Anaheim Ducks have been without young star Trevor Zegras for an entire month at this point. Although he wasn’t putting up good numbers while he was in the lineup, you can absolutely tell his presence is missed both on and off the ice.
Positive developments for Ducks supporters as Trevor Zegras returns to the ice, undergoing individual skating sessions apart from the team and following light skating protocols. Joining Zegras in these sessions is another rising star, Jamie Drysdale, who has seen limited action this season with just two games under his belt. Both Zegras and Drysdale are taking necessary precautions as they work towards gradually increasing the pace and intensity, all in preparation for their eventual comeback to the team.
While no specific return date has been specified, the Ducks remain optimistic about Trevor Zegras making a comeback from his groin injury within the next few weeks, aligning with the timeline previously mentioned. On the other hand, the outlook for Jamie Drysdale’s return is more uncertain, with no clear indication of when that might happen. Unlike Trevor, the 6th overall pick from the 2020 draft, a return in the month of December seems highly unlikely for Drysdale, and really, there’s still an abundance of uncertainty as to whether his return will even happen within the next few months, it all depends on how his recovery goes.
The Ducks center, Isac Lundestrom, went down in August with a Torn Achille; it’s been reported that he has joined Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale recently with the rehab skates. His return nears as well, with his original report mentioning he should be expected back with the team around January.
Details about Mason McTavish’s injury are still elusive after he exited the Saturday game against the Avalanche due to an apparent upper-body injury. Initially, reports suggested that he would be part of the team for the ongoing road trip, but later that day, clarification emerged that he would not be making the journey.
In the bigger picture, there’s still a lot we don’t know, and the Ducks’ management hasn’t been very forthcoming with injury updates. What is clear is that this team has been grappling with the injury bug all season long. Currently, they stand at the third spot in the NHL for the number of man-games lost to injuries. Making matters worse, it’s not just any players who are sidelined, but key first and second-liners like Alex Killorn, who missed a month at the start of the season, Trevor Zegras, who was expected to be a top contributor, and their standout defenseman Jamie Drysdale, along with several other valuable team members.
The Anaheim Ducks injury-riddled squad looks to carry some momentum back home as they take on the Chicago Blackhawks. This matchup will be notable as it marks the meeting between the first and second overall picks from the 2023 draft, Leo Carlsson and Connor Bedard, setting the stage for their future encounters.
