The plan, concocted by Verbeek and Carlsson’s agent, Matt Keator, to have him sit out some games as a rookie and focus on strengthening and shaping his 6-foot-3, 208-pound frame, is paying full dividends now.

Anaheim takes a seven-game winning streak and the league's second-best record on the road against NHL-best Colorado Avalanche in a nationally televised clash Tuesday night. The Ducks are seemingly for real,

In a matchup between the top two teams in the NHL standings, the Avalanche (25 points) hosts the Anaheim Ducks (23 points) on Tuesday for Military Appreciation Night, presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. This is the first of three matchups between the teams this season, as they’ll play in Denver on January 21st and in Anaheim on March 3rd.

The Anaheim Ducks entered the 2025–26 NHL season projected to scrap for a wild-card spot. A month later, they sit first in the NHL’s Pacific Division at 11-3-1, riding a six-game winning streak and ranking second in the league by points percentage.

The Anaheim Ducks are the surprise leaders of the Pacific Division following a decisive 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday night at the Honda Center.

Jacob Trouba scored at 4:28 of overtime and Anaheim scoring leader Leo Carlsson had his first two-goal game of the season in the red-hot Ducks’ 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night.

NHL connection: The Anaheim Ducks were called the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim upon their founding in 1993 by the Walt Disney Company, the same company that put out the movie. (The team was sold in 2005 to current owners Henry and Susan Samueli and became the Anaheim Ducks).

Leo Carlsson scored two goals and assisted on Jacob Trouba's OT winner to move up to third in the NHL with 23 points. Anaheim's 10-3-1 start is its best since 2014-15.