The Detroit Red Wings added a key piece to their lineup, acquiring goaltender John Gibson. Patrick Kane and company will now be joined by an experienced netminder, who could provide a much-needed spark ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season. Still, Joel Quenneville and the Anaheim Ducks haven’t been idle.
The Ducks stepped away from the roller coasters and theme parks of Anaheim to handle a pivotal piece of business. After trading Gibson away, the Ducks made it clear the net at Honda Center is now in Lukas Dostal’s hands.
Words speak volumes, but actions tend to speak even louder. Anaheim made sure to confirm their commitment to the Czech netminder by handing the restricted free agent a long-term extension. The Ducks have found their successor to Gibson, and they want him to be in town for the long-haul.
A potential disaster has been averted by the Ducks, who finally reached an agreement with the young goalie. Dostal had filed for salary arbitration, but Anaheim managed to make ends meet before an arbitrator intervened. Now, Dostal is signed to a five-year, $32.5M contract. His deal will run through the 2029-30 NHL season.
Lukas Dostal #1 of the Anaheim Ducks looks on during the first period of a game against the Winnipeg Jets at Honda Center on December 18, 2024 in Anaheim, California.
Duck, duck, goose
The Ducks have sent a clear message with Dostal’s extension, shortly after trading Gibson to Kane’s Red Wings. While Quenneville is a longtime veteran head coach, he is building a young roster in Orange County.
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Handing the reins to Dostal and parting ways with Gibson marks a rite of passage for the Ducks, who are fully embracing the winds of change. Of course, with youth also comes inexperience and costly mistakes — which, in turn, become lessons. Dostal’s contract will now carry an annual cap hit of $6.5M, which is higher than the one on Gibson’s deal ($6.4M), signed in Anaheim in 2019.
Fresh start
While the Ducks are seemingly in the right path, one youthful star on the roster is reportedly eyeing a new beginning somewhere else in the NHL. Mason McTavish, the former third overall pick in the 2021 Draft, has yet to blossom into one of the team’s best players night in and night out. Perhaps a change of scenery is just what the 22-year-old restricted free agent is hoping for.
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“I think a change of scenery would be good for him, I think there’s a lot of teams that are interested. Some teams have tried to work on an offer sheet,” insider Frank Seravalli said on Bleacher Report’s podcast.
