Ducks begin battle for spots on roster as preseason gets underway

Game action reveals more than practice drills, so as the Ducks transitioned to their preseason opener Monday in a split-squad home game against the Colorado Avalanche, consider the battle for playing time and roster spots officially underway.

“We’ve got great competition going on for certain jobs here,” Ducks General Manager Bob Murray said. “You can figure out who they are, and I hope the players can figure it out because there’s some jobs open here, and they better be fighting for them.”

The subtraction of three centers -- retired Saku Koivu, traded Nick Bonino and the departure of free agent Mathieu Perreault – has the Ducks seeking rapid chemistry between new centers Ryan Kesler and Nate Thompson and their linemates, while Rickard Rakell, William Karlsson and David Steckel will battle to lead the fourth line.

Kesler will be rested the first two games before a likely Thursday debut against the Kings at Staples Center.

Rakell extended his perceived lead with a goal in Monday’s 4-0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at Honda Center.

As for the intriguing bidding for net time between 2013-14 rookies Frederik Andersen and John Gibson, Andersen impressed Coach Bruce Boudreau with his calm in a 27-save shutout.

It’d take a preseason meltdown for either of those two to not break camp with Anaheim, but the win-or-go-to-the-minors scenario is definitely at play among forwards, a group that features Southland wings Emerson Etem, 22, of Long Beach, and Nic Kerdiles, 20, of Irvine.

With a deep-rostered squad returning from a second straight Pacific Division title and a Western Conference No. 1 seeding, Boudreau said four to five quality forwards are contending for two final positions.

Etem scored three playoff goals in 2013 and played in 29 games with Anaheim last season. On Monday, he led all forwards with 17 minutes, 31 seconds of ice time.

Kerdiles, a second-round draft pick in 2012 who had 15 goals and 38 points for Wisconsin last year, is here to push. He was plus-two in goal differential while on the ice and delivered five hits.

His versatility and the success he had among other rookies last week gives him momentum as the stakes rise.

“I wanted to make a splash and show them what I’m capable of,” Kerdiles said. “Now I want to keep doing the same, do what they ask of me and hopefully I can make the team. Energy’s my big thing. I go for everything. I’m not afraid to dive. Plus, I can put the puck in the net.”

Etem’s campaign is helped by the potential he’s shown as a penalty killer as specialists in that field, Koivu and Daniel Winnik, have left the building.

He’s also remarkably fit.

“I know there’s positions to be filled. I’m going to try and fill them,” said Etem, who was haunted last season by a defensive blunder that helped push him down to minor-league Norfolk, Va., for an extended period. “I just have to be consistent.”

The Ducks have four more preseason games, returning to Honda Center on Tuesday night against the Arizona Coyotes.

lance.pugmire@latimes.com