Lee released from PTO; lineups?

A good afternoon to you from Staples Center, Insiders. This has been out there for a bit, but it’s now LAKI-offish: Chris Lee, the 36-year-old defenseman who was signed to a PTO over the summer following four seasons in the KHL (and an additional one in the SHL, two in the DEL, 3.5 in the AHL, 2.5 in the ECHL and four years with the Division III SUNY-Potsdam Bears), has been released from his tryout.

With the roster move, Los Angeles now has 30 active players, though Marian Gaborik, Gabe Vilardi and Austin Wagner are injured. The one player remaining in training camp on a PTO is Brooks Laich.

I took a personal morning and could not take note of the lines shown at today’s skate, though if there’s one line I’m fairly certain will get a look, it’s Iafallo-Kempe-Dowd. There are still a number of roster decisions to make, and Alex Iafallo has certainly seen his stock rise with a standout training camp. He had been widely expected to open the year in Ontario, but after hearing a number of voices in the organization say that he was capable of playing in the NHL right now, he’s ascended to clear “bubble” status and has remained with the team through the final preseason game.

The Ducks’ lineup is not expected to contain as many veteran names this evening, partly due to injury. John Gibson will start, via Eric Stephens.

Gonna be a scattershot Ducks lineup tonight. Won't have lines until tonight. Scott Sabourin brought back up from Gulls. Bodies needed.

— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) September 30, 2017

Spate of injuries and missing bodies had RC stating obvious. Won't have anticipated opening night lineup tomorrow against Kings.

— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) September 29, 2017

-Lead photo via David Becker/NHLI