Ducks eliminated, doomed by Gibson's struggles, play after All-Star break

The Anaheim Ducks failed to qualify for the Staley Cup Playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

Anaheim (29-33-12) was eliminated from contention Sunday after it lost 5-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes and the Dallas Stars defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4. It's the first time the Ducks have missed the playoffs in four straight seasons since entering the NHL in 1993-94.
Here is a look at what happened in the 2021-22 season for the Ducks and why things could be better next season:

The skinny

Potential unrestricted free agents: Zach Aston-Reese, F; Sam Carrick, F; Vinni Lettieri, F; Gerry Mayhew, F; Dominik Simon, F; Andrej Sustr, D
Potential restricted free agents: Isac Lundestrom, F; Sonny Milano, F; Sam Steel, F; Simon Benoit, D; Urho Vaakanainen, D
Potential 2022 Draft picks: Eight

What went wrong

Rough stretch after time off: The Ducks started the season 17-9-6 and led the Pacific Division on Dec. 17, their final game before the extended Christmas break. However, when play resumed Dec. 29, they lost eight of 10 (2-7-1). They then went 4-0-2 prior to the All-Star break, but after 10 days off, they lost their first three games and 17 of 21 (4-14-3).
Comtois' slide:Forward Max Comtois led the Ducks with 16 goals and 33 points in 55 games last season, and it seemed like the 23-year-old's NHL career was on the rise. This season, however, has been a struggle. Comtois didn't score his first goal until Jan. 9, is 16th on the Ducks with 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 46 games and has been scratched eight times in 25 games since the All-Star break.
Gibson's struggles: John Gibson was 15-10-8 with a 2.49 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in his first 33 games, earning a spot from the Pacific Division at the 2022 NHL All-Star Game. Since then, he's 2-14-2 with a 4.56 GAA and .868 save percentage in 18 games and has had a save percentage under .900 in 13 of his 18 starts.

Reasons for optimism

Growth of Zegras and Terry: Trevor Zegras not only has been a highlight machine, scoring a lacrosse-style goal twice plus a remarkable alley-oop pass on a goal by forward Sonny Milano, but the 21-year-old forward also ranks among the top rookies in goals (20, tied for third) and points (54, tied for second) and could be one of the key pieces of the Ducks' foundation as they move into the post-Ryan Getzlaf era. Forward Troy Terry, 24, proved he is just as important, if maybe not as flashy, leading the Ducks with 32 goals, including seven game-winners.

Prospects on the rise:Zegras and Terry are two of what soon could be a young group of Ducks growing together in Anaheim. Forwards
Brayden Tracey
, 20, and
Jacob Perreault
, 19, each made his NHL debut and has had a solid start to his professional career with San Diego of the American Hockey League.
Mason McTavish
, the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, scored three points (two goals, one assist) in nine games, and the 19-year-old could be ready for a full-time role next season. Defenseman
Drew Helleson
, 21, could join 20-year-old Jamie Drysdale as a building block on defense, and goalie
Lukas Dostal
, 21, soon could challenge Gibson for playing time.
Draft capital: The Ducks have two picks in each of the first two rounds of the 2022 NHL Draft, and one first-round and three second-round picks in the 2023 NHL Draft. That gives general manager Pat Verbeek a lot to work with if he looks to upgrade the roster through trades in the short term or add to Anaheim's base of prospects for the long term.