I doubt it. I'm gonna say no.

Underrated, if the kids step up and play good (Comtois played very good in his 10 games, lundestrom got an extended look so they should be good, steel should be good, Terry was good at the end of the year) and an actual good coach I could see it, as a WC or maybe ahead of SJ/ARZ for third, it helps that the Pacific is probably the worst division in hockey rn...

They probably shouldn't be a playoff team, but with how weak the pacific is, they very well could sneak in

I think it is solely contingent on how the kids perform. The team will bounce under Eakins. RC was/is a terrible coach, simple as. Replace him with anyone else and it'll be an improvement. However, even under such a circumstance, we need players like Comtois, Steel and Terry to become impact players. Gibson will always be solid and give us a chance to win every night, but we need scoring options. If Comtois comes up and puts up ~20 goals, with Steel and Terry get 40 pts each, I think we've got a great shot. If they remain as tweeners, then I think we'll fall short.

P.S. The regression of Getzlaf is overblown. He's still a legit threat and he's going to be the next JT. I fully expect him to be a 70+ pt 1C next season.

I think it comes down to health with this team. If they stay healthy and all the young players play a mostly consistent season I think they have a decent shot at the playoffs. I guess it all depends on how well they buy into Eakins as a coach. This is the most enigmatic the Ducks have been since before the 02-03 season.

As a ducks fan, at best they finish is 3rd in division (unlikely) but maybe a wildcard?

I sadly think they will keep Mahura & Comtois in San Diego for another year (barring injuries).

Optimism: Hakanpaa will be a solid, shut-down D man | healthy Kase | Rakell cant have a worse season| prospects - Steel, Jones, Terry, Guehle could have a positive impact

Pessimistic bc GMBM keeps bringing in useless players: Ritchie, Shore, Martinsen, Deslauriers, Del Zotto, Grant

Well, let's look at the competitors: Calgary has dubious goaltending and didn't take a step forward; Edmonton hasn't improved; San Jose has taken a step backward and is enormously injury-vulnerable; Vancouver is thin on defense and behind their top 4 forwards; Las Vegas is as weak at RD as the Ducks and the Kings; Los Angeles only added a new coach; and Arizona has barely changed. The division is extraordinarily weak. It all depends upon who has a good summer, i.e., addresses one or more areas of obvious weakness. I think Las Vegas wins the division and Calgary, Arizona and Anaheim contend for the next two slots. Vancouver should be a dark horse if J. T. Miller makes an impression.

If only Murray could trade Ritchie for Matthew Benning or Scott Mayfield . . .