Anaheim Ducks future has been a focal point for the Anaheim Ducks since his NHL debut, captivating fans with his creativity, flair, and dynamic playmaking. Whether it’s his lacrosse-style “Michigan” goals or insane assists, Zegras has brought excitement to a rebuilding Ducks team. But as Anaheim continues its climb back to competitiveness, a question looms over their young star: Is this the season for Zegras to prove he can be the franchise cornerstone, or should the Ducks exercise patience and give him time to reach his full potential? Trevor Zegras Future With the Ducks Early Career and Impact Selected ninth overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, Zegras entered the league with high expectations. From the beginning, his creativity and skill set him apart. In his rookie season (2020-2021), Zegras played 24 games, contributing 3 goals and 10 assists. Despite limited playing time, he showed glimpses of his potential to become an offensive leader. The following season, Zegras played 75 games, tallying 23 goals and 38 assists for 61 points. His breakout performance earned him a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team and placed him firmly in the Calder Trophy conversation. By the 2022-23 season, he recorded 23 goals and 42 assists, showing consistent offensive production. Yet, questions about his defensive play and consistency lingered, with critics pointing to his -24 plus/minus rating as a sign of unbalanced play. In the 2023-24 season Zegras was hampered by injury and his numbers dropped off significantly. Statistical Overview Zegras’s offensive contributions are evident when looking at his first three NHL seasons: Season Games Played Goals Assists Points Plus/Minus 2020–21 24 3 10 13 6 2021–22 75 23 38 61 -21 2022–23 81 23 42 65 -24 2023–24 31 6 9 15 -1 While Zegras’s offensive numbers have steadily improved outside of 2023-24 when he dealt with injury. His defensive struggles are highlighted by his declining plus/minus ratings. His reliance on offensive creativity sometimes leaves him out of position, creating opportunities for opponents. Comparative Analysis: How Does Zegras Stack Up? To better evaluate Zegras, it’s useful to compare him to peers like () and (), both of whom were drafted in the same era and are similarly expected to lead their franchises: Player Season Games Played Goals Assists Points Plus/Minus Jack Hughes 2022-23 78 43 56 99 +10 Tim Stützle 2022-23 78 39 51 90 -3 Trevor Zegras 2022-23 81 23 42 65 -24 Hughes and Stützle both showed significant offensive production in the last full season for Zegras. Hughes, in particular, has developed into one of the NHL’s most dynamic centres, with a balanced game evident in his +10 plus/minus rating. Stützle, while not as strong defensively, has also surpassed Zegras in scoring, further raising expectations for Anaheim’s young star to reach their level. Advanced Metrics: Beyond the Surface Advanced statistics reveal even more about Zegras’s game. Two key metrics stand out: Corsi For Percentage (CF%): Measures shot attempt differential while a player is on the ice. A CF% above 50% indicates the team generates more shot attempts than it allows when the player is on the ice. Expected Goals For Percentage (xGF%): Evaluates the quality of scoring chances generated compared to those allowed. In the 2022-23 season, Zegras posted a CF% of 46.9% and an xGF% of 43.1%. Both metrics suggest that is often outshot and out-chanced when Zegras is on the ice. These numbers highlight the need for Zegras to elevate his two-way game to impact play beyond scoring. The Case for Patience At just 23 years old, Zegras is still developing. Many NHL stars, especially centres, don’t hit their peak until their mid-to-late 20s. Players like and didn’t reach elite status until several years into their careers. It’s important to remember that Anaheim is in the midst of a rebuild, and Zegras is often tasked with carrying the offensive load without the support of a veteran-heavy roster. Zegras’s creativity and playmaking are rare and valuable assets. His lacrosse-style goals and daring passes energize fans and teammates alike. These flashes of brilliance suggest that his ceiling is still incredibly high. Patience could allow him to develop into a more complete player, especially if the Ducks continue to surround him with young talent like and . The Case for Immediate Impact On the other hand, Zegras is entering his fourth NHL season, and with it comes rising expectations. The Ducks are looking for consistency and leadership from their young star. While his offensive skills are undeniable, questions about his defensive responsibility and his ability to impact games when not scoring persist. Anaheim needs Zegras to set the tone as a leader on and off the ice. As Hughes has done in New Jersey, Zegras must find a way to elevate his two-way game while maintaining his creative spark. Without these improvements, his effectiveness as a franchise cornerstone could be called into question. If Zegras does n...

The San Diego Gulls fell short to the Calgary Wranglers tonight 4-3.

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The San Diego Gulls announced today that the American Hockey League (AHL) club has recalled right wing Sasha Pastujov from the Tulsa Oilers of the ECHL.

Detailed notes on Tuesday's game between the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks

The Ducks have reassigned defenseman Tyson Hinds to the San Diego Gulls, Anaheim’s primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). Hinds, 21 (3/13/03), has appeared in 84 career AHL games with San Diego, earning 4-8=12 points with 48 penalty minutes (PIM). The 6-3, 199-pound defenseman scored two goals

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has reassigned defenseman Tyson Hinds to the San Diego Gulls, Anaheim’s primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).

The San Diego Gulls take on the Calgary Wranglers tonight at Pechanga Arena (7 p.m. PT; TV: AHLTV on FloHockey; Radio: Gulls Audio Network).

Welcome back to ! Let’s look at this Wednesday edition with the taking on the . Today, like every day, Last Word on Hockey looks at the games happening and gives our predictions for each one, breaking down head-to-head matchups and other factors that may play in. This matchup between San Jose and Dallas is a big Western Conference showdown. Finally, be sure to check out more predictions for all the games throughout the 2024-25 season. NHL Predictions San Jose Sharks at Dallas Stars Time: 8:00 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time) TV: Victory+, NBCSCA, ESPN+ The Young San Jose Sharks Are Learning How to Win The Sharks come into this matchup off of a thrilling overtime victory against the Red Wings on Monday. The offence showed up in a big way, generating 34 shots and five goals. led the charge with two goals. His point total moves to 15 on the year as he continues his red-hot season. and netted the two other regulation markers. In overtime, 2024 first-overall pick scored his first career goal in extra-time, giving the Sharks a big win. In his eight NHL games, Celebrini has four goals and five points and gives the Sharks high-level play each time he's on the ice. added two assists and is up to nine points. and had one assist each, bringing their point totals to 14 and 11, respectively. Despite his limited appearances, new acquisition has played well in his short time. He's kept the puck out of his own net and been a steady presence on the backend. In goal, didn't play his best game of the season but made key saves and gave San Jose a chance to win. Despite allowing four goals to the Red Wings, Blackwood's statistical profile has been good. In his 11 starts, he's posted a .908 SV% and taken the reins to the goal. However, with the injury to , San Jose recalled from Milwaukee. The . Stars Seeking to Keep Pace in the Central Division Dallas comes into this game behind Winnipeg and Minnesota in the Central Divison standings. After a disappointing loss to the Anaheim Ducks, the Stars are looking to get back in the win column at home. In the last five games, has been the engine of Dallas' offence. The forward has four goals and ten points in that stretch after collecting an assist on Monday. Surprisingly, the only player with more points than Marchment on the team is . After signing a one-year deal in the offseason, Duchene has ten goals and 21 points in 17 games. , and are the only other players with double-digit points. Defensively, franchise defenceman is off to a slow start on the stat sheet. He has just six points while playing over 24 minutes per game and on the top power play unit. and have eight points to lead the team from the backend. Between the pipes, is playing like his usual Vezina Trophy-calibre self. He's started 12 of the team's 17 games and posted a .917 SV% with nine wins. His backup, , has a .914 SV%. With DeSmith getting the start against the Ducks, Oettinger should get the nod tonight against the Sharks. Predictions for Stars and Sharks These two clubs met in October, with the Stars taking that one 3-2. However, this Sharks team is different than the one that dropped that contest. Even though San Jose should put up a similar fight in this one, Dallas' firepower and goaltending will be too much to overcome. Dallas takes this one. Prediction: Dallas wins 3-1 According to , if we want to look at adding some friendly wagers on the outcomes, check these out for our NHL Predictions. Given our score, take Dallas on the -1.5 spread and the under of 6.5, they pay -164 and -132, respectively. Marchment is a +250 anytime scorer, so lock that in as well. For San Jose, Celebrini is paying +340 to score. We like this four-leg, same-game parlay, it pays a whopping +10735. Main Photo: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Please play responsibly, check for your local rules and age restrictions, some jurisdictions require ages 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. The post appeared first on .

The 31-year-old is "intriguing for teams who need an upgrade in net" — especially if the Ducks retain salary to give him a $3.2 million AAV.

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It took 11 years, but the Ducks finally won another game in Dallas, handing the Stars their first home loss of the season—and we were there to see it! From O...