Strong showing from core players in preseason opener
The Anaheim Ducks opened their 2026-27 campaign on a high note Sunday night at the Honda Center, routing the visiting San Jose Sharks 6-2 in a preseason contest that showcased several players who figure to matter when the regular season begins.
While coaching staffs and players routinely remind observers that preseason results have limits — and the Sharks left many of their top veterans in the Bay Area — Anaheim’s performance provided a useful look at where some of the Ducks’ primary pieces stand after an eventful off-season.
Three takeaways for Anaheim
- Leo Carlsson looked every bit the centerpiece. Carlsson finished with two points (one goal, one assist) and logged 14:15 of ice time, repeatedly driving play through the neutral zone and creating space for teammates.
- Jackson LaCombe continued his strong progression. LaCombe opened the scoring after a cross-ice feed from Cutter Gauthier and totaled 21:58 of ice time, second-most among Ducks defenders in the contest.
- Beckett Sennecke maintained the momentum of his breakout. Playing primarily on the second line with Mikael Granlund, Sennecke pushed into high-danger areas and scored on a breakaway following a neutral-zone feed, displaying the size and shot that made him a breakout candidate last season.
Rookie presence also showed. Nikita Klepov registered an assist and was noticeable during his shifts, illustrating the Ducks’ mix of established and emerging players carrying the club into the preseason stretch.
“The big guns haven’t missed a beat,”
The goal production and control in transition underlined the Ducks’ depth in this outing. Cutter Gauthier’s pass to LaCombe that produced the first Anaheim tally and Granlund’s assist on Sennecke’s finish were examples of the Ducks’ playmaking creating clean scoring opportunities.
Context and implications for Anaheim fans
Preseason games rarely predict final rosters or standings, but they are valuable for lineup decisions, special-teams assignments and assessing game fitness. For Anaheim, this victory carries practical value:
- Coaches can test pairings that include Carlsson on the top line and LaCombe anchoring the back end with meaningful minutes to evaluate matchups against NHL-caliber competition.
- Players coming off breakout seasons, like Sennecke, receive confirmation that their improvements are sustainable against pro opposition, not only within the organization.
- Prospects and depth candidates who received significant minutes can press their case for a roster spot or a larger role in the regular season.
Even with the Sharks using a younger group and resting several stars, Anaheim’s forwards and defensemen executed with speed and structure, creating sustained pressure and converting on several high-danger chances.
| Player | Stat |
|---|---|
| Leo Carlsson | 2 points (1G, 1A); 14:15 TOI |
| Jackson LaCombe | 1 goal; 21:58 TOI |
| Team | Final score: Anaheim 6, San Jose 2 |
For Ducks faithful in Anaheim, the preseason opener offers optimism but also a reminder that the regular season brings tougher matchups and narrower margins. Coach and management decisions over the next weeks — including final roster cuts, line combinations and special-teams units — will determine whether the style and production displayed Sunday translate into points when the standings begin to matter.
The Ducks will press their evaluation further throughout the preseason schedule, aiming to convert promising moments into consistent performance as they prepare for the regular-season opener.
