Quack of Dawn: Ducks Morning Report – 02/06

After a day off on Wednesday, the Ducks were back at Great Park Ice for a Thursday morning practice. Radko Gudas was absent due to an illness, with everyone else accounted for. Here’s how the Ducks practice lines shook out:

Brett Leason played in his 200th NHL game on Jan. 30 against the Calgary Flames. Most of those games have come with the Ducks after he was claimed off waivers from the Washington Capitals in Oct. 2022.

“It’s awesome,” Leason said. “It’s an honor to play any games at this level and to be able to reach 200, it’s a special feeling. I’m very lucky that it ended up in Calgary in front of some family and friends, so that was nice.”

Leason has filled many roles since joining the organization. He’s filled in as a top-6 player and on the power play at times. But for most of his Ducks tenure, he’s been utilized as a penalty killer and, more recently, as a defensive specialist. Playing alongside Isac Lundeström and a combination of Robby Fabbri, Brock McGinn and others, Leason has been used to shut down opposing top lines.

“It’s nice,” Leason said. “Obviously, it’s a lot of responsibility. You play against some of the top players in on their team, but I think Lundy’s a great defensive centerman, so I’m sticking with him. (It’s) a lot of work, but I think we’ve been doing a good job taking on (other) team’s top lines.”

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Several Ducks have reached milestones in the past week. There’s Leason and Mason McTavish who both played in their 200th NHL games. Both Gudas and Jacob Trouba also played In their 800th NHL games and goaltender John Gibson reached 500 games played on Tuesday.

“Yes and no,” Trouba said when asked if he feels like he’s been in the league for so long. It goes fast, but it’s been a pretty long time playing hockey. I just think about it for a second, then move on.”

While Gudas and Gibson were able to have their families in attendance for Sunday and Tuesday’s home games, Trouba’s family is still back in New York, where his wife, Kelly, has a residency.

“(I’ve been able to talk to her) when she’s not working,” Trouba said. It is what is. (It will) be nice to go home for this break (during the 4 Nations Face-Off) and I can spend some time with them more.”