Ducks Get Down to NHL Roster Limit
The Mighty Ducks made their final cut Tuesday, reaching the new 24-player NHL roster limit by assigning right wing Steven King to minor-league affiliate Baltimore and putting defenseman Don McSween on injured reserve.
The only newcomers on the team are rookie center Chad Kilger and defenseman Oleg Mikulchik, who signed as a free agent after playing for Winnipeg last season. He is the team’s extra defenseman.
The Ducks might carry as few as 22 or 23 players once the season begins, but groin injuries to right wing Todd Ewen and center Bob Corkum, along with defenseman Dave Karpa’s sore right wrist, made it important to have extra players on hand.
King, attempting to return to the NHL after surgery on both shoulders, hasn’t played in a regular-season game in a year and a half and needs game action. McSween is in the midst of a long rehabilitation after suffering nerve damage when his right wrist was cut by a skate blade last January.
Before this season, there was no roster limit, and therefore no need for a disabled list or injured-reserve rule. Now teams can temporarily carry more than 24 men by putting players on injured reserve, but they must sit out at least seven days from the time of injury before returning to the active roster.
The Ducks open their third season Monday at Winnipeg.
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