Wrist Surgery on Ducks’ Karpa Is Considered to Be Successful

Mighty Duck defenseman Dave Karpa, whom the Kings rejected as physically unfit to play this season, underwent successful surgery on his right wrist Tuesday at Centinela Hospital Medical Center.

The Ducks acquired Karpa from Quebec less than a week after the Kings’ trade with the Nordiques was voided by the NHL because the Kings contended his improperly healed broken wrist required immediate surgery.

The Ducks gambled that the wrist surgery could wait, and Karpa proved them correct. He played 26 games and led the team in penalty minutes with 91 even though the wrist limited his ability to fight. He also had six points.

Karpa is expected to recover fully before training camp opens in September.