Returning to the starting lineup on Thursday, the Anaheim Ducks could receive a significant boost.
For the team’s away game against the Calgary Flames at 7:00 PM local time on Thursday, coach Greg Cronin informed reporters that forwards Mason McTavish and Jamie Drysdale are likely to make a comeback to the lineup.
Due to an upper-body injury, McTavish has missed the last seven games; however, it appeared as though he might be able to suit up for the Ducks as soon as last week. Prior to his injury, McTavish was not scoring in four games in a row, had a minus-7 rating, and only had six shots on goal.
Nevertheless, McTavish, who has become one of the team’s MVPs, has had a great season. With 24 games played, he has 10 goals and 21 points, which puts him on pace for a 31-goal, 65-point pace. With 17 goals and 43 points in 2022–23, McTavish was among the NHL’s best rookies. However, McTavish was able to step up big for the Ducks early on, even helping them into a playoff spot at one point, while Trevor Zegras dealt with injuries.
Drysdale, meanwhile, has been limited to just 10 games total over the past two seasons. The 21-year-old from Toronto, Ontario has been out since Oct. 15 due to a lower-body injury, adding on to his torn labrum that took him out for all but eight games in 2022-23.
Drysdale has been a strong young defender, though, when healthy. The former OHL star is a power-play dynamo who has played in 115 games with seven goals and 42 points. This past summer, Drysdale agreed to a three-year contract extension worth an average of $2.3 million per year.
Zegras, meanwhile, is still listed as injured due to a lower-body problem.
The Ducks will host the Seattle Kraken on December 23 in their next game before taking a four-day Christmas break, following their game against Calgary. After that, on December 27, the Ducks will host Vegas. The team will then play two games against Arizona on December 29 and Edmonton on December 31 to end the year.