There's still just over a month until teams hit the ice for training camp, but the 2025-26 NHL regular season schedule has been known for almost a month. There are plenty of eye-catching matchups for the Ducks this season. Five of them have been highlighted as must-watch.

Hockeytown Halloween in Gibson's Return

After being traded to the Detroit Red Wings on Jun. 28 for Petr Mrázek, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick, goaltender John Gibson will make his return to Honda Center on Oct. 31. This trade allowed Gibson to be a full-time starter again after Lukáš Dostál began to take hold of the reins during the 2023-24 season and continued to grasp onto the starting role this past season. Dostál was also rewarded with a long-term extension this summer, filling Gibson's spot both physically and financially.

The longest-tenured Duck after Cam Fowler was traded last December, Gibson was the lone remaining player from the Ducks' last playoff series in 2017-18 (Troy Terry played two games that season, but did not appear in any playoff games). Gibson ranks top in nearly every goaltending category in Ducks franchise history and is sure to receive a warm welcome.

"Something close for me (in Anaheim) was all the charity work," Gibson said during his Red Wings introductory press conference. "Gibson's Goals, the sled hockey program, that whole community. Working with them before COVID, dealing with all the hurdles that we had to navigate through COVID and now post-COVID, helping with jerseys and everything… There were a lot of unbelievable moments on the ice, but I think the people and the relationships off the ice, too, are definitely what I'll continue to remember as well."

Black Friday Matinee against LA

The Black Friday matchup against the Kings has become a staple for the Ducks in recent years, but this one will surely feel a bit weirder. Not only will it mark Brian Dumoulin's return to Honda Center, but it will be former long-time Duck Corey Perry's first time in Anaheim as a member of the Kings. While the odd sight of Perry in a non-Ducks jersey has worn off with each passing season since he was bought out by the Ducks in 2019, seeing Perry in the LA colors will be an eyesore for many Ducks fans. The crowd's reaction if Perry were to score will be something. This game will also likely be one of the last Ducks-Kings matchups for Kings captain Anže Kopitar, who reportedly will not sign another NHL contract following the end of his contract after this season.

Ovi's Last Time in Anaheim?

It's been heavily rumored that the 2025-26 season will be Alexander Ovechkin's last season in the NHL. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, he is not expected to sign an extension and will likely play his final professional seasons at home in Russia.

20 years ago, Honda Center was the site of Ovechkin's first NHL hat trick. While he did not score last season in his sole trip to Anaheim, fans will be eager to see if the NHL's new all-time goals leader can continue adding to his tally.

Kreider & Trouba Return to MSG

Both Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba had unceremonious ends to their Rangers careers, with both players traded to the Ducks after months of dysfunction in the New York organization. Trouba has not played the Rangers since being traded last December and Kreider has yet to play a single game for the Ducks because he was traded this past June.

With more than 15 combined seasons playing for the Rangers between the two players, the expectation is that both players will be greeted warmly in their return. Kreider ranks top-10 in several Rangers all-time leaderboards and Trouba captained the team for almost three seasons.

Philly CheeZesteak

The wait for this matchup will be a little longer than the rest. Trevor Zegras will return to Honda Center on Mar. 18 as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers following his trade to the Flyers on Jun. 23. It brought an end to years of trade speculation and reunites Zegras with Jamie Drysdale, who is good friends with Zegras and was traded to the Flyers for Cutter Gauthier in 2024.

Zegras was a Ducks fan favorite, well-liked because of his easy-going personality and his penchant for flair on the ice. His offensive production tailed off after consecutive 60-point seasons to begin his NHL career due to injuries and arguably less-than-ideal deployment. But Zegras did his best to become a better two-way player, something which Ducks management wanted to see more of from him.

"I've played center my whole career up until two seasons ago and I've always felt more comfortable there," Zegras said during his Flyers introductory press conference. "I think there are definitely areas that I need to work on, whether it's the faceoff circle or below the goal line or in front of the net in the d-zone. I think it was good to play the wing and learn that position and the responsibilities."

"I just try to be a good teammate, do what was asked of me and I'm gonna bring that same mindset to Philadelphia. I guess my focus has kind of shifted more towards what I can do for that team and that organization. I think what's happened in the past has made me a different person and I think I learned a lot in Anaheim. Taught me how to be a pro and I'm going to try and bring all that information that I've learned to Philadelphia."

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