Ducks beat San Jose 5-2 in a lively preseason clash, closing it with an empty-net finish. Anaheim leaned on depth and speed, with Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke generating chances while Sam Dickinson and Vincent Desharnais stabilized the blueline. San Jose leaned on Yaroslav Askarov’s acrobatic saves and a late goal from Jeff Skinner to stay in the fight. Rookie Michael Misa flashed two-way pace and offense, and Leo Carlsson plus Alexander Wennberg remained active on both ends.

Seven breakout candidates eyeing 2025-26 fantasy hockey glory. Cooley looks to lock No.1 center duties with bigger minutes and power-play time, aiming for 70+ points and 30 goals. Knies ascends to Toronto’s top line, credible 70-point upside with heavy shots and hits. Carlsson should become a go-to producer for Anaheim, potentially crossing 60 points as a full-season regular. Eklund emerged as a major Sharks playmaker with 60+ point potential, while Fantilli and Perfetti are primed for top-six roles and strong multi-cat value. Cuylle brings heavy-hit upside with Rangers’ wing opportunities and growing scoring touch.

Mason McTavish is absent from Ducks camp amid a contract dispute, leaving Anaheim to start under Joel Quenneville without its expected second-line center. Verbeek calls the holdout disappointing but notes talks have progressed and reps in a new system are essential for a fast ramp.

The Ducks envision McTavish and Leo Carlsson as their future top pivot duo after trading Trevor Zegras this summer. McTavish, 22, posted 52 points last season and is central to Anaheim’s playoff chances, provided a deal is reached in time for the season's start.

Mason McTavish is at the center of Anaheim's looming cap decisions, with Verbeek signaling a preference for long-term deals over bridge contracts. The Ducks’ core—Leo Carlsson, Pavel Mintyukov, and the emerging Dostal–LaCombe nucleus—will require big extensions in the coming years, compressing cap space as those RFAs hit new deals.

For fantasy managers, McTavish's contract timeline matters: a long-term pact could anchor his scoring floor, while the rest of Anaheim's youth could push for more top-six minutes and power-play looks if cap room remains tight. The math around Carlsson and Mintyukov will shape both individual upside and Ducks' overall fantasy outlook for 2025-27.