Among the prospects will be left wing Jack Kopacka, who today skated alongside Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf and Troy Terry. The 20-year-old Lapeer, Michigan native is among a handful of young players vying for a spot on the opening night roster. Needless to say, the former fourth-round pick of the 2016 NHL Draft has a prime opportunity to prove he's ready for the next step by skating alongside one of the league's top playmakers.
"It's pretty exciting," said Kopacka. "[Getzlaf's] a very good player. But I'm also playing with Terry, who is also a very good player. I think we can create a lot of space out there. As long as we take care of our own end, it should be a really fun game."
Ducks veteran Andrew Cogliano is expected to skate on a line with newcomers Brian Gibbons and Carter Rowney. Much has been said about the team's need to play a faster brand of hockey, and it's been evident thus far in training camp. Preseason gives the club a chance to dial it in before the regular season begins.
"We try to move the puck as fast as we can," said Cogliano. "Work on that. That's been our goal all camp. Get up the ice quicker and having guys supporting the puck and our [defensemen] moving it quick. You want to get into those habits right away and have those transfer into the season."
With a few roster spots up for grabs, Cogliano thinks back to when he was a rookie trying to make an impression with the Edmonton Oilers. "You remember when you were in those situations," he said. "It's a good time for them. It's a time that's exciting. They'll be nervous, but they'll also have a lot of fun. They're trying to make the team. There are some open spots. We have some areas we could fill."
Expected line combinations
Kopacka-Getzlaf-Terry
Rodin-Morand-Tropp
Gibbons-Rowney-Cogliano
Blandisi-Street-Sideroff
Fowler-Schenn
Pettersson-Montour
Thompson-Sustr
Coreau
Boyle
