The medical news was bad for the Ducks before they took the ice to face the Sharks on Monday night at SAP Center in San Jose. General Manager Bob Murray revealed defenseman Hampus Lindholm probably will be sidelined for the rest of the season because of a fractured wrist.
“If he’s OK to play the last week of the year, I doubt I will allow that to happen,” Murray said before the Ducks’ 4-0 victory over the Sharks. “We’re going to know more next week. There’s still a little pain with a certain motion, the downward motion, where that little chip is out of his bone.
“There’s an old chip from an injury a while ago and where it is it’s a tough place to heal. I’d love to get our full defense playing, don’t get me wrong, but you’ve got to put your eyes in the right direction if it comes to the last week of the year.
“Long-winded there, but I don’t know if you’re going to see him.”
Lindholm was hurt during a Feb. 27 game against the Vegas Golden Knights and the original estimate was that he would be sidelined for up to six weeks. He sat out Monday for a 21st game. Saturday marks seven weeks since he was injured during an overtime loss to Vegas.
He had two goals and four assists in 18 games before he was hurt.
Lindholm’s absence has sent a ripple effect through the Ducks’ defense corps, opening an opportunity for rookie Jamie Drysdale to make his NHL debut after a strong start to the season with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. It also figures to give newly acquired defenseman Haydn Fleury a chance to play big minutes.
“With every injury, as tough as it is for the team, we also have to look at it as an opportunity for people to grow, get extra reps, and that’s going to bode well for Haydn, for sure,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said when asked how he might fill the void for the rest of the season.
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