Hot start may not be enough for Ducks to maintain lead in tight Pacific Division

The Anaheim Ducks are off to a hot start, going 12-6-1 with 25 points through their first 19 games, leading the Pacific Division.

Joel Quenneville has made an immediate impact on the group, with Leo Carlsson scoring 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points, while Cutter Gauthier, now in his second full NHL campaign, has 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points.

Veteran players like Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba, both of whom were at a crossroads with the New York Rangers, have been reinvigorated in Anaheim, becoming useful veterans in a young Ducks lineup.

On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discuss the Ducks’ success, and whether they can maintain their lead in the Pacific Division.

Tyler Yaremchuk: It’s a bit of a mush in the Pacific Division. You have the Golden Knights who are the favorites, you have the Kings right there.

Carter Hutton: Everyone just thinks there’s going to be a bit of burnout with the Ducks. When you think of Anaheim, it’s not necessarily a knock, in my opinion, of where they’re at. It’s just the fact that there’s a star-studded cast of teams behind them.

The Kings are a team, for me, that I don’t see them winning the division, but they’ll be in the top three. Then again, when will the Oilers make their push? It just feels inevitable, and before you know it, the Oilers are knocking on the door.

My worry for the Ducks is the sustainability, but it’s not the end of the world. This is the changing of the guard, where there’s younger teams right there.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…