Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jamie Drysdale will be out an estimated four to six months with a torn labrum in his left shoulder after getting hurt Friday during the team’s 4-0 road loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, the team announced Monday.
The Ducks could be without the 20-year-old for much of the season, if not the remainder of it depending on how the shoulder heals after undergoing surgery that the club said is “in the near future.” Drysdale has been playing top-four minutes since making his NHL debut during the 2020-21 season. In 2021-22, the Toronto native had four goals and 28 assists in 81 games. Only Detroit’s Moritz Seider had more points among first-year defensemen last season.
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The injury is a blow to what should be another season of development for Drysdale, who is part of the new core being assembled in general manager Pat Verbeek’s rebuilding plan. Drysdale, who had his left arm in a sling Sunday night, underwent an MRI exam over the weekend and visited with team doctors to review the results.
This season, Drysdale had yet to score a point in eight contests as the Ducks (2-6-1) shook off one of their worst starts in franchise history with a 4-3 overtime home win over Toronto on Sunday. The sixth pick of the 2020 draft class was hurt on a check into the glass behind his net by Vegas forward William Carrier.
“You definitely feel for him,” Anaheim defenseman Cam Fowler told the Southern California News Group. “Injuries are part of the game and over the course of time you get a little numb to them. Obviously, we’re all thinking of him.”
Already struggling, Anaheim scrambled its defense and employed seven by inserting Colton White on Sunday while already using Nathan Beaulieu and Simon Benoit as it leans further on veterans Cam Fowler, John Klingberg, Kevin Shattenkirk and Dmitry Kulikov. The Ducks have allowed 38 goals in nine games — the third-most in the league.
(Photo: Orlando Ramirez / USA Today)
