Kyle Palmieri

The opportunity for Anaheim Ducks forward Kyle Palmieri was as obvious as the writing on the lineup card for Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal playoff series against the Detroit Red Wings. He was listed as the left wing on the top line, alongside the team's franchise players, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Though he had 10:30 of ice time in that game, could it have been a bit of foreshadowing? There's a big hole on the left side of the Ducks' top line following the trade of Bobby Ryan, who was shipped to the Ottawa Senators in July. Palmieri, selected No. 26 in the 2009 NHL Draft, could be the player coach Bruce Boudreau picks to fill that spot on a full-time basis. Palmieri, 22, received his largest taste of NHL action last season, playing 42 games, and he responded with 10 goals, including five game-winners. He's split the past three seasons between the Ducks and the American Hockey League, but he looks poised to make the jump to permanent NHL player. Boudreau rewarded Palmieri's solid play with short stints alongside the Ducks' top-line duo during particular games, but starting there in a Stanley Cup Playoff game made a major statement.

Short stints on the top line are one thing, but with Ryan's departure in the summer, there's a full-time job available. However, it won't just be handed to Palmieri. Veteran Dustin Penner was signed as a free agent, and Murray said reuniting the Ducks' second line from the 2007 Stanley Cup championship season went into the decision to bring back Penner. Rookie Emerson Etem is coming off a solid season; Jakob Silfverberg, who came from Ottawa as part of the Ryan trade, is coming off a strong first NHL season; and physical forward Matt Beleskey could be an option. But Palmieri got a big chance there in the spring and could be the first to get a shot there in the fall.