NHL Injury Updates: Anaheim Ducks Nearing Key Returns, Roster Shifts in Nashville and Edmonton
The Anaheim Ducks are looking toward a much-needed boost to their lineup as head coach Joel Quenneville reports that multiple sidelined players are nearing a return. Opening the campaign with a 5-6-0 record, Anaheim has struggled offensively, currently holding the ninth-worst offense in the league. Star forward Troy Terry is getting close to making his season debut after undergoing hip surgery last June. Originally estimated to be out until at least late November, Terry appears on track for an earlier return following a strong 2021-23 stretch and 57 points in 61 games. In his absence, Leo Carlsson has carried the load with 13 points in 11 games, while the team rotated 2019 draftees Nikita Nesterenko and Judd Caulfield into the top six.
On the blue line, Pavel Mintyukov remains day-to-day after landing on injured reserve last week with an apparent lower-body injury. The 22-year-old Russian signed a five-year extension carrying a $7.2 million average annual value. Meanwhile, Ian Moore has resumed skating following a lower-body ailment. The 6-3 right-handed defenseman played his first full-time NHL campaign last season, averaging 13:40 of ice time across 67 games with 12 points. Additionally, rookie Noah Warren has stepped into a prominent role, expected to line up on the top pairing alongside Jackson LaCombe, who is currently averaging over 26 minutes a night as the team’s undisputed number one defenseman. The Ducks look to reach .500 against the 2-10-1 Vancouver Canucks, though Thursday’s action against Buffalo may arrive too soon for the returning trio.
In Nashville, defenseman William Trudeau has resumed skating, though head coach Andrew Brunette stated there is still no timeline for his return. Claimed off waivers from the Rangers in late September, Trudeau appeared in three games—the first of his career—before suffering an upper-body injury against the Montreal Canadiens. The Predators have heavily shuffled their defensive corps during his absence, trading for left-hander Jayden Struble and claiming Daemon Hunt off waivers from Minnesota. The team also integrated veteran Ilya Lyubushkin, who made his debut last week after landing on waivers out of camp. By the time Trudeau returns from injured reserve, competition for a spot in the top seven will be fierce.
Up north, the Edmonton Oilers are preparing for the Battle of Alberta with potential returns for Mattias Ekholm and Jason Dickinson. Despite earlier reports that Ekholm was dealing with a suspected concussion, digital content producer Jamie Umbach reported that the 36-year-old cleared protocol and has not been diagnosed with a concussion across his 976-game career. Ekholm has recorded three points in 10 games, stepping back from his 41 points in 82 games last season while anchoring a pairing with Evan Bouchard. Dickinson, meanwhile, was activated off injured reserve earlier this month for a nagging ankle injury before encountering a groin ailment in practice. Having managed only three games with an assist averaging 12:12 of ice time, Dickinson serves as a shutdown pivot who leads the penalty kill to support offensive drivers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Flames took three of the four matchups last year, setting the stage for a competitive rivalry clash.
