Ducks Face Kings in Preseason Opener at Toyota Arena

ONTARIO, Calif. – The Anaheim Ducks opened their 2025 preseason today, facing off against the rival Los Angeles Kings at Toyota Arena. The puck dropped at 3 p.m. PT for the Empire Classic, one of two neutral-site games for the Ducks this preseason.

This matchup marks the first of seven exhibition games for the Ducks, all played in California. Notably, four of these games will be against the Kings, with a home game at Honda Center scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 24.

Today’s contest features new head coach Joel Quenneville making his Ducks preseason debut after starting training camp this week. Quenneville emphasized the importance of fast-paced practices. “I think we want to make sure that practices are going to be fast and have some pace and purpose,” he said.

Quenneville’s extensive experience includes coaching for 25 years in the NHL, securing three Stanley Cup championships and posting a record of 969-572-77-150, ranking second all-time among NHL coaches. Ducks forward Ryan Strome highlighted the significance of having a coach like Quenneville: “When you get one like ‘Q,’ you have to take advantage and learn as much as you can.”

The Ducks have several new faces this season, including 2024 first-round draft picks right wing Beckett Sennecke and defenseman Stian Solberg. Both players, along with notable prospects Tristan Luneau and forward Yegor Sidorov, are expected to benefit from Quenneville’s leadership.

Meanwhile, the Kings are under the leadership of Jim Hiller, beginning his second season as head coach. Hiller confirmed that goalie Carter George will start against Anaheim when he spoke to Kings reporters on Saturday.

Fans can catch a live stream of today’s contest on the Honda Center and Ducks app. The Ducks’ roster for the game will feature a mix of experienced and young players, as they finalize their lineups ahead of the regular season.