ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Ducks’ morning skate today was optional but it still brought plenty of news. Jamie Drysdale was out on the ice with skating skills and development coach Larry Barron prior to morning skate, one of the few times he’s been on the ice since suffering a torn labrum back in October.
Drysdale had previously been spotted at practice handling and shooting pucks, but Tuesday was the first time suiting up in full gear. An initial 4-6 month recovery period from the time of his labrum surgery pegs him at about the fourth month of recovery.
While the fact that Drysdale is back on the ice is a positive sign, the optimism for a return to game action before the end of the season may need to be curtailed.
Max Jones also took to the ice around the same time last season after tearing his pectoral muscle two games into the season but did not return before the season concluded.
With Drysdale a part of the Ducks’ young core, it can be assumed that all precautions are being taken when it comes to ramping up his recovery. It wouldn’t be surprising if he followed in the path of Jones and continued his rehab through the end of the season without playing in another game.
“I was sad for him,” said Cam Fowler, who noted how lonely a player can feel while rehabbing a long-term injury. “(You see) just how hard it is mentally on the kid. All he wants to do is play, so I feel awful for him. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, so he’ll be okay.”
Fowler bemoaned the fact that this season would have been a good opportunity for Drysdale to get more experience under his belt and play a lot of big minutes, but he also acknowledged that injuries—as unfortunate as they can be—are a part of the game.
“It’s about how you bounce back from them and he’s working really hard to get himself going again. My heart went out for him.”
Nesterenko to the NHL
While a familiar face works his way back into the fold, a new one will take the ice for the first time in his NHL career. Nikita Nesterenko will make his NHL debut tonight against the Calgary Flames. Nesterenko is expected to skate on a line with Isac Lundeström and Jakob Silfverberg.
“(I’m) super grateful and fortunate to start on such a good line,” said Nesterenko. “Lundy’s a very skilled player and Silfvy’s an established vet, so he plays the game the right way. (I) just kind of follow in their footsteps and listen to any type of advice they can give me.”
Nesterenko said the moment that he’ll realize he made it to the NHL is during the customary rookie lap, where a player making his NHL debut skates out alone for warmups and does a lap around his team’s side of the ice before the rest of the team comes on.
“Obviously super excited. A lot of emotions going through my head but just taking it one minute, one second at a time and hopefully (I’ll) have some fun tonight.”
Head coach Dallas Eakins just wants him to play using his instincts. “I talked with him yesterday. I think he understands—at least partially—the system, but I have very little care (for that). I just want him to play hockey.”
“The last thing I left him with—and it’s the most important thing tonight—is to take it in and enjoy it. You’ve been dreaming of this day forever so it’s really important to—I think—take it in and have some fun.”
Nesterenko’s father flew in yesterday and will be in attendance. The rest of the family couldn’t make it out for the game but will be in Anaheim soon for “a little vacation”.
Goaltender Lukáš Dostál has been shuttling Nesterenko to and from practice, with the latter saying he’s “kind of been bugging him for rides”. Now, the pair will ride together to his first NHL game.
