Final Anaheim Ducks preseason observations: Roster set, players added, Leo Carlsson's next move

In their sixth and final friendly game, the Anaheim Ducks managed to field their expected opening lineup.

Yes, finally.

When players are asked how many games they need to feel prepared for the season, they usually say two. Some even believe that one is enough. But these are individuals. We are talking about a team and its collective preparedness.

The Ducks, like everyone else, were in the process of fielding mixed lineups. Veterans met with young talent and players in tryouts. The fourth-line forwards act as the de facto top line, allowing the club to take a close look at the junior and junior players in camp. Some are likely to put forward and defense pairings together in one game, other groupings in another. Here's how things could play out on opening night.

A change was made after the final preseason game when the Ducks claimed goaltender James Reimer off waivers from Buffalo on Monday. The 36-year-old Reimer will back up Dostál as Anaheim needed a more experienced starting goalie while John Gibson recovers from emergency appendectomy. Calle Clang, 22, was sent to the AHL San Diego.

Clang outperformed veteran Oscar Dansk in the preseason and looked set to make his NHL debut. But the Sabers were busy in net with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi, so they tried to rush Reimer through waivers after signing him to a one-year, $1 million deal. With Gibson placed on injured reserve, Reimer gives the Ducks a proven short-term option. He compiled a 215-177-63 record and a .910 save percentage in 501 NHL games with five teams.

The Ducks begin the season with a back-to-back as they travel to Las Vegas following their game against San Jose. They have another meeting against the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils to begin a road trip to the East later this month. It's possible Gibson could return by then, but the club is obviously making sure to have that covered with Reimer in case any issues arise with Dostál.

Otherwise, the Ducks reduced their roster to the maximum of 23 with the Clang assignment and Gibson was placed on IR. They have 13 strikers, eight defenders and two goalkeepers in the starting eleven. Ross Johnston appears to be the extra striker. The defense decisions are more interesting.

Olen Zellweger and Urho Vaakanainen are the extras. Zellweger finished last season with Cam Fowler and participated in many practices with the veteran during the first part of camp. However, Tristan Luneau has been Fowler's partner in recent practices, and that carried over into Friday's game. It wouldn't be a surprise if both were included in the lineup in the early stages, but Luneau's right-footed shot brings more balance to the defense. He played four preseason games and made moves, although he also made some mistakes.

As for their readiness, Ducks captain Radko Gudas believed one game was enough – albeit with a well-made catch.

“I still think it will take a few games,” Gudas said. “Even during the season. Usually the first few games aren't the best to watch. Some people are still figuring out which positions are right within the system. Early in the season you still see some of these things happening, but overall the adult teams are usually pretty well positioned.

“I think we are hungry to get better and prove ourselves. I think it will work out well.”

There were other things that emerged from the Ducks' preseason. Here are some other little tidbits:

• A key factor in the Ducks winning just 27 games last season was the deadly combination of indisciplined play and poor penalty killing. Their 330 shorthanded total was by far the highest in the NHL, and their shooting percentage was a lazy 72.4 percent, ranking 31st. Of course, the 91 power play goals allowed were 24 more than the next worst team.

The increase in aggressiveness was a plus in coach Greg Cronin's first season, but that can't happen again if they want to make meaningful plays in the second half. Assistant coach Brent Thompson, who has ensured this throughout his entire coaching career, was particularly struck by the poor penalty kick.

“Last year it probably got deeper into the weeds than ever before,” Cronin said. “So what does that do? It's that little bit of self-reflection. What am I doing wrong? And then I need some help. So you start calling people who you know are doing it successfully at this point. He did a lot of research and we came up with a plan that we felt would help us become a better penalty killing unit.”

Your most experienced players will be used more often. Cronin said new goalkeeping coach Peter Budaj will also be a valuable resource because he has played in the league and can share with Dostál and Gibson what he sees on video from that perspective. These two need to improve their save percentages, but Cronin also noted: “The other side of the coin is that if you don't take penalties well and give them a high shooting percentage, the goalkeepers don't look as good.” Good. You have to try to meet in the middle.”

• Leo Carlsson is one of the players who now regularly takes a penalty shootout turn. This is another step in the development of Carlsson, who turns 20 in December, into a top center for all situations.

The Ducks introduced Carlsson in that role at the end of last season and rotated him regularly with Alex Killorn. Robby Fabbri could also be an underused partner. “Leo is a natural because he has the length,” Cronin said. “He's got the IQ. He's got a quick first step.”

Cronin also plans to use Troy Terry and Mason McTavish because he believes power play players can predict what teams will do when they have a man advantage. McTavish is one of the best in the faceoff circle, which can come in handy on draws in the defensive zone. It will be important to manage their ice time so they are still fresh in the offensive zone.

Carlsson is up to the task, although he said he hasn't converted penalties regularly for three years. His SHL club Örebro HK did not allow such a young player to take on this responsibility.

“It’s not that hard to see what they’re doing,” Carlsson said. “I know when you're playing against Connor McDavid and the Oilers' power play, it's harder. But most teams do the same things. You just have to be ready to block shots and stuff like that.”

Is he looking forward to being in front of the pucks now? “I don’t know,” he joked. “But if I have to, I have to, right?”

• You can always count on an NHL head coach to change his offensive line, whether it's five minutes into a game or five games into a season. Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that three players who love having the puck – Terry, McTavish and Trevor Zegras – weren't stuck together after starting camp that way

But Zegras and McTavish remain a couple, and Fabbri joins them. Before Terry was picked up to play with Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome, Zegras thought about what would be possible if three of his best offensive players were together.

“I think it’s a good mix of everything,” Zegras said. “Obviously Mac is big and strong. Can utilize his size around the net. Not that we can’t all get to the net, but I think that’s a big strength of his.”

• Nikita Nesterenko, Nathan Gaucher and Sam Colangelo have all been assigned to AHL San Diego but could be eligible for injury call-ups based on the good impressions they made.

Gaucher played only once as he dealt with a lower body injury. Nesterenko and Colangelo got four games each because they played together on the same line. Cronin saw growth in both physicality and the way they added other elements to their games.

Of Nesterenko, Cronin said: “He's really had to change, and I think he's done a lot this summer to improve that.” He's gained weight. He has gained strength. He did a really good job on all the tests. … He shows in some ways that he has a reliable identity playing that hybrid role on the third and fourth lines, even though he has the ability and talent to contribute offensively.”

Of Colangelo, the coach said: “I don’t think he played very well in development camp right after the draft. He went to Western Michigan and Pat Ferschweiler did a really good job coaching him. In addition to scoring goals, he also has a really good shot. He incorporated that kind of third-four line checking mentality into his game.”

• Jackson LaCombe quietly had a great camp. The 23-year-old defenseman played a game-high 24:44 in Anaheim's 3-2 shootout win over the Sharks on Friday. This came after he went 28:41 and 23:47 in his other two contests, assisting a goal in each. LaCombe has earned a spot next to Gudas with solid defense and excellent playmaking standards.

• Cutter Gauthier led the Ducks with 18 shots on goal in his three games. Twelve of them came in one game. He also sank his only shot on a Carlsson one-timer against Utah, and on Friday against San Jose he had 11 shot attempts (five on goal) and a score on his own rebound off a pass from Carlsson. Apparently there was a reason general manager Pat Verbeek wanted to see the two together, having signed Gauthier after Boston College lost the NCAA title game to Denver.

(Photo by Leo Carlsson: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)