Hockey has returned to the ice, and the Anaheim Ducks are kicking off their 2026 season preparations with a brief rookie camp at the end of this week. Following that, they will participate in the Rookie Faceoff tournament hosted by the San Jose Sharks, featuring six teams competing in seven games. Rookies from the Ducks, Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Utah Mammoth, and Vegas Golden Knights will be involved. The Ducks’ rookies will only be on the ice together on Friday at 10 a.m. (a public and free session), before traveling to Northern California. They are set to play two exhibition games: against the Avalanche rookies on Saturday at 1 p.m. PST and against the Kings’ rookies on Sunday at 3 p.m. PST.
Despite the brevity of this year’s rookie camp, it marks an important stage ahead of a condensed training camp and preseason, as the NHL shifts to an 84-game regular-season format for 2026-27. Several storylines loom large as the Ducks evaluate their group of 13 forwards, 7 defensemen, and 2 goaltenders invited to this mini-tournament, leading into a pivotal training camp.
One major storyline concerns the Ducks’ roster management amid a top-heavy lineup and salary cap constraints, resulting from the busy offseason. The team will need GM Pat Verbeek to secure veteran signings at bargain rates and quickly develop young talent to remain competitive. Specifically, the team faces challenges with depth scoring, as top-six forward Troy Terry will be on long-term IR, and veteran Chris Kreider was moved to accommodate star prospect Cutter Gauthier’s contract. Prospects such as Roger McQueen (drafted 10th overall in 2025) and Nikita Klepov (drafted 15th in 2026) may have the chance to earn spots on the opening night roster and contribute immediately—McQueen’s NHL-ready size and skill, and Klepov’s scoring prowess suggest they could make an instant impact, though questions about their development remain.
The Ducks’ younger prospects include Swedish forwards Lucas Pettersson and Herman Traff, both transitioning from the Swedish pro and junior leagues to North American hockey, primarily aiming for AHL roles with San Diego Gulls. Additionally, highly-touted project winger Marcus Nordmark, selected with a second first-round pick, is expected to make his first appearance after recovering from injury.
On the goaltending front, the camp will feature San Diego’s principal netminders, Tomas Suchanek and Damian Clara. Clara, who impressed at the 2026 Olympics representing Italy, has more upside and will aim to secure the backup role behind Lukas Dostal, with the expiration of contracts for Ville Husso and Laurent Brossoit looming. Suchanek, whose 2023-24 season was promising before injury setbacks, will also be vying for the position.
The prospects list continues to grow, with the Ducks’ pipeline featuring players at various stages of development, from promising young forwards like Nordmark to goalies with the potential to step into NHL roles soon. These rookie activities and evaluations are critical steps toward shaping the team’s future as the Ducks aim to re-solidify their core and contend in the upcoming season.
Fan Take: This rookie camp signals the beginning of a new era for the Ducks, and hockey fans should watch closely as prospects and young players try to establish themselves. It’s an exciting glimpse into the team’s future, and how well these emerging talents perform could determine whether Anaheim can contend sooner rather than later.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
