Ducks add 2-time Cup winner Killorn, new coach Cronin to help rebuild

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2023-24 regular season, which starts Oct. 10. Today, the Anaheim Ducks:

2022-23 season: 23-47-12, eighth in Pacific Division; did not qualify for Stanley Cup Playoffs

Key arrivals

Alex Killorn, F:The 33-year-old signed a four-year contract July 1. He had NHL career highs in goals (27), assists (37) and points (64) in 82 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, and five points (three goals, two assists) in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. Killorn is a two-time Stanley Cup winner (2020, 2021) and brings a veteran presence to a young team. … Radko Gudas, D: The 33-year-old signed a three-year contract July 1. He had 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) in 72 games for the Florida Panthers last season and three assists in 21 playoff games. Gudas (6-foot, 208 pounds) provides physicality; he was second in the NHL with 312 hits (Luke Schenn, 318). … Robert Hagg, D: The 28-year-old signed a one-year contract July 4. He had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 38 games with the Detroit Red Wings last season. … Greg Cronin, coach: Hired on June 5 to replace Dallas Eakins, the 60-year-old will be making his NHL coaching debut. He coached Colorado of the American Hockey League, an affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, the past five seasons.

Key departures

Kevin Shattenkirk, D: The 34-year-old signed a one-year contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1. He had 27 points (four goals, 23 assists) in 75 games last season. … Anthony Stolarz, G: The 29-year-old signed a one-year contract with the Panthers on July 1. He was 5-6-0 with a 3.73 goals-against average and .899 save percentage in 19 games (12 starts) as the backup to John Gibson last season. … Dallas Eakins, coach: Fired April 14, Eakins was 100-147-44 and failed to qualify for the playoffs in his four seasons with the Ducks.

On the cusp

Video: Alex Killorn talks about his deal with Ducks, D: The 19-year-old, who was the No. 10 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, led Ontario Hockey League defensemen with 88 points (24 goals, 64 assists) in 69 games with Saginaw and Ottawa last season and was named OHL Defenseman of the Year. … Video: Alex Killorn talks about his deal with Ducks, D: The 19-year-old, who was a second-round pick (No. 34) in the 2021 NHL Draft, led Western Hockey League defensemen in goals (32) and was second at the position in points (80) in 55 games with Everett and Kamloops last season. He was named WHL Defenseman of the Year each of the past two seasons. … Video: Alex Killorn talks about his deal with Ducks, F: Signed as an undrafted free agent June 1, 2022, the 23-year-old had 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 50 games with San Diego of the AHL last season and three points (one goal, two assists) in 14 games with the Ducks. He could be in line for an expanded role this season. … Video: Alex Killorn talks about his deal with Ducks, F: The 21-year-old, who was a first-round pick (No. 27) in the 2020 NHL Draft, had 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in 48 AHL games last season. He has played one NHL game, in 2021-22. … Video: Alex Killorn talks about his deal with Ducks, F: The 22-year-old, selected in the first round (No. 29) of the 2019 NHL Draft, had 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 62 AHL games last season. He's played one NHL game, in 2021-22. … Video: Alex Killorn talks about his deal with Ducks, F: The 23-year-old, who was a second-round pick (No. 54) in the 2018 NHL Draft, had 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) in 63 AHL games and no points in two games with Anaheim last season. He had three points (one goal, two assists) in 18 NHL games in 2021-22.

What they still need

The Ducks were next to last in the NHL last season with an average of 2.51 goals per game (Chicago Blackhawks, 2.46) and have yet to address that this offseason. Killorn set an NHL career high in goals last season, but is unlikely to match or exceed that total again on a struggling offense. What Anaheim really needs is a scorer to complement Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry, who tied for the Ducks lead with 23 goals.

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They said it

"I've been on a lot of winning teams in the past. I'm definitely hoping to bring a veteran leadership to this group. I know it's probably a younger team than I've been on before, but I look forward to that. There's so much talent when you look at the guys that are on this team and guys that are about to be on this team, whether it's this year or the next year." -- forward Alex Killorn

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Fantasy focus

On top of a strong 25-and-under forward core led by Zegras (22), Terry (25) and Mason McTavish (20), the Ducks have plenty of fantasy keeper and dynasty league appeal in center Video: Alex Killorn talks about his deal with Ducks, the No. 2 pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, defensemen Zellweger and Mintyukov, and goalie Lukas Dostal. The additions of Killorn, Gudas, Cronin and a healthy defenseman Jamie Drysdale should also make Anaheim far more competitive than last season. -- Pete Jensen

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Projected lineup

Adam Henrique -- Trevor Zegras -- Troy Terry

Alex Killorn -- Mason McTavish -- Ryan Strome

Frank Vatrano -- Isac Lundestrom -- Jakob Silfverberg

Brock McGinn -- Sam Carrick -- Max Jones

Cam Fowler -- Jamie Drysdale

Robert Hagg -- Radko Gudas

Colton White -- Urho Vaakanainen

John Gibson

Lukas Dostal