Ducks’ Vermette trying to fit in

No gentle needling has come Antoine Vermette’s way as the Ducks forward settles into the latest chapter of his career.

Vermette wasn’t at the top of the list of Ducks villains, but fans might remember the overtime goal he scored for the Chicago Blackhawks against Anaheim in Game 4 of the 2015 Western Conference final. It evened the series at 2-2 and the Blackhawks eventually won in seven games.

But his goal hasn’t been mentioned among his new teammates.

“I haven’t heard it,” Vermette said. “I’m not going to bring it up.”

After years of considerable torment, including 22 points in 33 games against Anaheim in an 11-year career, Vermette made his unofficial Ducks debut Tuesday night in a 2-1 exhibition loss to the Arizona Coyotes at Honda Center.

Vermette centered Andrew Cogliano and David Jones and showed that his value is not really measured in points. He is skilled in taking faceoffs, kills penalties and can play both wing positions, which pleases Coach Randy Carlyle.

“We went through a bunch of different scenarios where he would fit, and he gave us a tremendous amount of options,” Carlyle said. “And any other research that we did, from people that have coached him, from people that have that played with him [told us] we could not bring in a better individual into our dressing room as far as character and commitment.”

Vermette, 34, has played in more than 900 regular-season games and 78 playoff games with the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Blackhawks and Coyotes. He earned a Stanley Cup ring with the Blackhawks in 2015 and played with the Coyotes last season.

But the Coyotes and new General Manager John Chayka opted for a youth movement after last season that did not include Vermette.

“To some extent, I’m not surprised they’re going that path with youth,” Vermette said. “But with the way things happened this summer, I was surprised by that.”

Vermette, a four-time 20-goal scorer whose contract was bought out by the Coyotes, was still on the free-agent market in mid-August when the Ducks signed him to a two-year contract. He likes his chances of winning with a team that he has played so hard against.

“It’s special, for sure,” Vermette said. “We try to preach good things right away, and I think we really want to take the next step as a group, and I’m very excited and happy to be a part of that right now.”

Etc.

Max Jones didn’t play after he got “banged up” on his first shift of the third period and was being evaluated, Carlyle said. … Ryan Kesler returned to the Ducks, and Sami Vatanen, John Gibson and Jakob Silfverberg are also back with the team after playing in the World Cup. … The Ducks assigned Alex Dostie and Jack Kopacka to their junior teams and released Zack MacEwen, Antoine Samuel and Darian Skeoch from their tryouts … Nic Kerdiles, an Irvine product, is being evaluated with concussion symptoms, according to the team.