL in points. Cutter Gauthier, a 21-year-old whom Anaheim snagged from an unhappy situation in Philly, plays aggressive hockey and paces the team in goals. And then there's 34-year-old Chris Kreider, king of the power play, who's experiencing a resurgence after being discarded by the Rangers."
"I can go on. Lukáš Dostál is enjoying a good start in net. The third overall pick in 2024, Beckett Sennecke, is already racking up points and showing a lot of potential. Another former Ranger, the stiff checker Jacob Trouba, is helping anchor the defensive corps, along with a younger, more skilled blue-liner in Jackson LaCombe. Troy Terry, who debuted in 2018 and has yet to see a postseason, might finally experience a payoff for all this time spent in Anaheim."
The Anaheim Ducks have moved from seven years of irrelevance to a high-scoring, competitive team with a 13-6-1 record after a 35-37-10 season. The roster blends rising young talent and veteran reclamations, led by Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Chris Kreider, while Lukáš Dostál and rookie Beckett Sennecke bolster goaltending and forward depth. Jackson LaCombe and Jacob Trouba strengthen the defensive corps, and Troy Terry seeks his first postseason breakthrough. The Ducks rank second in team goals behind Colorado and secured a 4-3 win over the Bruins featuring goals from four unexpected contributors.
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