Breaking Down the Anaheim Ducks Opening Night Lineup

The Anaheim Ducks have set their lineup for the October 2 season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights. The team is leaning heavily on its young forward core, with Leo Carlsson centering Beckett Sennecke and Mikael Granlund on the top line. Cutter Gauthier, who recently signed a six-year extension, will skate on the second line with Ryan Poehling and Nikita Nesterenko, while teenagers Roger McQueen and Nikita Klepov feature on the third line.

Ken Culbertson highlights that Anaheim's defense and goaltending present major questions heading into the season. Jackson LaCombe and Tristan Luneau form the top defensive pairing, while Lukas Dostal begins as the primary goaltender following a challenging 2025-26 campaign. Meanwhile, Troy Terry opens the year sidelined on injured non-roster after undergoing hip surgery.