Kariya Better but Not 100%

Left wing Paul Kariya said his sore left hip has improved significantly, but not enough to participate in all of the Ducks’ drills at practice Monday.

Kariya joined the Ducks for some drills, but skipped others in a 45-minute stint on the ice. It was the first time since Sept. 5 that he had skated with teammates.

He believes it will be a while before he can go full blast.

“It’s hard to say,” he said when asked when he will be fit enough to play in an exhibition game. “It keeps getting better, but I can’t go 100% yet. I’ve got to be careful to keep the pace down. I get out there with all the guys and get the adrenaline going and I want to go 1,000 mph.”

Kariya injured himself while working out before training camp began. He believes the hip injury happened as a result of overcompensating for a broken right foot, suffered in Game 3 of the playoffs last spring.

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Coach Craig Hartsburg cleared up any doubts about where rookie defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski will begin the season. It will be with Cincinnati of the American Hockey League.

“He’s going to start down there,” Hartsburg said. “That’s where he needs to be.”

Vishnevski had an impressive debut in Sunday’s 4-2 exhibition victory over Colorado, throwing several tough checks.

Hartsburg also said defenseman Niclas Havelid, a 26-year-old rookie from Sweden, will begin the season in Anaheim.

“He’s going to play,” Hartsburg said. “He’ll be here. It’s a matter of where he fits in. There’s competition everywhere. Guys have to perform to earn their ice time. We’re not asking him to carry this team. We’re asking him to be a part of it.”

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The Ducks split into two groups as usual for practice Monday, but this time it looked as if there was a distinct division between players ticketed to Anaheim and those headed for Cincinnati.

Hartsburg said that was not the case, however. Many of the youngsters will see action this week in exhibitions Wednesday against San Jose and Friday against the Kings at the Arrowhead Pond.

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Tickets for regular-season games go on sale at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Pond, Ticketmaster and on the Ducks’ Web site, www.mightyducks.com.