Grading the Anaheim Ducks’ 2025-26 Defensemen

With the Anaheim Ducks’ magical season coming to an end, it is time to reflect on the past, learn from the season, and determine how to best move forward into the 2026-27 season and have success. The team had an absolutely astonishing season that led to a two-round playoff run thanks to their new coaching staff and impeccably curated roster.

A big part of their success came from their defensemen, who showed up game after game to help their team succeed. Let’s take a brief look at each of their performances and give them a grade. Who will come out on top, and who has work to be done before the start of next season?

John Carlson – A

Veteran defenseman John Carlson had a short-lived but impressive time with the Ducks. He was acquired at the trade deadline, so he played just 16 regular-season games. However, he showed up as the two-way defender that he is known to be, notching 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in Anaheim. He finished with a plus-9 rating and was also critical on the power play, where he scored twice and tallied three assists.

He stepped up in the playoffs as well, with six points in 12 games, all of them being assists. Without his contributions both offensively and defensively, the Ducks may not have achieved the same level of postseason success. Carlson is a master of NHL defense — protecting the puck, blocking shots, and contributing to the offensive effort all at once.

With Carlson being a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), there is no telling where he may sign this offseason, but it sure would be nice to see him in Ducks’ orange for another season.

Drew Helleson – D

Drew Helleson had a noticeably bad season, to put it bluntly. He struggled to protect the puck, get or maintain possession, and did not contribute much in the way of offense. Across 60 regular season games, he had just 15 points and a minus-4 rating. His defensive efforts are nothing to speak of, either. He doesn’t bring a high level of physicality to the ice, and he had 43 giveaways through the regular season.

Due to his performance, he played just eight playoff games, where he had only one assist. There was a lack of improvement from last season, as well. The Ducks may be better off without Helleson if he does not show some significant growth and improvement. A pipeline defenseman, such as newly drafted Stian Solberg, could be a better fit in his place next season.

Radko Gudas – D

The team’s captain also had a difficult season. He played just 56 games due to a combination of injuries and suspensions. He is an aging player, and at 35 years old, his time in the league may be coming to an end. While he knows how to use size and physicality as an advantage, the blueliner struggles to keep it in check.

Notably, he injured Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews with a knee-on-knee hit, and was subsequently suspended five games. His erroneous hits have always been a spot of trouble for him, often landing him in the penalty box. This season was no exception — he totaled 67 penalty minutes, though that is his lowest total in Anaheim.

Radko Gudas struggles with puck control and offense as well. He’s a slow skater and lacks the two-way game that is so desired in NHL defensemen in today’s game. He had just 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) this season and played just one playoff game due to injury. Gudas is really not contributing anything meaningful to the team, and the Ducks could stand to let go of the UFA this offseason.

Jackson LaCombe – A

Jackson LaCombe has been a valuable member of the blue line for three seasons now, showing consistent growth year over year and absolutely exploding in success this season. He finished out the regular season with 10 goals and 48 assists for 58 points, fifth among his team. His offensive performance even topped that of forwards like Troy Terry and Chris Kreider. In the playoffs, he had 10 points in 12 games and was the top-performing defenseman.

In addition to his offensive success, LaCombe is a strong defender. He had 128 blocked shots and 74 hits this season. He could use some work on his puck control, as he allowed 110 giveaways, yet had just 52 takeaways. If he can fine-tune and tighten up that aspect of his game, he could be a top-tier defenseman in the league next season.

Pavel Mintyukov – C

Pavel Mintyukov is not the best defenseman on the squad, nor is he the worst. He sits in the middle of the pack regarding his performance this season. He had 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 73 games and finished with a minus-3. At 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds, he is a big, physical force on the ice and blocked 112 shots. He could work on his checking and hitting, as he registered just 39 hits despite his size. He allowed 66 takeaways and struggled a bit with his puck control.

His performance was noticeably poor in the playoffs, where he had no points despite playing in all 12 games. He did not show up in a meaningful way and oftentimes contributed negatively to the postseason squad. He finished with a minus-5. Mintyukov was supposed to be a superstar standout when he was drafted in 2022, but he has not quite lived up to expectations. There is work to be done to get him to the top of his game before next season.

Ian Moore – C-

We can give Ian Moore a bit of grace, as the blueliner was in his rookie season. He looks promising on the back end, where he laid 42 hits and blocked 80 shots. He’s a solid skater and a big body, but needs some work on his two-way game. Moore contributed 12 points in 67 regular-season games and one goal in 10 playoff games. He will need further development to become a top defender, but the foundations are there.

Jacob Trouba – A

Jacob Trouba was the second-highest performing defenseman for the Ducks this season with 10 goals and 25 assists in 81 games. He is a 12-year NHL veteran, but his performance is not faltering yet. In fact, he had his best offensive showing since 2021-22 and increased his point total from 14 in 2024-25 to 35 in 2025-26. He was not as successful in the playoffs, having just one goal in 12 games.

At 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, Trouba is a force to be reckoned with. He lays heavy hits on opponents — 143, to be exact — and knows how to use his body to defend effectively. He blocked 149 shots this season. He has a history of being a high-scoring defender. In his best season, 2018-19, he had 50 points. If he could get back up to that level of offense next season (à la his teammate, LaCombe), Trouba would be a league superstar.

His presence on the Ducks is highly valued, and he will continue to be an important member of the team next season if he is re-signed. He is a pending UFA, so he could, theoretically, go anywhere for the right price. However, he has expressed contentment in Anaheim and has proven himself worthy of staying. Hopefully, general manager Pat Verbeek locks him down this offseason.

Olen Zellweger – C

Olen Zellweger is a pretty comparable player to Mintyukov — a middle-grade, young defenseman who could use some improvement. He had the same point total, 22, which he achieved with seven goals and 15 assists. However, he played 76 games, so he had a lower points-per-game rate than his counterpart. He only played in three playoff games, but notched two points. He did not get the ice time he wanted, but contributed when he did suit up.

What makes Zellweger stand out is his offensive effort. Even if he does not find his name on the scoresheet at the end of the game, he uses creative playmaking and skating to create offense for his teammates. The Ducks even gave him a shot at playing on the wing late in the season because of his offensive-mindedness. Zellweger has the chance to prove himself a valuable two-way defenseman; he just needs to step up and convert his efforts more frequently to keep his spot on the roster.

Each of these players has their skills and faults, and each one made a difference this season. As the free agency period looms just weeks away, it will be interesting to see how the back end takes shape heading into the 2026-27 season. We can expect to see staples like LaCombe returning, but others hang in the balance based on their performances and contract statuses. Free agency begins on July 1.