Perhaps the Utah Mammoth are similar to the Anaheim Ducks in many ways. Firstly, both teams were 43-33-6. However, secondly, and more importantly, both teams are incredibly young and talented. The issue, though, is that the Mammoth are here to stay for a while and have had one heck of an offseason. The Ducks, though, are the opposite side of things. The team is in trouble with many of it's young stars and may find themselves in a pickle sooner than later.
The Ducks team next season may look very different than this team
During the first round of the 2026 NHL draft, the Ducks pulled the plug on Mason McTavish as they traded him to the St. Louis Blues. The story of McTavish and the Ducks will always be a bit of a "what could have been" for the former 3rd overall selection. However, McTavish was just the beginning. Last week, the Ducks were pushed into a corner as the Philadelphia Flyers put forward an offer sheet for superstar 21-year-old center Leo Carlsson. The deal was a 5-year deal worth about $18M AAV, which is insanely expensive, even for an insanely talented center in Carlsson. If the Ducks don't match the offer, then they will receive four out of the next five first-round picks from the Flyers. The Ducks are definitely faced with quite the issue.
If the Ducks decide to keep Carlsson in Anaheim, they will have no choice but to potentially see Cutter Gauthier depart. Gauthier, 22, scored 41 goals and added 28 assists, becoming the Ducks' top goal scorer. Although Gauthier isn't eligible for an offer sheet, the team needs to find a way to re-sign him. If the Ducks spend that much money on Carlsson, then they simply might not be close to being able to afford both of their young superstars. The Mammoth's potential competitor is just in a rough situation, as it seems unlikely for the team to add anything, and they will probably lose a superstar.
The Ducks can definitely still be good in the future, but one of the best young teams in the Western Conference seems to be in a difficult situation. The Mammoth can pretty much smile at the fact that their team has gotten ever better, and the Ducks, meanwhile, are struggling to even retain their superstars. The Ducks are still going to be young and dangerous, but they will look like they've lost someone valuable.
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