The Anaheim Ducks were ever-so-close to reaching the Stanley Cup Final last season, falling to the eventual-champion Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final, despite holding a 3-2 edge in the series after Game Five.

So, the Ducks are close and are built to win now. Their top three scorers – Ryan Getlaf, Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler – are all at least 30-years-old, and they brought in mid-thirties veterans Kevin Bieksa and Shawn Horcoff in the offseason.

This doesn’t mean the Ducks are void of young talent. In fact, if they are going to go all the way, they will need young players – Jakob Silfverberg, Rickard Rakell, Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanen – to play prominent roles.

Top prospect Nick Ritchie, the 10th overall pick in 2014, is a wildcard. If the power forward is ready to make the jump, he brings size and skill that fits right in with the Ducks’ forward group.

With a roster that looks like it is set to win, Anaheim’s goaltending will be ever-important and while they have lots of talent, it’s not necessarily going to be an easy shuffle. Frederik Andersen is the incumbent starter, but top prospect John Gibson is likely the most talented. Throw in Anton Khudobin, and his one-way contract, and Andersen appears to have the inside track.

 

OFF-SEASON HEADLINES

June 12: Ducks C Thompson out 5-6 months after shoulder surgery

June 27: Rangers trade Hagelin to Ducks for Etem

July 12: Ducks sign Stewart to one-year contract

July 15: Kesler signs six-year extension with Ducks

 

2015-16 ANAHEIM DUCKS

* Off-season Addition

 

Projected Lines

LW C RW
Patrick Maroon Ryan Getzlaf Corey Perry
Carl Hagelin* Ryan Kesler Jakob Silfverberg
Andrew Cogliano Rickard Rakell Chris Stewart*
Jiri Sekac Shawn Horcoff* Mike Santorelli*
  Nate Thompson (inj.) Tim Jackman

Fighting For Jobs: LW Max Friberg, RW Stefan Noesen, C Chris Wagner, LW Harry Zolnierczyk

 

Projected Pairs

LD RD
Cam Fowler Simon Despres
Hampus Lindholm Kevin Bieksa*
Clayton Stoner Sami Vatanen
  Korbinian Holzer

Fighting For Jobs: RD Sheldon Brookbank (PTO), RD Josh Manson, LD Shane O'Brien, LD Vitaly Vishnevski (PTO)

 

Projected Goalies

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3
Frederik Andersen Anton Khudobin* John Gibson

Off-season Departures: LW Matt Beleskey, D Francois Beauchemin, D James Wisniewski, RW Kyle Palmieri, LW Emerson Etem

Projected Lineup: Eric Stephens/Orange County Register

 

SERAVALLI'S THREE QUESTIONS

1. Will Patrick Maroon be unseated by Carl Hagelin on the top line?

2. With Anton Khudobin backing up, will Ducks find a new home for John Gibson?

3. Is there room for veteran ex-Duck tryouts Sheldon Brookbank or Vitaly Vishnevski?

 

 

BUTTON'S TOP PROSPECTS

Top 2015-16 Prospect

LW Nick Ritchie (Peterborough/Sault Ste. Marie, OHL): Big, strong, powerful winger would add a significant presence to a top team.

Long-Term Prospect

D Shea Theodore (Seattle, WHL/Norfolk, AHL): Game has developed in all areas. Smart, excellent puck play and contributes offensively.

* Listed with 2014-15 teams

 

BY THE NUMBERS

 

THREE-YEAR BREAKDOWN (LEAGUE RANK)

  2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Points 113 (3rd) 116 (2nd) 109 (3rd)
Goals For 2.8 (8th) 3.2 (1st) 2.8 (11th)
Goals Against 2.4 (T-9th) 2.5 (9th) 2.7 (20th)
Power Play 22% (4th) 16% (22nd) 16% (28th)
Penalty Killing 82% (T-13th) 82% (13th) 81% (15th)
SAT% Possession 48% (22nd) 50% (17th) 51% (16th)

* 2012-13 points: Pro-rated lockout-shortened total

 

ESTIMATED PAYROLL vs. CAP - $64.0M/$71.4M

The Ducks tend not to be a cap team, so they aren’t going to push up against $71.4-million, especially when their current cap number includes $1.6-million for Nate Thompson, who will miss a good portion of the season, and a third goaltender who will end up playing in the AHL.

 

PARTING SHOT