The Anaheim Ducks’ offseason has already packed in plenty of movement, and the latest stretch brought a little bit of everything: major contract news, a fresh look at the 2026-27 schedule, and a few important updates from the San Diego Gulls.
The biggest headline remains Leo Carlsson. Anaheim matched the Philadelphia Flyers’ five-year, $90 million offer sheet, keeping the young forward in orange and black for the next five seasons. The deal made Carlsson the highest-paid player in the league and took a major bite out of the Ducks’ salary cap.
That matters because Cutter Gauthier still needs a new contract before the season, and Anaheim does not have much room left to work with. With Carlsson now carrying such a massive number, Gauthier is expected to command plenty of attention too.
If the Ducks want to make the math work, they may have to move someone out to create space. Frank Vatrano, Chris Kreider, and Alex Killorn have all been mentioned as possible trade pieces, though nothing has been decided.
Anaheim also got Pavel Mintyukov locked in after rumors that he could be offer-sheeted. The defenseman signed a five-year deal worth $7.2 million annually after posting a career-high eight goals last season. He also set personal bests in game-winning goals with two, blocked shots with 112, and games played with 73, while finishing with 22 points.
Another blue-liner, Tyson Hinds, is set for his first full-time NHL season after signing a two-year, one-way extension. He appeared in six regular-season games and nine playoff games last year, and picked up his first NHL point with an assist. Per the NHL, he is “the second player in Ducks history to earn his first career point in the postseason.”
The Ducks also added Marcus Nordmark on a three-year, entry-level contract. The winger was taken in the first round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and is expected to spend time with the Gulls in the AHL, but he’s now officially part of the pro organization.
Anaheim’s schedule release was just as eye-catching as the roster news. The team leaned into Pokemon-style cards for some of its opponents, complete with sharp little jokes about rival weaknesses.
An independent artist created the cards, and the whole thing got an extra twist when Wild Wing and Gritty were turned into a video game-style showdown. Wild Wing won that battle, and the Ducks’ release ended up standing out as one of the league’s best.
There are some notable dates on the calendar, too. The Ducks open the season on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 2, then return home to face the Florida Panthers on Oct.
- The annual “Freeway Faceoff” with the Los Angeles Kings begins with a back-to-back set on Nov. 27 and 28, then continues on March 1 and April 6, with the final matchup coming in the last regular-season home game.
Down in San Diego, the Gulls are trying to bounce back after a first-round playoff exit and build something better this season. The roster has talent, but the challenge is finding the right lineup combinations and leadership to turn that into a deeper Calder Cup Playoffs run.
Their first move was to extend general manager Rick Paterson. He’s entering his third season in the role and his 22nd year in the Ducks organization, where he has also worked as director of professional scouting, director of player personnel, and professional scout. During his time running the Gulls, the team has improved its point total year over year and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2021-22.
“Rick has established an identity in San Diego that reflects our own in Anaheim and built a successful pipeline for development,” said Ducks GM Pat Verbeek. “We are happy to see him continue to be part of the Anaheim Ducks family, one he has been a part of for more than two decades.”
Paterson’s next move was to name Dave Manson head coach. Manson had been an assistant last season, and this is his first professional head coaching job. Kelly Buchberger and Steve McCarthy will serve as assistant coaches.
Manson brings a long coaching résumé, and last season the Gulls’ penalty kill ranked eighth in the league at 83.5%. They were also the second-least penalized team in the AHL. Over more than 20 years in coaching across the AHL, NHL, and Western Hockey League, he has also worked as an assistant with the Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders and helped develop players including Ryan Poehling, Cole Caufield, Leon Draisaitl, and Josh Morrissey.
Verbeek backed the promotion, saying, “After helping lead the Gulls to the playoffs last season, it was clear Dave made a big impact behind the bench…he will help strengthen the standard of excellence and development we have established in San Diego as head coach.” The Gulls begin their season on Oct. 3 against the San Jose Barracuda.
In Other News...
Ducks Just Locked In A Crucial New Direction For The Gulls
The Ducks have settled on the next chapter for their AHL pipeline, finalizing the San Diego Gulls coaching staff and giving the affiliate a clearer direction heading into the new season. Dave Manson, a longtime blueliner, is stepping behind the bench as head coach for the first time, with Kelly Buchberger and Steve McCarthy joining him as assistants. It is a notable shift for an organization that has been looking to tighten the connection between Anaheim and San Diego.
The front office also made sure the structure around the bench stayed intact, extending Gulls general manager Rick Paterson on a multi-year deal. For a Ducks system that leans heavily on its development path, keeping the same leadership in place matters almost as much as the names on the ice. Elsewhere around the hockey world, Vancouver moved Cammi Granato into a senior amateur advisory role, while Matvei Petrov is heading to a tryout with Spartak in the KHL after Edmonton chose not to tender him. [Read more 🡒]
Ducks Goalie Prospect Suddenly Chose A Different Path
Vyacheslav Buteyets, one of the Ducks goalie prospects, has taken an unexpected turn in his career path after spending the past few seasons working his way through North American hockey. The restricted free agent signed a new deal overseas, a move that shifts his immediate future away from Anaheims system and into the KHL, where his development will continue outside the organizations day-to-day view.
For the Ducks, the story is not a clean break. Anaheim kept his NHL rights by extending a qualifying offer, which means the club still controls his future through the 2028-29 season if he eventually circles back. For now, though, the next chapter is happening far from Southern California, and the details of where hell actually play next season make the situation a little more layered than a simple departure. [Read more 🡒]
Ducks Just Took A Major Step With Their Top Draft Pick
The Ducks have moved quickly to lock in Nikita Klepov, signing their top draft pick to a three-year entry-level contract after his standout rookie season with the OHLs Saginaw Spirit. Anaheim did not announce the financial terms, but the deal gives the organization a clearer line of sight on one of its most intriguing young wingers, who had already built some momentum before turning pro.
Klepovs path now gets more complicated, though, because the contract changes his development options and closes the door on his previously planned route to Michigan State. With full-time AHL play not on the table next season, Anaheim will have to decide whether he stays in junior or pushes for NHL minutes, and the deal can still slide if he appears in nine or fewer games. [Read more 🡒]