Trade-deadline acquisition James Wisniewski will be a healthy scratch for the Anaheim Ducks when they open their first-round series tonight at home versus Winnipeg.
Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau explained his decision to park the veteran defenseman in the press box and go with a pairing of Clayton Stoner and Sami Vatanen instead.
“They have been teamed up all year,” said Boudreau. “Sami seems to play his best with Clayton, and now Clayton’s fully healthy, so I don’t see why he would lose his position. ... I think those two have made a great pair together all year.”
The Ducks’ other defensive pairings are expected to be Hampus Lindholm with Francois Beauchemin and Cam Fowler with Simon Despres.
Vermette healthy scratched in Chicago. Wisniewski healthy scratched in Anaheim. Santorelli healthy scratched in Nashville. Trade deadline!
— Mike Halford (@MikeHalford604) April 16, 2015