The Ducks entered the year hoping to buck a trend by making the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. But they’ll start by changing their migration patterns as four members of the flock will be flying east for the winter.
The destination will be the Winter Olympics, more specifically, where four Ducks will pull their respective countries’ illustrious sweaters over their heads in Milan. They and the Kings had a combined nine Olympians, as many as top producers Florida and Tampa Bay sent individually.
Leo Carlsson, forward, Sweden
Carlsson was the second-youngest NHL player named to an Olympic side, behind Canada’s Macklin Celebrini, 19, and months younger than fellow 21-year-olds Juraj Slafkovský and Šimon Nemec of Slovakia. Carlsson was the youngest player at last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, where he wet his feet and received plaudits for his neutral-zone play and puck transportation from the Tre Kronor management team.
He had a scorching start to his contract year with 25 points in 15 games. While he has cooled off in his past half-dozen matches, Carlsson projects to be a franchise center for the Ducks, who could join the Swedish pantheon of pivots that includes Peter Forsberg, Mats Sundin, Henrik Zetterberg and Henrik Sedin.
Lukáš Dostál, goalie, Czechia
His performance at the World Championships two years ago, when the Czechs took gold as tournament hosts, was as heralded as any since Dominik Hašek’s supernatural sprint to gold at 1998’s Nagano Games. It was also a unifying experience for the country.
The Czechs face an uphill climb at the Olympics, with Canada and Team USA atop the oddsmakers’ leaderboards. The Czechs currently have the shortest odds of any European nation, 25-to-1 per ESPN, and Dostál is comfortable in an underdog role. He was an unsung prospect and, since establishing himself firmly as an NHL starter, has frequently had to work miracles in net to earn wins.
Radko Gudas, defenseman, Czechia
Gudas joined Dostál on the World Championship dash two years ago following his first season as a Duck. Last year, he became the Ducks’ captain, but has been hindered somewhat by injuries since, the price of his selfless, rough-and-tumble approach to defense.
Given the absence of NHL players from the past two Olympic cycles, first-time Olympians were the norm this time around. However, Gudas is one of the exceptions, having competed in 2014’s Sochi Games. The Czechs failed to medal there, losing to Team USA in the quarterfinals.
Mikael Granlund, forward, Finland
Granlund is another returner from 2014, when he, the Finns and 43-year-old tournament MVP Teemu Selanne won bronze in Russia. Granlund contributed an impressive seven points in six games, placing him right behind tournament scoring leaders Erik Karlsson (Sweden) and Phil Kessel (USA).
Granlund signed a three-year, $21 million pact with the Ducks over the summer. Though a lower-body injury cost him 18 games, he has shown flashes of brilliance. They began with his five-point game Oct. 23 and continued last month with a four-game goal streak.