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On Feb. 25, not too long ago, and having recently come out of the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off, the Anaheim Ducks had a 25-24-7 record and were six points out of the second wild card spot in the Western Conference standings. They had raised some eyebrows, displaying some resilience and fortitude after what could have been a disastrous six-game road trip from Jan. 9 through Jan. 18, where they went 1-4-1.

Takeaways from the Ducks 3-2 Loss to Utah

After that trip, the Ducks went 7-2-1 to claw their way into the edges of the playoff picture. They were finding ways to generate offense in every situation at 5v5, off the rush, cycle, and forecheck. Defensively, they managed pucks well, kept their time in the defensive zone limited by killing plays early, and were as tenacious as they were attentive in defensive zone coverage.

They even produced much-improved underlying numbers compared to their season on the whole during that stretch at 5v5, accounting for 48% of the shot attempts share (up from their season mark of 45.6%), 57.9% of the goals share (up from 48.2%), and 49.5% of the expected goals share (up from 44.2%).

The Ducks had put themselves within reach of the cluster of teams chasing that final wild card spot and were scheduled to match up against many of them in their next several games. That upcoming slate was to be the meaningful games late in the season that they, and every team looking to exit a rebuild, hoped to play in late-February/early-March.

On the docket were teams they were then in the playoff chase with like the Vancouver Canucks (twice), St. Louis Blues, and Utah Hockey Club as well as teams at or near the bottom of the NHL standings like the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres. They also had games against powerhouse teams like the Washington Capitals and Edmonton Oilers along with a team fighting to keep its head above water in the form of the New York Islanders.

The Ducks shrank with every opportunity to gain ground or remain relevant in the nine games following their best ten-game stretch of the season. Losses to the Sabres (3-2 on Feb. 25) and Blackhawks (6-3 on March 1) may have been nails in the coffin of Anaheim’s slim playoff chances. They responded well following each loss with substantial wins against the Canucks on Feb. 27 and Oilers on March 4, but for the Ducks to pose a true threat to the playoff bubble, they needed to beat the teams near the bottom of the standings.

"I think we're kind of riding the fine line of missed opportunities and good experience," Ducks forward Ryan Strome said. "We've had a good season and we compete really hard. It's not a moral victory, but at the same time I think these are great opportunities to learn from and grow from.

"You're not going to snap your fingers and go from getting top-five draft picks for a couple years in a row to being in the playoffs. It's got to be an evolution. We're seeing now the only way to experience it is to go through it as a group"

"I'm definitely itching, no doubt." Strome said when asked if he was getting impatient to get back to the playoffs. "Since a few games before the 4 Nations break, it's been the most fun I've had in three years.

"Just seeing the intensity ramp up, seeing the importance ramp up, seeing the crowd fired up. Z (Trevor Zegras) has been commenting how great it is, how fun this is. It feels like the intensity's been ramped up. It's not pond hockey, it's not meaningless hockey."

The Ducks now have a 28-30-7 record and are eight points from the Calgary Flames in the second wild card spot and eight points ahead of the Sabres who are 30th in the overall NHL standings. Barring an unlikely scenario where the Ducks rally and win nearly all of their remaining 17 games on the schedule, coupled with the teams ahead of them struggling down the stretch, the Ducks are all but eliminated from playoff contention.

"I was thinking about that when I drove in (to practice) this morning how narrow the wins vs losses are," Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said. "They're experiencing these games where there are plays that are going to impact the outcome. 

"They've all been very coachable and what's most important, is that they're aware of it. They understand it. So now the next thing is, can they execute it when these games are teetering on the next play?"

On the positive side of the equation, the young core is clicking and producing while they also got a taste of what it’s like to play meaningful games in the second half of the season. On the negative side, in the last nine games, they’re back to producing poor underlying numbers (44.2% of the shot share at 5v5, 48.9% of the goals share, and 44% of the expected goals share). Their puck management has taken a step back and they aren’t manufacturing the early kills in defensive zone coverage necessary to spark rush offense the other way, the true strength of the Ducks’ offense.

A question looms for the remainder of the season and may as well heading into the offseason: which team are they? Are the Ducks the team that clawed their way into a brief playoff chase, or are they the team that fell out initially and later squandered opportunities to maintain relevance? The answer is likely that they’re a bit of both and they’ll now need to properly diagnose what made them successful and what didn’t in order to learn from these pivotal stretches.

Ducks Duo Ranks Second on The Athletic’s Power Rankings

Anaheim Ducks 2025 Trade Deadline Review

The Hockey News Big Show now looks toward the battle for the playoffs in the NHL and beyond with a new segment.

Every Friday, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos share their top Stanley Cup contenders in order, defending why they made those choices. The list can change depending on weekly performances, and as we get closer to the playoffs, the clear front-runners will emerge.

NHL’s Top Cup Contenders One Week After The Trade Deadline by The Big Showundefined

Here’s everything Katie Gaus, Ryan and Michael discussed in this episode:

1:47: Ryan’s Cup contenders are in order: Florida, Dallas, Colorado, Vegas, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Washington and Toronto. Why?

4:15: Michael’s Cup contenders are Florida, Dallas, Colorado, Toronto, Winnipeg, Tampa Bay, Edmonton and Winnipeg. He explains why.

6:47: Does last season's first-round exit by the Winnipeg Jets prevent Ryan and Michael from putting them higher up on the list?

8:27: How does Miro Heiskanen's injury affect the Dallas Stars’ placement? 

10:51: Which division's teams will be the most beat up by the conference finals?

14:42: Which current playoff team is in the most danger of falling down the standings down the stretch?

17:36: What team do you not want to face in the playoffs?

19:39: The Vegas Golden Knights signed Adin Hill to a six-year extension worth $6.25 million. Do we like it?

22:56: Defenseman Dougie Hamilton's regular season is over. Should the New Jersey Devils consider trying to move Hamilton in the off-season based on his injury history? Is it even possible with his cap hit?

26:46: Should Mikko Rantanen get the same "welcome back video tribute" moment other players who won the Cup got when they returned - or are things just too awkward for that now?

31:06: Who will have a bigger playoff impact on their new team: Charlie Coyle or Brad Marchand?

32:41: The NHL is reportedly considering an 84-game schedule and a possible September start. Do we like or dislike this scenario?

34:26: What NHL team gets the harshest criticism from fans and media?

37:31: Utica Comets GM Dan MacKinnon traded his son, Will MacKinnon, to the Cleveland Monsters for future considerations. If you were a GM, would you do this to your son?

38:30: Have you ever gotten lost in any arena trying to get to the dressing room?

Watch the full episode here.

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

The Vancouver Canucks have signed center Linus Karlsson to a one-year extension. Karlsson's contract is a one-way deal worth $775,000. The 25-year-old has one point in nine NHL games this season but has found plenty of success in the AHL, posting 32 points in 28 games with the Abbotsford Canucks. 

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In a press release, GM Patrik Allvin wrote, "Linus has worked very hard on his development the past few seasons in Abbotsford and has also shown he can compete at the NHL level. He has good size and hands around the net, and we really like the way he competes on the ice."

Initially drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2018, Karlsson was traded to the Canucks in 2019. He has played 13 career regular season games, and also skated in his first two Stanley Cup Playoffs games last season. During his career with Vancouver, Karlsson has one goal, 11 hits and 12 shots on goal. 

Abbotsford Canucks’ Linus Karlsson Breaks Franchise Goal RecordWhile the Vancouver Canucks gave up an important two points against the Montréal Canadiens last night, the Abbotsford Canucks were celebrating more than just their impressive 6–2 victory against the Bakersfield Condors. The go-ahead goal was scored by none other than Linus Karlsson who, with his 19th goal of the season, breaks the franchise record for goals scored with 66 in his career with Abbotsford. 

Where Karlsson has shined is in the AHL. He is the franchise leader in goals with 66 as well as points with 141. Karlsson is also climbing the all-time assist mark, and currently sits in third place with 75 through his 160 games with the franchise. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Former Columbus Blue Jackets goalie, Pascal Leclaire, was given something he'll cherish forever. 

By now, you've heard that Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin is just eight goals from tying Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal mark of 894, and there's a very good chance he could break that record against Columbus on April 12th or 13th. 

Ovechkin has scored on a whopping 181 different goalies in his long career. But did you know that Ovi scored his first career NHL goal against a Columbus Blue Jackets goalie? Because, of course, he did, right? Ovi's first NHL goal was against Pascal Leclaire on October 5, 2005. 

Leclaire, who is now an analyst for TVA, shared on a February 23rd broadcast a special gift he received from Alex Ovechkin. 

Ovechkin gave him a signed Caps jersey that read "You were #1 :)", a nod to Ovi scoring his first goal against the CBJ's Leclaire. Ovechkin scored his first two career goals against Pascal and totaled five goals scored against Leclaire. 

Leclaire joked during the broadcast, "I'm the one who put Ovechkin on the map."

Pascal went on to say, “My daughters didn’t believe me that I had faced Ovi. So, I contacted Washington, and they were very fine. Ovi sent me a signed jersey… But hey, it proves the kind of person he is. He is a good person, extremely generous of his time.”

Leclaire went on to say during the French broadcast, “You know, look, it’s his first goal in the National League. I was in front of the net with the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was at his first presence, you can see how dangerous he was going to be, the kind of career he was going to have with his launch. But his flair to find himself, to be forgotten in free spaces like that, that’s really what makes him quite effective.”

*We had to use Google Translate for the above quotes.*

Pazzy went on to play seven seasons in the NHL, five of which were in Columbus. He had a record of 45-55-12 for the CBJ and was the 8th overall pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. 

What's Next: The New York Rangers visit Nationwide Arena on Saturday. 

Let us know what you think below.

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For some time, the effect of Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews dominating from the minute they started their career skewed the expectations of other top picks entering the NHL. 

Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini met those high expectations and once again negatively affected the way fans view young players.

Youngsters such as Logan Cooley, William Eklund, Dylan Guenther and Wyatt Johnston have figured things out and found consistency, but the process isn’t always as fast for other players.

Although the opinions have been skewed, these five NHL players show that finding their games can take some time but is starting to pay off as the season progresses.

Shane Wright, C, Seattle Kraken

The Seattle Krakentraded three veteran forwards at the trade deadline. Part of the reason they felt comfortable doing so is because of the emergence of Shane Wright. Playing in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds last season, Wright gave the organization every reason to believe he was ready for the NHL. 

The season started poorly for the 21-year-old, struggling to produce and impact the game. As the struggles continued into mid-November, the Kraken decided healthy scratching Wright would allow him to view the game from a different perspective, helping him re-find his game. It did just that. 

Since then, Wright has scored 14 goals and 36 points in 45 games. His ice time has grown, and although the points have followed, his focus on the defensive side of the puck hasn’t wavered. 

The next step in Wright’s development is to search for more offensive plays, fire the puck on net more frequently and be more creative offensively.

Adam Fantilli, C, Columbus Blue Jackets

Adam Fantilli showed signs of breaking out in Columbus when playing as a second-line center, but the production wasn’t following.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 199 pounds, Fantilli has the size to be a force in the NHL. Since moving up to the first line, he’s proving to be a force.

Sean Monahan has been out since Jan. 7 after suffering a wrist injury, and since then, Fantilli has scored 12 goals and 23 points in 24 games.

The 20-year-old has recorded just two power-play goals and four power-play points. When the power-play numbers improve, it won’t be long before we see Fantilli scoring near a point-per-game pace across an entire season.

Surging NHL Sophomore Adam Fantilli Fuels The Blue Jackets' Playoff DriveThe Columbus Blue Jackets emerged in the NHL this season in more ways than one.

Quinton Byfield, C, Los Angeles Kings

Heading into the season, a consensus opinion was the 2024-25 season would be the breakout campaign for Quinton Byfield. It did not look that way from the get-go, not scoring in his first 13 games. On the season, the 22-year-old has recorded 15 goals and 38 points in 63 games, but lately, Byfield looks to have turned the corner with the Kings.

In his last 15 games, Byfield scored five goals and 16 points, including goals in five consecutive games. His recent offensive surge has him inching closer to the career highs he set last season. Averaging over two more minutes of ice time than he previously was, Byfield is being handed the opportunity to produce more and looks to have found his game at the right time to do so.

Will Smith, RW/C, San Jose Sharks

Playing on a young Sharks team, Will Smith’s transition into the NHL wasn’t smooth initially. He’s spent nearly the entire season playing as a right winger, although his natural position is as a center. During the season, the rookie averaged 15:05 ice time, but following the trade deadline, which saw multiple Sharks forwards exit the club, Smith saw an increase in ice time. The production tagged along.

The 19-year-old has registered five goals and 11 points in 10 games since the 4 Nations Face-Off break, including four multi-point games. 

Smith and Macklin Celebrini are the future of the franchise, and their rookie campaigns should give Sharks fans a lot to look forward to.

Cutter Gauthier, LW, Anaheim Ducks

Cutter Gauthier surprised the hockey world when he demanded a trade out of Philadelphia. An outstanding player throughout his NCAA career with Boston College and at the world juniors, fans expected the 6-foot-2 left winger to transition into the NHL fairly easily. 

The expectations were unfair, but Gauthier showed he was ready for the NHL. The 21-year-old generates a ton of shots, but his finishing hasn’t translated from his junior career to the NHL. Gauthier has an 8.6-percent shooting percentage, scoring on just 12 of his 140 shots. Only three rookies have taken more shots on net than Gauthier. 

Gauthier has also seen an uptick in offensive production since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off. In 11 games, Gauthier has scored three goals and 10 points.

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