The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. The Ducks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. The team plays its home games at the Honda Center, and is owned by Henry and Susan Samueli. The Ducks are affiliated with the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Tulsa Oilers of the ECHL. The Ducks are one of two teams based in the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, along with the Los Angeles Kings.
The Ducks were founded as an expansion team for the 1993–94 season by the Walt Disney Company, and were known as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, a name based on the 1992 film The Mighty Ducks. In 2005, Disney sold the franchise to the Samuelis, who, along with then-general manager Brian Burke, changed the name of the team to the Anaheim Ducks before the 2006–07 season. The Ducks have won six Pacific Division championships, and have advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals twice, losing to the New Jersey Devils in 2003, and winning the Stanley Cup in 2007 over the Ottawa Senators, becoming the first of the three California-based teams to win the Stanley Cup. Despite losing in 2003, the Ducks have produced two Conn Smythe Trophy winners as the most valuable player of the playoffs; Jean-Sébastien Giguère in 2003, and Scott Niedermayer in 2007.
Trevor Zegras, Radko Gudas and Lukas Dostal will all be coveted at the 2025 National Hockey League Trading Deadline.
Trevor John Zegras (/ˈziːɡrəs/ ZEE-grəs;[1] born March 20, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey center for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Ducks, ninth overall, in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Zegras played college ice hockey at Boston University.
Early life
Zegras was born on March 20, 2001, in Bedford, New York[2] to parents of Greek descent Gary and Julie. He began skating at the age of three and played in the Rising Stars youth program alongside his cousins.[5] Growing up, he was a fan of the New York Rangers but studied and emulated Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks.[6] He is dating Dixie D’Amelio of mixed Italian American ancestry since 2023.
Playing career
Growing up in New York, Zegras played bantam major hockey with the Mid Fairfield Rangers before joining the Avon Old Farms school’s Winged Beavers of the Founders League (USHS).[7] During his tenure with the Winged Beavers from 2016 to 2017, Zegras also recorded 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points.[8] As a sophomore at Avon Old Farms, Zegras attended the USA Hockey National Team Development Program’s (USNTDP) Top 40 tryout and qualified for the team.[5]
Zegras joined the USNTDP under 17 team for their 2017–18 season in the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he recorded 20 goals and 39 assists for 59 points. Following this, he joined their U18 team in 2018–19 where he earned 87 points, including 61 assists.[5] As a result of his play in the USHL, Zegras was drafted in the first round, ninth overall, by the Anaheim Ducks at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.[4] In spite of his draft selection, Zegras kept his commitment to play NCAA Division I ice hockey for Boston University.
Radko Gudas (born 5 June 1990) is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman for the Anaheim Ducks in the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, and the Florida Panthers.
The son of Leo Gudas, who competed for Czechoslovakia at the 1992 Winter Olympics, Gudas was raised in Kladno, and played for HC Rabat Kladno. He moved to North America in 2009, spending one season with the Everett Silvertips of the major junior Western Hockey League before the Tampa Bay Lightning selected him 66th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Internationally Gudas played for the Czech Republic national junior team at two World Junior Championships and for the senior team at the 2014 Winter Olympics. He won a gold medal with the Czechs at the 2024 IIHF World Championship.
Lukáš Dostál (born 22 June 2000) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Ducks in the third round, 85th overall, of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Early life
Dostál was born on 22 June 2000 in Brno, Czech Republic,[1] to parents Martin and Renata,[2] but he is a native of Bedřichovice.[3] He first began playing ice hockey at the age of six but became a goaltender later when his team lacked one.[4]
Playing career
Dostál signed with HC Kometa Brno youth setup in 2012 and played in their U16, U18 and U20 teams. He made his professional debut in 2017 with SK Horácká Slavia Třebíč of the second-tier WSM Liga (now Chance Liga).
Dostál entered the 2018 NHL Entry Draft as the number one ranked European prospect goaltender and was selected 85th overall by the Anaheim Ducks.
