Lukas Dostal Set to Start Monday, Eyes Promising Future with Ducks

Lukas Dostal is slated to start in goal for the Anaheim Ducks against Utah on Monday. Signed to a five-year, $32.5 million contract extension in July 2025, Dostal is considered the future in the Anaheim net. Despite a challenging 2023-24 season where he posted a 4-10-3 record with a 3.78 GAA and .901 save percentage in 19 games behind a struggling defense, his performance for Czechia at the IIHF World Championships was exceptional, earning him Best Goaltender honors with a 6-2 record, three shutouts, a 1.58 GAA, and a .939 save percentage en route to a gold medal. He is expected to see an uptick in starts, potentially around 50, though his fantasy impact may be tempered by the team's youth and defensive issues. Dostal's recent starts include a 6-3 loss to Detroit where he stopped 27 of 32 shots (including an empty-net goal), a 4-1 loss to Colorado where he made 32 saves on 35 shots (with an empty-netter), and a 4-1 win over Winnipeg where he stopped 23 of 24 shots. He also started the season opener, stopping 28 of 31 shots in a 3-1 loss to Seattle.