IRVINE, Calif. — The news of Jamie Drysdale being sidelined for much of the season hit hard at Ducks headquarters Monday, putting a dent in a defense corps that was trying to find its footing in the team’s rough start.
But even with six draft picks in the first three rounds and more than $14 million of salary-cap space, the Ducks won’t be looking for immediate help on their blue line even as Drysdale’s upcoming shoulder surgery is expected to keep him out of action for four to six months.
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“I’m just going to stand pat for now,” said Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek, when asked if he would dip into the trade market or use other outside means.
Anaheim is 2-6-1 and has allowed 38 goals — the third-most in the NHL — over its nine games. It will move forward without its 20-year-old second-year blueliner that is a vital part of the young core Verbeek figures to build around.
Though he hadn’t scored in his eight games, Drysdale was playing on the team’s second defense pairing and had logged at least 17 minutes each outing until he suffered a torn labrum when checked by Vegas forward William Carrier in the second period Friday. He had four goals and 28 assists as a rookie last season.
“For our team, that is a massive blow,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “That kid is a big part of our team, especially our back end. His last three or four games have really started to turn it up a notch. No. 1, it’s devastating for our team. And that’s where we’re going to have to have other people step up and take those extra minutes.
“For Jamie, individually, I think this is going to be a young man we’ll have to keep a really close eye on. He’s a hockey nerd. He loves to play. Loves to compete. He thinks about the game every day. And now to have to go through this kind of process of not only getting things fixed but then going through the rehab, the re-strengthening and then getting ready to play again, that can be mentally exhausting sometimes. The good thing is we’ve got lots of great support around here for him. I have no doubt that he’ll come back stronger and better.”
Ducks defenseman Jamie Drysdale (torn labrum) is expected to miss four to six months, the team announced.
Drysdale was injured Friday during the team’s 4-0 loss to the Golden Knights.https://t.co/bsalUyZ2xn
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) October 31, 2022
To compensate for Drysdale’s absence, Eakins deployed seven defenders Sunday in their overtime win over Toronto. Colton White, a free-agent signing who previously played with New Jersey, drew in and took 10 shifts that totaled 6:31 of playing time. White joins unheralded holdover Simon Benoit and veteran Nathan Beaulieu, who earned a one-year contract with a solid training camp.
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Beaulieu, 29, came to camp on a pro tryout. His more than 400 games of NHL experience especially became useful when Urho Vaakanainen was injured when he awkwardly crashed into the end boards during a preseason game.
“I didn’t want to try to see where I’d fit in or compare myself,” Beaulieu said. “It was a new experience for me obviously never being on a PTO. I didn’t really know what to expect or I didn’t know much about the team. I just came in and had a good camp and earned a spot. Had a few contracts in my career but this one felt pretty good.”
For the time being, Verbeek is going to keep the defense corps stitched together with present stopgaps. He is hopeful to have Vaakanainen back in the fold as the team gets into November, saying that he is “getting close to returning.” Vaakanainen, 23, is a smooth-skating puck mover that was ticketed to be on the left side with Cam Fowler and Dmitry Kulikov. Concussion issues have been an issue as they’ve limited him to 45 games with Boston and Anaheim since being a first-round pick five years ago.
But this is another transition season in Anaheim, which is in last place in the Pacific Division and could already be lottery-bound. Kulikov and John Klingberg are on one-year deals, while Kevin Shattenkirk can also become a free agent. The three could be in play at the 2023 trade deadline and give Verbeek opportunity to add to his vast amount of asset currency. Using some of it now to pursue any upgrades isn’t part of his plan, though he did note “you’ve seen things can change.”
It leaves Eakins and assistant coach Mike Stothers having to lean even more on their four best options. On Sunday, Klingberg played 26:35 and Kulikov logged 22:23. Fowler played 21 minutes, which represented a break from his usual 26-minute load. Shattenkirk anchors the third pairing but could see him take on additional ice time in Drysdale’s absence.
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“They’ve all been in the league a very long time,” Eakins said. “They’re the ones that have got to steady the boat back there.”
Eakins doesn’t envision being in their current 11-forward, seven-defensemen setup for every game. But he has already gone to that more often than any other point in his four seasons as coach. Fowler, who has had a long list of partners during his NHL career, noted how all will play with different people from time to time as an extra defender rotates in and out. Beaulieu is familiar with that, recalling games last year with Winnipeg where seven were used while Blake Wheeler and Nikolaj Ehlers were injured.
“It’s kind of just spreading the wealth a little more,” Beaulieu said. “I know the forwards like it. It’s more ice time for them. They can shuffle around and probably find some chemistry. I believe when Tampa won the Cup in the bubble, they did it. They still do it. It’s unique. Something to get used to.”
Make no mistake, the whole situation isn’t ideal for the Ducks. They would rather have Drysdale in their lineup, for their sake and his. This was another year of growth for someone they’ve thrown into the fire from the moment they brought him up from the AHL to the big leagues. Fowler called the injury prognosis “tough news” and while he said there is a “next-man-up” mentality that must take place in these situations, it doesn’t keep him from feeling deeply for the youngster.
“He was doing a good job,” he said. “People forget how young he is. He’s just at the starting point of his career and there’s been a lot asked of him at such a young age. There’s going to be ups and downs, just like there is for everybody.
“Just unfortunate news if it happens to anybody, especially someone that young who’s starting to find (their) way.”
There was shock to the news of the shoulder tear and its severity. Carrier’s check was no different than others Drysdale’s handled every game each season. This one just caught him in a bad spot.
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“It’s like I said to him, I’m always amazed at the human body,” Eakins said. “I’m amazed at how strong it is and what it can hold off and in the same breath how weak we are.”
Some tiny sliver of good news might come in that it’s in his left arm and not his right-shooting shoulder, but Eakins said the key is monitoring how Drysdale handles the rehabilitation process mentally.
“Injuries are going to happen,” Beaulieu said. “They’re unpreventable. I feel awful for Jamie. Such a great young player. I feel that. I’ve been on the back end of what he’s going through, the last basically three years with shoulder surgery. Blowing my knee out twice. I know with injury comes opportunity and I was on the other side of it.
“I think just collectively as a group, the answer’s in the room. We all just need to step up a little bit.”
(Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
