Bertuzzi’s return remains on hold

Todd Bertuzzi said Monday he is still experiencing dizziness as a result of his Oct. 14 concussion against Minnesota, and the lingering symptoms are limiting how much he can do off the ice.

Bertuzzi did a light skate on the Honda Center ice, but his slow recovery is getting to the forward. He’s played in only seven games since joining the Ducks.

“It’s frustrating,” he said. “Really frustrating.”

Andy McDonald can relate. It took the center nearly two years to fully recover from a devastating hit laid on him in 2003 by Adam Foote, then of the Colorado Avalanche.

“I feel for [Bertuzzi] a little bit,” McDonald said. “You just hope for the best for him. It’s a tough call. There’s lots of cases where guys come back too early or push too hard, too fast and they have setbacks. It makes it a lot more difficult.”

Bertuzzi said he is holding out hope for improvement over the next two weeks. McDonald suggested that he take as much time as he needs.

“You have to take a look at the big picture,” McDonald said. “Maybe you’ll miss the next week or two weeks, but it allows you to play the rest of the year instead of having setbacks and having to stay out longer.

“I know Bert is the type of individual where he wants to be back, he wants to compete, he wants to play. And I’m sure it’s really hard for him to sit out. You have to be cautious about it and make sure you’re ready to come back.”

Shane Hnidy could hardly contain himself when he learned the reigning Stanley Cup champions were pursuing him as a free agent during the off-season.

Like the Ducks themselves, Hnidy started slowly but has since settled into a regular role on the third defensive pairing.

“I think the issue [for him] will always be about being consistent,” Coach Randy Carlyle said. “Make the safe plays. Be strong defensively. Defend your teammates. Make the good first pass. All those types of things are things that are his strength. He has to play to those on a night-in, night-out basis.”

After two seasons in Atlanta, Hnidy signed a two-year deal worth more than $1.5 million to join the Ducks.

Defenseman Maxim Kondratiev, who was put on waivers Thursday, was suspended by the team for failing to report to the Ducks’ American Hockey League affiliate in Maine.

Kondratiev, who is believed to be seeking offers to play in his native Russia, will not receive any more of his $500,000 NHL salary until he reports to the Portland Pirates.

The 24-year-old can earn that amount in the minor leagues because he is on a one-way contract.

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TONIGHT

vs. Kings, 7, FSN West, Prime

Site -- Honda Center.

Radio -- 830, 1260.

Records -- Ducks 7-8-3, Kings 8-8-0.

Record vs. Kings -- 1-1-0.

Update -- Carlyle is expecting the Kings to be on an emotional high after their come-from-behind 6-5 overtime victory Saturday against Dallas. “I’d expect they’d feel pretty good about it,” he said.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.

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eric.stephens@latimes.com