Reporting on Zellweger and Mintyukov & Takeaways from Latest Batch of Games
Welcome to the THW Anaheim Ducks Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Ducks writers.
In today’s edition, we check in on Olen Zellweger’s first week with the San Diego Gulls, discuss Pavel Mintyukov’s superb first impression in the NHL, and provide some takeaways from the latest batch of games.
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Now on to the good stuff…
4 Takeaways from Ducks’ Overtime Win Over Blue Jackets
October 25, 2023 by Jordan Reinhardt
There we go. The Anaheim Ducks are back in the win column. With a big overtime win last night over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Ducks avoid an early-season four-game losing streak and keep pace in a tumultuous start to the season for many clubs. Let’s look at some positive, negative, and neutral takeaways from the win.
Ducks: Checking in on Olen Zellweger in San Diego
October 24, 2023 by Jordan Reinhardt
The Anaheim Ducks just wrapped up the first week of their 30th Anniversary season. While their 1-4 record might not indicate it, they have played pretty well. The energy feels different. They’re hungrier offensively, better defensively, and playing with more urgency. A key takeaway from the campaign so far? The rookies.
Which brings us to catching up on Olen Zellweger. The top-tier Ducks prospect was left off the opening-night roster and has subsequently begun his professional career with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, San Diego Gulls. We’ll recap how he got there, how he’s doing so far, and project if he will join the Ducks this season.
Ducks Gameday Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets – 10/24/2023
October 24, 2023 by Jordan Reinhardt
I wrote in a preseason piece that the Anaheim Ducks’ first game of the season against the Columbus Blue Jackets was one of five games to circle on the calendar. Why? Not because of a rivalry, per se, but because it’ll feature two of the top three selections in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft – Leo Carlsson (second) and Adam Fantilli (third). When you consider that the Ducks surprised some folks when taking Carlsson over Fantilli, naturally, one’s interest in seeing them compete against one another is piqued, no?
Well, that’s what we have here tonight. Both Carlsson and Fantilli are slated to play and both are faces of an organization in desperate need of moving forward. Let’s preview the game by looking at storylines, personnel, and tactics.
Anaheim Ducks’ Pavel Mintyukov Makes Big First Impression
October 24, 2023 by Evan Sabourin
Starting your rookie season in the NHL at the ripe age of 19 is an extremely difficult challenge – in fact most coaches would tell you that it’s “not ideal.” The speed of the game is something so different than anything these first year players have ever seen in their young careers and it truly takes a special player to enjoy success right off the bat. But Anaheim Ducks prospect Pavel Mintyukov won’t hear any of that. While it’s a small sample size, the 2022 first-round pick is quickly proving that age doesn’t matter.
5 Takeaways From Ducks’ 3-1 Loss to Bruins
October 23, 2023 by Jordan Reinhardt
The Anaheim Ducks officially entered week two of their 30th NHL season when the puck dropped in yesterday’s contest with the visiting Boston Bruins (Oct. 22). The Ducks are playing well but continue to fall short in close games. Going into this one, they were on the wrong side of two consecutive one-goal games, falling to the Dallas Stars 3-2 and the Arizona Coyotes 2-1.
In their special edition threads for the second time, the Ducks fought hard once again but couldn’t replicate the magic they created while debuting the uniforms in their 6-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Let’s look at some positive, negative, and neutral takeaways from the 3-1 loss to the Bruins.
4 Takeaways From Ducks’ 2-1 Loss to Coyotes
October 22, 2023 by Jordan Reinhardt
The Anaheim Ducks went into their game (Oct. 21) against the Arizona Coyotes with a chance to get back on the winning track and even their season record to two wins and losses apiece. Unfortunately, the Coyotes picked up where they left off against the Ducks and won for the third time in four contests, going back to the preseason. Consequently, the Coyotes are off to their best five-game start in seven years, while the Ducks fell to 1-3 on the season.