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I noticed that there were Carey Price days left until the start of the regular season, and I did more homework than I anticipated yesterday and still have 2 more days after this class-free, so I thought I'd take some time today to do a little write up on other hockey teams to get myself and Sabrespace ready to go come October. I'll just go in alphabetical order, focusing on one team per day, taking us to the first NHL game. We can talk about them, make predictions, whatever. It's sorta like how the Hockey News does it but I'm probably leaving things out. Projected lineups come from fan-approved lists in a similar thread on hfboards (that gathers projected lineups only for all 31 teams). Days when I have time I'll get ahead on making these, but I'll still only post one per day. Anaheim Ducks Record last season: 46-23-13, 105 points, 1st in the Pacific Playoffs: lost in WCF to Nashville 4-2 Coach: Randy Carlyle GM: Bob Murray Captain: Ryan Getzlaf GF: 220 (18th) GA: 197 (3rd) PP: 18.7% (17th) PK: 84.7% (4th) Top 5 G: 1.) Rakell (33) 2.) Eaves (32) O.o (21 for Dallas, 11 for ANA) 3.) Silfverberg (23) 4.) Kesler (22) 5.) Perry (19) Top 5A: 1.) Ryan Getzlaf (58) 2.) Ryan Kesler (36) 3.) Corey Perry (34) 4.) Cam Fowler (28) 5.) Jakob Silfverberg (26) Top 5 PTS: 1.) Ryan Getzlaf (73) 2.) Ryan Kesler (58) 3.) Corey Perry (53) 4.) Rickard Rakell (51) 5.) Jakob Silfverberg (49) Key Additions: Ryan Miller (G), Derek Grant © (heh) Key Losses: Ryan Garbutt (W), Jonathan Bernier (G), Clayton Stoner (D), Shea Theodore (D) Nate Thompson © Projected Lineup: Nick Ritchie - Ryan Getzlaf - Patrick Eaves Rickard Rakell - Ryan Kesler* - Corey Perry Andrew Cogliano - Andrew Vermette - Jakob Silfverberg Ondrej Kase - Dennis Rasmussen - Logan Shaw Chris Wagner *Kesler is likely out for a while to start the season. Cam Fowler - Josh Manson Hampus Lindholm* - Brandon Montour Francois Beauchemin - Sami Vatanen Bieksa, Jacob Larsson Vatanen, Lindholm also injured. John Gibson Ryan Miller Top Prospects we might/might not see (in THN's order) Larsson is a 20 year old defender taken in round 1 of '15, and they're almost as high on him as they were on Theodore. Should get playing time this year. Max Jones is a 19 year old LW drafted in the first round this past draft. Sam Steele, 19 year old center also taken in the 1st round this year. Maxime Comtois, 2nd round 2017. LW. Josh Mahura, a D. Drafted in 3rd round, 2016. My thoughts: The Ducks should be strong again this season, and could very well win playoff rounds, largely on the back of their defense (which managed to keep everyone but Theodore, still a prospect). Corey Perry is likely going to continue his downward spiral (Ducks fans often complained that not only was he not as productive, he was actively hindering the team when on the ice). Getzlaf is still a premiere center in the league, and Kesler is an elite #2C who plays ugly, effective defensive hockey and can put up points. Rakell was a revelation with underrated hands and finishing abilities. Vermette played okay as a 3C (unlike in Chicago and Arizona) and they should be able to roll 3 effective lines with everyone healthy. Their defense, again, is their main focal point and it's one of the top 3-5 units in the league. I don't know if they'll finish ahead of Edmonton again, but I think they're one of the top 2 teams in that division (but better win fast - time is catching up with them). I'm going to do the next team tonight too, since this was supposed to be posted 9/3.