Ducks play eight defenseman against Predators

So, with a typical six-man group on the blue line, the Ducks are actually dressing eight defenders for a game.

There are a number of reasons this has become a reality. For one, forwards Ross Johnston, Cutter Gauthier and Jansen Harkins are all unavailable due to injury. The team had Nathan Gaucher on the main roster, making his debut just last Wednesday, but he was sent back to Anaheim’s American Hockey League affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, on Sunday, and was able to be called back up since he had yet to play a game in the ‘A.’

Earlier in the day, it was revealed that defenseman Pavel Mintyukov would return to the lineup after missing three straight games and four of the Ducks’ past five with a lower-body injury. So, with an influx of rearguards, head coach Joel Quenneville had to get creative to fit a 20-man roster for a game that’s crucial in the team’s quest to stay in the hunt for the Pacific Division title.

Zellweger certainly has the prowess to be an offensive weapon from the blue line, though it’ll be interesting to see how he can contribute in a depth forward capacity.

Coming into Tuesday, the Ducks (41-31-5) were tied with the Edmonton Oilers for first place in the division, with the Vegas Golden Knights one point back in third.