Projecting the Anaheim Ducks' Opening Night Roster

We're now less than six weeks from the start of the NHL season. Teams are finalizing their rosters and signing their RFAs, and players are getting ready for training camps to open. The Anaheim Ducks are looking to progress with their rebuild after sitting outside the playoffs for the last few years. Not much work was done in free agency to change the look of this team, but they have a pair of top prospects primed and ready to break into the NHL.

The forward group hinges heavily on the progression of a few players into top 6 mainstays. For opening night, expect the lineup to look like this:

Maxime Comtois - Trevor Zegras - Rikard Rakell

Jakob Silferberg - Adam Henrique - Troy Terry

Alexander Volkov - Ryan Getzlaf - Max Jones

Isac Lundeström - Sam Steel - Buddy Robinson

Derek Grant

Sam Carrick

Zegras looked good last year, but this year he needs to prove that #1 centre spot in his and his alone. Surrounding him with Comtois and Rakell gives him the best chance to do that. Henrique and Getzlaf are probably interchangeable as the 2C and 3C, but Getzlaf's age has him most likely holding down that 3rd-line spot. Robinson adds some needed toughness to the 4th line, but he may get swapped out if the production doesn't come with it.

On defence is another young player looking to solidify their spot in the roster:

Hampus Lindholm - Josh Manson

Cam Fowler - Jamie Drysdale

Jacob Larsson - Kevin Shattenkirk

Greg Pateryn

Brendan Guhle

Josh Mahura

Relatively the same lineup as what the Ducks iced last year, although if Drysdale takes off we could see him leapfrog Mason into that 1RD spot. Pateryn is a lock for the 7th D, so if either Guhle or Mahura show well at camp or in the preseason, they may challenge Larsson for that last spot on the left side.

In net, it's the same as last season:

John Gibson

Anthony Stolarz

Lukas Dostal

Gibson is a top goaltender in the prime of his career, and locked up for many years to come. He'll be the starter most of the time this season, but Stolarz played well enough last year to earn himself the backup spot. If one of those two suffers an injury, Lukas Dostal may get the call to play his first NHL game.

What do you think of this lineup for the Ducks, and what would you change?

Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports