Ducks players get a post-season “by the numbers” look as the 2026 NHL Draft approaches

Anaheim’s 2025-26 season is finished, and with the 2026 NHL Entry Draft looming, Yahoo Sports published “By the Numbers, Part 2” as a player-by-player recap of the Ducks’ year. The series perspective is simple: break down what each skater’s season looked like when viewed through measurable production and role-based contributions, then place those outputs in the context of what Anaheim is likely to want next as it shapes its roster for the future.

In Part 2, the Ducks organization is examined through six names: Sam Colangelo, Nikita Nesterenko, Drew Helleson, Ryan Strome, Alex Killorn and Troy Terry. The approach matters for Ducks fans because Anaheim’s development pipeline depends on more than draft capital. It also depends on whether players who already occupy spots in the lineup can deliver enough at even-strength and in key game situations to stabilize the team while younger talent continues to progress.

Colangelo and Nesterenko represent the Ducks’ continuing emphasis on developing skill and impact for the long term. In a post-season review, Yahoo’s framing of their numbers points to how players growing into larger responsibilities can be evaluated beyond raw counting stats, including whether their ice time and usage translate into consistent effectiveness over the season.

Helleson, a defenseman, is covered with the lens often applied to the position: how well he can influence play and manage the details of defending while still contributing offensively. A “by the numbers” format typically highlights whether a player’s production is sustained and whether their defensive profile supports the pace and structure the coaching staff is trying to maintain. For Anaheim, internal clarity on a young rearguard’s trajectory is especially relevant as the franchise looks toward the next waves of defensive prospects.

The review then turns to veteran presence and two-way presence, starting with Ryan Strome and Alex Killorn. Those players are frequently used as connectors in team structure, expected to contribute offensively while also doing the quieter work that supports the forecheck, matchups, and special teams plans. Terry, similarly, is treated as a core offensive piece, with the season recap reflecting how a top-line winger’s output can anchor a team’s scoring patterns even when the roster is still evolving.

Because the Yahoo Sports piece is structured as an overview rather than a box-score reconstruction, readers should treat it as a thematic summary of the Ducks’ year rather than a complete statistical record. In other words, the value is in how the numbers inform each player’s role and direction, not in any single moment or headline metric.

As the 2026 NHL Entry Draft approaches, this kind of recap becomes more than a season wrap. It helps explain where Anaheim might prioritize roster support in free agency, trade discussions, and the drafting process. The next question for Ducks supporters is whether the patterns highlighted for these six players suggest ready-to-build stability now, or a broader reset of roles that better aligns with the franchise’s developing core.