Ducks Make Roster Moves

Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports,

The Anaheim Ducks have been snake bitten with injuries lately and they seem to keep piling up. Already down Dustin Penner (Concussion) and Matt Beleskey (Upper Body Injury) to start the road trip the Ducks lost Jakob Silfverberg and Mattheiu Perreault to injuries Friday Night in the victory to Ottawa. On Sunday Saku Koivu was on the wrong end of a devastating hit by Columbus forward Brandon Dubinsky.

The Silfverberg injury looks to be the worst of all. The young winger, acquired in the Bobby Ryan trade, will miss 4-6 weeks. Perreault also injured in the same game is dealing with a sprained wrist and is being considered day to day. Finally Koivu, who was knocked unconsciousis being sent back to Anaheim to be evaluated.

Since the road trip began the Ducks have called up Devante Smith-Pelly, Peter Holland and now Rickard Rakell have been called up. Smith-Pelly was called up to provide the Ducks with some depth for the long road trip but after the Perreault and Silfverberg injuries Peter Holland was called up. His call up provided immediate dividends after he scored in the Columbus game on Sunday. Today the Ducks announced that Center Rickard Rakell has been called up from Norfolk after the Saku Koivu was sent back to Anaheim.

In other news it seems Center David Steckel was released from his contract with AHL Iowa and has signed a minor-league deal with Anaheim. His familiarity after playing with Anaheim and Bruce Boudreau in the past as well as the Ducks health problems seems to be the reason.

While the injuries to the Ducks is unfortunate it seems we may have a chance to see some of the young Ducks in action. For Smith-Pelly and Holland this is a golden opportunity and may be their last to see what the can do in regular action with the big club. Those two have shown flashes of potential but always seem to let us down when we think they are going to step in and contribute. For Rakell this is also a step in the right direction. After scoring 4-1=5 in 9 games in Norfolk his offensive talent and ability to play wing and center is definitely needed on a depleted squad. If anything else this will provide these 3 budding forwards with experience and time to play with the big boys.