Anaheim Ducks Send Three Players To AHL

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Anaheim Ducks sent down a trio of players back to the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League – center Dave Steckel and defenseman Nolan Yonkman and Alex Grant.

Steckel played in four games during his most recent stint with the team, registering no points and averaging slightly over ten minutes per contest. Steckel’s bread and butter has always been in the faceoff circle, in which he had won 21-of-26 (58.3%) of his draws.

Grant made the most of his first two NHL games, scoring in both of them. Grant became the second defender this year to score a goal in his first two games and the first instance since 1995. Only averaging a little over 12-minutes a game, Grant was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this season.

Yonkman is one the game’s true journeymen, playing in over 600-career games in the AHL, but only 76-in the NHL. Yonkman played in two games with the Ducks, registering an assist – his first NHL point since the 2010-2011 season.

In all likelihood this move was made to make room for Mathieu Perreault and Francois Beauchemin – who have been out with injuries, and skated with the team during their optional skate today. Jakob Silfverberg, also out with an injury, skated as well but is still a little bit away.

With how well the Ducks have played, imagine the upside of the team when they get their best defenseman, and the two players that actually gave winger Teemu Selanne life.

The Ducks play the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, of which both Beauchemin and Perreault are optimistic they will play in.

Anthony Murphy is the Editor at Pucks of A Feather. You can reach him by email amurphy540@pullinamurph.com or follow him on Twitter @AMurphyTFC.