Anaheim Ducks: January 15 Injury Report
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Anaheim Ducks take on the Vancouver Canucks tonight at 7:30 pm PT and if all goes as planned a familiar face will see himself in the lineup. As mentioned yesterday, captain Ryan Getzlaf is still expected to play after missing the team’s last game against the Detroit Red Wings.
He might be coming with reinforcements however, as two players are nearing return to the lineup – as per head coach Bruce Boudreau.
Luca Sbisa has been out with a broken hand that he suffered in a fight against Radko Gudas of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He had just returned from a sprained ankle that happened during the preseason. Budreau said he could be playing by next week.
When Nolan Yonkman was assigned to Norfolk, it was thought it was to make room for Bryan Allen to return to the lineup, but it turns out that he may not be back till the weekend.
"“Sbisa should be playing by next week and Bryan Allen should be playing by the weekend,” he said. “As far as health goes, touch wood, as long as everything stays OK, we should be as healthy as we’ve been all year, come weekend time.”Bruce Boudreau on the team’s health"
While it is great news to get players back from injury, it will also becomes decision time, as roster moves will have to be made either by sending players back to the AHL (only players exempt from waivers are Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm) or by trade.
Seeing that Vatanen has already spent some time in the AHL this season, that is likely the course of action to happen over the next few days.
Fasth To Start Skating Soon
Speaking of decisions, the Ducks are going to have an even bigger one on their hands soon. The biggest topic around the league is what the Ducks will do with their amazing depth at goaltender, and when Viktor Fasth returns that will open the door for a wide arrange of things to happen.
Said of Fasth’s condition, “Viktor is getting better. He’ll probably start skating at the end of this week or early next week at the absolute latest.”