Anaheim Ducks eye a playoff return with modest Cup odds around +4000 to +5000, leaning on patient development and disciplined cap work. Mason MacTavish anchors the rebuild, with intense trade chatter and two years left on his ELC shaping negotiations. Key offseason moves—Jakub Zboril and David Rittich—bolt depth, while Leo Carlsson and Pavel Mintyukov look to accelerate the youth ascent. The plan hinges on incremental on-ice gains and potential midseason pivots to finally mount a postseason push.