While the Anaheim Ducks have had a core roster that has remained consistent for a few seasons now, the organization is no stranger to making additions and personnel changes when necessary. For (and during) this season, the team has acquired a handful of new players who have brought their skills to Anaheim and helped them on their successful journey thus far.
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Whether it’s a blockbuster trade, a free agent pickup or a rookie season, these players have found their way into Honda Center and onto the team’s roster. In 2025-26 (before the 2026 Trade Deadline), the team signed six new players: Petr Mrazek, Jeffrey Viel, Beckett Sennecke, Ryan Poehling, Chris Kreider and Mikael Granlund.
Let’s take a look at each player’s season so far and note what each member has brought to the team, where their strengths lie and where they could use improvement.
Mrazek: C-
Goalkeeper Mrazek was obtained in a commercial case involving goaltender John Gibson, an aging Duck and two draft picks from the Detroit Red Wings. It was clear to the fans and the organization that it was time for Gibson to move on as his performances had failed, injuries and illnesses had increased and his overall attitude had changed. However, Mrazek has not lived up to what the team expected of him.
He played just ten games this season and started eight, mainly due to multiple injuries. The netminder has been on injured reserve (IR) twice and has not played a game since January 5. His age can be read. At 33 years old, it may be time for Mrazek to consider playing at a less strenuous level if he wants to continue his hockey career.
When healthy, his performance leaves a lot to be desired. He has a 3-5-0 record with a 4.07 goals against average (GAA) and a .858 save percentage (SV%). Mrazek just doesn’t work for the Ducks. He has historically performed better and last season had a GAA of 2.97 and an SV% of 0.896. While it’s good to have a backup goaltender with NHL experience, he hasn’t lived up to his potential in Anaheim. His less than average performance leaves much to be desired.
Much: B-
Viel, a forward, was brought to Anaheim in a trade with the Boston Bruins for a fourth-round draft pick. He was a consistent fourth liner in his nine games. Although his time with the Ducks was short, he performed quite well. Before joining the team, Viel scored just five NHL goals in 83 games. Since the trade, he has scored twice and added an assist.
He is also a physical player and fits well with other heavy players on the team’s fourth line, such as Ross Johnston. He is scored 30 goals in nine gamesand also contributes to defensive efforts. For a striker in the bottom six position, he doesn’t look too shabby. Perhaps Anaheim will unlock his potential and turn him into a higher producer as the season goes on.
Sennecke: A
Rookie forward Sennecke is having about as good a freshman season as anyone could hope for. Fans weren’t sure if he would play the full season at such a young age, but he proved himself from the start and deservedly earned a permanent spot on the roster. In fact, he was the only player to score in the team’s season opener against the Seattle Kraken.
He has recorded an impressive 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) in 56 games, making him the second highest points record for rookies behind Ivan Demidov of the Montreal Canadiens. He is tied for first in rookie goals with Oliver Kapanen, another Canadian. It’s clear: Sennecke is becoming a superstar and has been one of the biggest factors in the Ducks’ success this season. His potential only increases with every game.
Poehling: C
Acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers in a blockbuster trade involving Trevor Zegras, forward Poehling has proven that the Ducks unfortunately lost in this trade. He’s not a bad player per se, but he’s not the offensive weapon that Zegras was and still is. His performances this season have been disappointing, although he has shown glimmers of potential here and there.
He scored 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) in 49 games. He can get pucks to the net and shoots regularly; However, its conversion rate is low: only 9.8%. Poehling does shine in the faceoff spot, as he has won 47.2% of his puck battles this season. However, his offensive production has been mediocre and the team might benefit from moving him on to make room for a better-performing forward. Overall, his season was just average.
Kreider: A
Kreider was a big signing for the Ducks this offseason, being acquired from the New York Rangers for prospect Carey Terrance and a draft pick in a move that shocked the hockey world. He was the longest-tenured Ranger, but his production in New York faltered and the team opted to move on. Trapped was general manager Pat Verbeek and Kreider once again lived up to his potential.
2024-2025 was an offseason for the veteran forward: just 30 points in 68 games. In many previous seasons he easily achieved 45 or more. Kreider has already done that this season in Anaheim matched his 30-point pace with many games to go; he has 19 goals and 11 assists and is starting to look like himself again. He is proof that a change of scenery can make all the difference for a player.
He has worked well with the Ducks, especially playing alongside three former teammates (Jacob Trouba, Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano). He fits into the system of Verbeek and head coach Joel Quenneville and has made an almost seamless transition. He is on pace for a 46-point season and has certainly earned a permanent spot on the team’s roster.
Granlund: B
Granlund, another veteran forward, signed a three-year contract as a free agent. Although he struggled with injuries for a number of periods, he played 38 games this season and lived up to expectations. He has 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists), including a five-point game against the Bruins and a hat trick against the Edmonton Oilers, with all three goals coming on the power play.
Granlund also contributes to the team by spending an average of 18:55 on the ice each game and winning faceoffs 47% of the time. He brings a veteran presence that the Ducks value, especially as they eagerly pursue a playoff run. In last season’s playoffs with the Dallas Stars, he contributed 10 points in 18 games. He will be a valuable asset for the rest of the season and possibly the playoffs as long as he can stay healthy.
Overall, the Ducks’ newcomers to the team have been instrumental to their success in several ways. While some are better than others, the roster as a whole seems to fit together well and has brought unprecedented success to the team that Anaheim hasn’t seen in years. It will be interesting to see what the roster looks like after the trade deadline, but for now it just seems to be working.
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