Tristan Luneau made his NHL debut as one of the Anaheim Ducks’ newest defensemen on Thursday night at Honda Center against the Dallas Stars. Luneau accompanied Anaheim veteran Cam Fowler on the first line and logged just under 16 minutes of ice time.
Related: Tristan Luneau Stats
Although the game ended with a 3-2 loss for Anaheim, the team’s overall performance was nothing short of a continued improvement, and Luneau’s defense was certainly a visible contribution to that. Anaheim’s head coach Greg Cronin spoke highly of Luneau after his first game with the team, stating he thought the defenseman was “fantastic.”
With Anaheim choosing to call up Luneau over Olen Zellweger, Drew Helleson, and Colton White, Luneau proved he rightfully earned his spot on this year’s roster.
Luneau’s Road to Anaheim
Tristan Luneau was born in Quebec, Canada, and began playing hockey for the QBAAA league in 2016. He later moved up to the QMJHL, where he started his career with the Gatineau Olympiques in 2020. While Luneau was an active member of Gatineau’s roster from 2020 to 2023, he was drafted to the Anaheim Ducks in the 2022 NHL draft. Luneau was selected in the 2nd round and chosen 53rd overall by Anaheim.
Related Article: Anaheim Ducks Prospects Spotlight: Defensemen (Part 2)
During his time with the Gatineau Olympiques, Luneau played in 159 games and logged a total of 144 points. He scored 36 goals, 20 of which were scored in his final season last year. Although Luneau did participate in Anaheim’s 2022 training camp, he ultimately did not make the final roster. He continued playing for the Olympiques in Quebec for a final season before securing a place on the Ducks’ roster for the 2023-2024 season.
Luneau’s Debut Game
Tristan Luneau made his NHL debut against the Dallas Stars this week, where he played on the first line with defensive linemate Cam Fowler. It appears Luneau subbed in on the first line for Jamie Drysdale, who is currently listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. According to a report from The Sporting Tribune’s Derek Lee, Anaheim was deciding between Urho Vakaanainen and Tristan Luneau to sub in for Drysdale on the first line. With Drysdale only appearing in 2 games before falling back out of the line-up due to injury, Luneau certainly had big shoes to fill for his first appearance in Anaheim.
Although Luneau did not put up any points during his first game on Thursday, his on-ice presence was visible and impactful. As Anaheim struggled with racking up penalties early on, Luneau’s skill contributed to the Ducks’ penalty kill. Throughout the game, Luneau remained active in front of netminder John Gibson and did not shy away from acting as a physical force against his opponents. Lunueau utilized his 6’1, 175-pound frame to his benefit without drawing any penalties and keeping up a solid pace on the ice.
Overall, Tristan Luneau appeared calm and unfazed by the pace of play against the Dallas Stars, who contended for the Stanley Cup just six months ago. It is clear that as Luneau continues to develop his apparent defensive abilities, he will effectively contribute to Anaheim’s rebuild and overall success.
Photo by Gary A. Vasquez for USA Today Sports
