A season full of promises

A Season Full of Promises

Some GMs build their teams on analytics, scouting reports, or pure luck. Me? I built mine on promises — and believe it or not, I’ve actually kept them.

When I signed UFA Michael Backlund, his agent was crystal clear: “He wants the C.” Easy enough. Done deal. Captain Backlund was born, and he’s led the Ducks exactly how you’d hope — steady, confident, and keeping the locker room calm even when things get feisty. Promise number one, fulfilled.

Then came Mathias Ekholm. He wanted a letter too. So, I handed him an “A” faster than a ref blows an icing whistle. Ekholm’s leadership and composure have been huge, especially with our young defense corps still figuring out which end of the stick to hold. Another promise kept.

Next up was Blake Coleman, who wanted minutes — and not just any minutes. Top line, top penalty kill, and power play time. Basically, he wanted to be everywhere at once. Challenge accepted. Coleman’s been a workhorse, and his effort has earned every second of it.

And finally, my favorite offseason pledge: when I traded Anaheim’s 2026 first-round pick to Edmonton, I promised it wouldn’t become Gavin McKenna. Some called it bold. Others called it crazy. But so far, it’s aging like fine California wine.

So here we are — a season full of promises made, honored, and paying off. The boys are buzzing, the chemistry’s clicking, and the results are showing. With this kind of follow-through, signing free agents moving forward should be easy. After all, everyone loves to play for G-M-B-E-H-M — the man who actually keeps his promises.