• Key additions: D Andy Sutton, D Toni Lydman, F Aaron Voros

• Key losses: D Scott Niedermayer, D James Wisniewski, D Aaron Ward, D Steve Eminger, F Mike Brown

• Overview:
How do you replace a future Hall of Fame defenseman? That was the question facing general manager Bob Murray after Scott Niedermayer announced his retirement in June. Murray responded by rebuilding the Anaheim blue line, which surrendered an unsightly 2.96 goals per game last season. Sutton and Lydman add some missing punch, but the key question heading into camp is who can replace Niedermayer’s scoring and puck-moving abilities. Youngsters Luca Sbisa and Cam Fowler, the 12th overall pick in the June draft, will get long looks. The forward corps looks mostly intact after Teemu Selanne postponed retirement another year, although leading goal-scorer Bobby Ryan remains a restricted free agent. He and the Ducks don’t seem far apart on contract terms.

• What they’re missing:
The defense is looking less dominant than it did during Niedermayer and Chris Pronger’s prime, and adding another veteran couldn’t hurt. Vancouver’s Kevin Bieksa has been the rumored target, but he could be worth more than Murray is willing to offer. Generally, the Ducks lack direction: not quite contending and not quite rebuilding, either. More ice time for the younger defensemen could be better for the team's long-term future, if not their 2011 playoff hopes.

• Players to watch in camp:
Star center Ryan Getzlaf is coming off a season shortened by a partially torn ligament in his right ankle and must prove he’s back to 100 percent. Beyond Fowler and Sbisa, Danny Syvret, Brendan Mikkelson and Brett Festerling have a chance to earn their first full-time jobs as NHL defensemen.

HPT is counting down one team each day before NHL training camps open on Sept. 17.

Tomorrow: Atlanta Thrashers.

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