The Anaheim Ducks have decided to give Jackson LaCombe of Eden Prairie, Minnesota an eight year contract extension worth $72 million. Yesterday I received the news from an individual who knows the game of hockey extremely well, and he, like many North American hockey fans, and hockey fans worldwide had never even heard of LaCombe. The blueliner is about to make $9 million per season, when he was not even in the top five in Ducks scoring last season.
From every aspect this transaction makes zero sense. The Ducks are still in a rebuilding mode, and even though LaCombe is on the Ducks blueline, and plays a very challenging position, his statistics simply do not warrant a player making $9 million per season. In fact, LaCombe now becomes the richest Ducks player in franchise history. This is simply not fair to Troy Terry, Mason McTavish, Frank Vatrano, Leo Carlsson, Ryan Strome, Alex Killorn, and Jacob Trouba, who have much more accomplished hockey resumes.
LaCombe in 2024-25
This past season, LaCombe has 14 goals and 29 assists for 43 points in 75 games. He had a zero plus/minus rating, 28 penalty minutes, nine power-play points, two game-winning goals, one shorthanded point, 134 shots on goal, 129 blocked shots, 69 hits, 35 takeaways and 78 giveaways.
Best game of the season
LaCombe had a career-high three points and was an impressive +5 in a dominant 6-2 Ducks win over the eventual Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers on March 4. LaCombe set up McTaviush, Strome, and Sam Colangelo of Stoneham, Massachusetts with three assists.
Two Game-Winning Goals
LaCombe’s first game winning goal came on January 28 in a 6-4 Ducks win over the Seattle Kraken. LaCombe put the Ducks up 5-3 at 7:58 of the second period from Isac Lundestrom of Gallivare, Sweden and Brett Leason of Calgary, Alberta.
LaCombe’s second game-winning goal came on March 26 in a 6-2 Ducks win over the Boston Bruins. LaCombe scored an unassisted marker with two minutes and three seconds left to put the Ducks up 3-1.
Where does LaCombe fit into the Ducks system?
LaCombe is set to be on the Ducks’s first defensive pairing with Radko Gudas. LaCombe’s defensive partner is in fact the Ducks captain, has 829 games play of NHL experience and 1057 career penalty minutes.
Reason for the contract
LaCombe made a significant improvement in 2024-25 compared to the 2023-24 season. He had 26 more points, 82 more shots, and had a +/- rating 24 points higher.
