Apr 30, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Dany Heatley (15) reacts to his goal with defenseman Marco Scandella (6) against the Colorado Avalanche in the second period in game seven of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Yesterday, the Anaheim Ducks announced that forward Chris Wagner was returned to AHL Norfolk before the game against the San Jose Sharks. Wagner’s return to Norfolk may mean that one of the Ducks’ players currently on Injured Reserve is ready to be put back on the active roster, and the most likely candidate is Dany Heatley.
Dany Heatley has been recovering from a groin injury suffered in the preseason against the Los Angeles Kings. He signed with Anaheim in the offseason for a one year, $1 million deal. Heatley is looking for a bounce-back campaign this season after scoring 12 goals and 28 points in 76 games with the Minnesota Wild last season. The 12 goals were a career low in a non-lockout season (he scored 11 goals in 36 games for the Wild during the lockout shortened 2012-2013 season). Heatley has been skating with the team in warm-ups recently, so the sense is that he is on the verge of returning. In Chicago this morning, Heatley was skating on the top-line with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry in practice.
If Heatley is taken off the Injured Reserve, the Ducks will need to make a corresponding roster move. The team called up Josh Manson from the AHL today, taking the roster spot that Wagner held. The most likely move for Anaheim will be to place defenseman Ben Lovejoy on the Injured Reserve. Lovejoy left last night’s game against the Sharks with a hand injury, speculated to have happened during his fist fight with Sharks forward Joe Pavelski. The veteran defenseman had an examination done on his hand today in Anaheim, and it is feared that he broke his hand.
Wagner was called-up from the AHL after Patrick Maroon was placed on Injured Reserve for a right MCL sprain that he suffered against the Buffalo Sabres on October 13th. Wagner was with the team for the first four games of Anaheim’s five game homestand and made his NHL debut against the Minnesota Wild. Against Minnesota, Wagner played 4:10 on a line with Nate Thompson and Tim Jackman and served his first two penalty minutes. He was a healthy scratch in the next three games against St. Louis, Buffalo, and Columbus.
Jason Byun is one of the editors for Pucks of a Feather. He can be found on Twitter. For more Anaheim Ducks coverage, follow Pucks of a Feather on Twitter or like us on Facebook.