Can't-miss training-camp battles to watch in NHL's Western Conference

NHL rookie camps are winding down, soon giving way to full training camps and preseason action. With the regular season nearing, let's examine key position battles for every team in the Western Conference.

You can also read our breakdown of Eastern Conference camp battles and review high-profile battles. 

Anaheim Ducks: Power-play configuration

The Ducks don't have traditional roster battles, but one area of curiosity is the power play. Anaheim's league-worst 11.8 percent conversion rate on the man advantage played a big role in limiting their upside last season. Trevor Zegras, fourth among Ducks forwards in time-on-ice per game on the power play, is gone. Enter power forward and deflection artist Chris Kreider, fresh off his worst goal-scoring season (22) since losing part of 2017-18 to a blood-clotting issue. The big question: Will it be Jackson LaCombe, Olen Zellweger or Pavel Mintyukov running the point on the first unit? 

Calgary Flames: Rasmus Andersson's successor on defense is ...

We may not know the answer to this out of training camp, but the defense position will be one to watch in camp, pre-season and early into the season. An Andersson trade has been a source of headlines in Alberta for months, and the Flames have potential right-handed options who could vie for the role of heir apparent in prospects Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz. Parekh, the No. 9 overall pick in 2024, is the likely favorite to break camp with the Flames. 

Chicago Blackhawks: Battle royale on defense

Chicago's defense corps is so young and overloaded with top-end prospects that this might be the only true battle royale position fight in the league. There are probably three lineup spots and a bench spot for six competitors. Top prospects Artyom Levshunov (2024 No. 2 overall pick) and Kevin Korchinski (2022 No. 7 overall pick) will have a major opportunity. Promising prospects Sam Rinzel (2022 No. 25 overall pick), Nolan Allan (2021 No. 32 overall pick) and 2021 fourth-rounder Ethan Del Mastro should also get a look. Then there is veteran journeyman Matt Grzelcyk, still fighting for his NHL future at age 31. 

Colorado Avalanche: No. 3 center spot

Colorado isn't exactly rife with position battles, but forwards Jack Drury and Ross Colton are likely in line for turns at the No. 3 center position for the Avalanche, potentially even trading back and forth on the same line. 

Dallas Stars: Top nine puzzle pieces

Dallas is bringing back essentially its entire roster from last season, which doesn't really make for meaningful camp battles. Yet, with new coach Glen Gulutzan back for his second stint in Dallas, he has a chance to make changes to the lines that Pete DeBoer ran. It seems Dallas knows the nine forwards who will make up its first three lines, but where they all fit will be sorted in camp.

Edmonton Oilers: Basically, the entire winger group

With Zach Hyman on the shelf because of injury, the Oilers have a hodgepodge winger group that includes journeymen (Kasperi Kapanen and Curtis Lazar), reclamation projects (Vasily Podkolzin), an assortment of veterans at varying stages of their careers (Andrew Mangiapane, Adam Henrique and Trent Frederic), a 29-year-old Czech who has never played in the NHL (David Tomasek) and two young, touted offense-first winger prospects (Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard). Only three of these wingers listed played for Edmonton last season.

Los Angeles Kings: Brandt Clarke on the power play

Clarke ceded more than a minute of power play time-on-ice per game when Drew Doughty returned from an injury that cost him the first 47 games of the season. Clarke, the No. 8 overall pick in 2021, had only two points on the power play after Doughty returned from injury. He must show more to reclaim top power-play minutes. 

Minnesota Wild: The defensive puzzle pieces

Minnesota has room for a young defenseman to potentially claim a job and an opportunity for two of them to take that battle into the regular season while Jonas Brodin recovers from an undisclosed surgery to his upper body. Zeev Buium, the No. 12 overall pick in 2024, enters with significant fanfare after a stellar run in the NCAA with the Denver Pioneers. He's likely to spar with David Jiricek (No. 6 overall in 2022) and Carson Lambos (No. 26 overall in 2021). Brodin's return would likely mean only one of these young defenseman will stick this season in the NHL.

Nashville Predators: Down the middle

The Predators have small battles happening everywhere after last year's disaster of a season. They probably overplayed Steven Stamkos at center, and ultimately, that's the question this season. Stamkos is at his best when focused on scoring while other players take some of his defensive and forechecking responsibilities. Will 22-year-old Fyodor Svechkov, lightly penciled in as the No. 2 center, win the job in camp and allow the Predators to keep Stamkos on the wing? 

San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa's long-shot bid

It's hard to say that the most recent No. 2 overall pick is a long shot, but there's a possibility that no player drafted in July is capable of making their team out of camp. Misa has a legitimate opportunity after putting up an eye-popping 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) in 65 games in his draft year for the OHL's Saginaw Spirit. San Jose doesn't necessarily have an established second-line center, as there's a possibility rising star Will Smith could move to play on the wing.

Seattle Kraken: Shane Wright's role expanding?

Though Seattle is lacking in top-end talent, it got a really stellar rookie season from center Wright. The 21-year-old didn't get caved at five-on-five and scored 44 points in 79 games. Chandler Stephenson, a big free-agent signing for Seattle last summer, has been overmatched in the second-line role. A strong camp could result in Wright pushing Stephenson for minutes at five-on-five.

St. Louis Blues: Logan Mailloux's inside track

The Blues leveraged the depth of their forward assets to acquire defenseman Mailloux this summer. The 6-foot-3, 212-pounder was a 2021 first-round pick for Montreal but was blocked from playing time. The field looks clear for Mailloux if he can hold off an assortment of unlikely challengers, including Blues 2024 first-round pick Adam Jiricek.

Utah Mammoth: The next wave of youth

The Mammoth, when they played in Arizona, spent years accumulating draft picks and young assets. Now closing in on actual contention, Utah used free agency to supplement a core of young players it is already excited about in centers Logan Cooley and Barrett Hayton and wingers JJ Peterka and Dylan Guenther. The question will be whether highly touted prospects Tij Iginla and Daniil But (both forwards) can take a job from a veteran depth forwards Alex Kerfoot or Liam O'Brien.

Vancouver Canucks: Thatcher Demko vs. Kevin Lankinen

The Canucks have a few intriguing battles but perhaps none bigger than Demko and Lankinen. They're both big-money goaltenders after signing contract extensions. Demko's lengthy injury history will almost guarantee Lankinen opportunities to steal the net. 

Vegas Golden Knights: Backup goalie

The Knights let Ilya Samsonov walk, giving Akira Schmid the inside track at claiming the job behind Adin Hill. Schmid only appeared in five games in relief, posting a .944 save percentage. The former Devils playoff hero shouldn't have an issue holding off any of Vegas' young prospects.

Winnipeg Jets: Can Brayden Yager steal a job?

Winnipeg's lineup is tough to crack, especially if the Jonathan Toews comeback story goes the way Jets brass is hoping. The Jets lean toward the older side down the middle outside of fourth-liner Morgan Barron. Yager, a 2023 first-round pick, is coming off a rock-solid 82-point season in just 54 games split between WHL Moose Jaw and Lethbridge. It's not inconceivable that he could impress in camp while a veteran falters.