They are trying to survive the young Russian defender Pavel Mintyukov from Anaheim! If previously Mintyukov was in the leading roles at the Ducks and enjoyed the unlimited trust of the coaching staff, now the club is relying on other defensive players. Moreover, Pavel ceased to be included in the main team.

And recently information appeared that the 21-year-old hockey player demanded an exchange.

Powerful start

Russian attacking defenseman Pavel Mintyukov burst into the NHL in the 2023/24 season. In that regular season, the fight for the Calder Trophy with Chicago center forward Connor Bedard looked like a futile exercise. However, throughout most of the smooth championship, Mintyukov was perhaps the main shadow contender for the prize. But towards the end of the distance, the Russian slowed down a little and did not make it into the top 10 top scorers among newcomers, taking 13th place.

In any case, Pavel’s future in California promised to be sunny, because the Anaheim coaching staff believed in him. In his first full season, the Russian received an average of almost 19 minutes of playing time per match. Mintyukov lived up to expectations, scoring 28 points (4+24) in 63 games – second in the club among defensemen. In addition, he was considered the most promising defender from Russia and looked more talented than Olen Zellweger and all the other young players in the club’s defense.

Leo Karlsson, Chris Kreider, Pavel Mintyukov and Alexander Killorn / Photo: © Sean M. Haffey / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

However, gradually Pavel’s position in the Ducks began to weaken. In the 2024/25 season, in which he played 68 matches, his playing time (17:36) and performance (5+14) decreased. It was at the wrong time that Mintyukov began to slow down, because Anaheim is a team that is in perestroika and is relying on young hockey players who are capable of becoming leaders. So, at the first opportunity, the same 22-year-old Zellweger and 24-year-old Jackson Lacombe, who had become the best in his position on the team, pushed the Russian.

This is reflected not only in the playing time, which, by the way, has decreased again this season (15:20), but also in the majority. Out of 18 matches, he appeared as part of a special team in only five. In uneven lineups, he plays very little – 6 minutes and 28 seconds throughout the current regular season. It is obvious that Pavel lost the competition to Zellweger and Lacombe, who took almost all the time in the 5 on 4 format.

Exchange request

Mintyukov lost not only the chance to become the club’s best attacking defender, but, it seems, also his place in the starting lineup. Thus, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville did not include the Russian in the lineup in the last two matches, and 23-year-old Ian Moore took his place.

It seemed like a normal educational process from Quenneville. In Philadelphia, for example, this periodically happens to striker Matvey Michkov. Despite the short period of excommunication from the main team, Mintyukov’s dissatisfaction followed with lightning speed. At least that’s what authoritative insider Elliott Friedman said. He said that the Russian defender had requested an exchange from the club.

Pavel Mintyukov / Photo: © Ronald Martinez / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

It’s hard to believe in such determination, because the hockey player missed only two matches. Moreover, the main stars of the league would hardly have done something like that after watching only two games from the stands. But, given that the contracts of Zellweger and Mintyukov are coming to an end, and Anaheim can only keep one, then the exchange makes sense.

Moreover, Pavel probably understands that it will no longer be possible to surpass his competitors, and in a new place he can again try to become the main attacking defender and take the majority for himself. Complicating the likely trade is that the Russian was a first-round pick in the 2022 draft, 10th overall, so the Ducks will want to get something of value for him.

In addition, there are not many clubs in the league that require a young defensive player. One can only assume that Mintyukov will be interested in teams that are also in rebuilding mode, such as San Jose and Philadelphia. But in any case, the search may take a long time.

Pavel can only prove in every match that Quenneville made a mistake by making a choice that was not in his favor. And if he plays well, he will be able to find a team where he will be valued.