Ducks' Scoring Challenge
Anaheim Ducks Face Key Scoring Challenge With Troy Terry Sidelined Months After Hip Surgery.
Key Points
The Ducks said Terry’s June 9 procedure addressed “hip impingement and a labral tear,” and they added that he had already begun the rehabilitation process as he targets a five-to-six month recovery window.
Terry is under a seven-year, $49 million extension signed in 2023 and is entering its fourth year—information that could shape Anaheim’s willingness to wait out (or adjust around) his recovery timeline.
Anaheim’s scoring reliance wasn’t just general—it included a specific on-ice pairing: the article notes Terry and Leo Carlsson formed a “new dynamic duo,” and Terry averaged 18:21 of ice time while he scored at nearly a point-per-game clip (57 points in 61 games).
In the postseason, Anaheim’s run included a first-round series win over the Edmonton Oilers (in six games) before losing to the Vegas Golden Knights (in six games) in the second round—context for how Terry’s production showed up against specific opponents.
For the replacements, the coverage provides concrete benchmarks: Sennecke finished as a Calder Trophy finalist (with 23 goals and 60 points), while Gauthier led all Ducks skaters with 69 points and 41 goals—marks that make them the likely candidates to absorb Terry’s top-line minutes and scoring.
Anaheim Ducks forward Troy Terry will miss the start of the 2026-27 NHL season after undergoing hip surgery on June 9. OC Register reports the procedure addressed a right hip impingement and a labral tear, with a recovery window of five to six months — putting his earliest return somewhere between mid-November and early December.
The timing stings. Terry posted 19 goals and 57 points in just 61 regular-season games, then added 11 points across 12 playoff games as Anaheim knocked out the Edmonton Oilers in the first round before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. He played through the injury the entire postseason.
Terry Battled Through Playoffs Before Going Under the Knife
Terry never missed a postseason game despite significant hip discomfort. Pucks of a Feather notes he had already missed 24 regular-season games because of the same injury. By the time Anaheim was eliminated on May 18, imaging showed the labral tear had worsened during the high-intensity playoff run.
His surgery on June 9 was declared successful. The Ducks confirmed he has already started rehabilitation. Terry is in the fourth year of a seven-year, $49 million contract — a $7 million annual cap hit that stays on the books regardless of his absence, Press Enterprise reports.
Gauthier and Sennecke Must Fill a 57-Point Void
Terry averaged 18 minutes and 21 seconds of ice time per game and scored at nearly a point-per-game pace. That production does not simply redistribute itself. Taylorville Daily News notes his absence forces younger players into top-line roles earlier than planned.
The two most likely candidates are already elite. Cutter Gauthier led all Ducks skaters with 41 goals and 69 points last season. Beckett Sennecke finished as a Calder Trophy finalist with 23 goals and 60 points. Both will be asked to absorb Terry's minutes against opponents' best defensive pairings — a significant step up in competition.
Offseason Roster Moves Grow More Urgent Without Terry
Terry's absence piles pressure onto an already complicated offseason. Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier both need new contracts as restricted free agents. Terry's injury could make their agents more aggressive, knowing Anaheim cannot afford a prolonged holdout while its other top scorer is in rehab.
The situation got harder in mid-June when defenseman John Carlson informed the team he would not re-sign. Anaheim loses its most experienced power-play quarterback at the same time it loses its best power-play finisher. Press Enterprise reports that General Manager Pat Verbeek is now weighing whether to target a veteran bridge winger in free agency to cover the October-November gap.
A Slow Start Could Cost Anaheim Ground in a Tough Division
The Pacific Division will not wait. Vegas remains a consistent contender, and Edmonton is expected to push back hard after losing to Anaheim in the first round. A two-month stretch without Terry — their steadiest veteran scorer — could leave the Ducks chasing a playoff spot from behind before he even returns.
The longer view offers some hope. Head Top Topics notes Terry's 57-point regular season came while he was functionally limited by the injury. A full recovery could push his ceiling even higher. But first, Anaheim has to survive without him — and that clock started the moment he went under the knife on June 9.
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