Ducks, Olen Zellweger have hit problem point in playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Olen Zellweger is a quality defenseman with a bright future.
But right now, the 22-year old is not playing at all in the playoffs for the Anaheim Ducks.
They secured advancement to the second round by defeating the Edmonton Oilers in six games, but it doesn’t seem obvious that Zellweger will all of a sudden begin playing more.
It’s a bit surprising since Zellweger played 76 games in the regular season.
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He’s also a pending restricted free agent, which will create a decision for the offseason.
Pending RFA Olen Zellweger has been scratched by #FlyTogether the whole first round of the playoffs after playing 76 games this year.
The Ducks are playing seven defensemen and he isn’t one of them. Gotta wonder if he’ll be moved or will sign an offer sheet this summer. pic.twitter.com/i7K2rq2idt
— dom (@datadomNY) May 1, 2026
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Eventually, the Ducks should have room for him. Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba are both unrestricted free agents, and it seems unlikely Anaheim keeps both.
The Ducks have also been a bit overloaded on D-men all season, playing both Ian Moore and Zellweger at forward at times on the fourth line.
The imbalance hasn’t helped Zellweger’s development, and right now, the Ducks have decided they don’t quite trust him enough in the playoffs.
This shouldn’t upend his future in Anaheim, but it does create a bit more uncertainty around him than there was for most of the season.