Injured Hebert Hopes to Play by Weekend

A sore groin kept Duck goaltender Guy Hebert off the ice for a second consecutive day. He was not scheduled to play tonight against the Minnesota Wild at the Arrowhead Pond anyway, but hopes to practice with his teammates this morning.

“It feels pretty good, but we want to make sure we don’t do anything stupid at this point,” said Hebert, who has not played in the Ducks’ first three exhibitions. “It stinks. I’m ready to get going.”

Hebert said he injured himself Sept. 13, but can’t remember it happening on a specific move.

“Nothing in particular,” he said. “I was just making my moves. I aggravated it one day last week, then aggravated it the next day.”

Asked how many exhibition games it would take to get him sharp for the season opener Oct. 6 against Minnesota, Hebert said, “I’d like to get into as many as possible. I’m hoping I’ll be ready to go by the weekend.”

The Ducks play host to the Kings on Friday and the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.

Dominic Roussel will start tonight’s game.

*

As expected, the Ducks announced the hiring of Neil Smith as a consultant to Pierre Gauthier, team president and general manager. Smith spent 11 years with the New York Rangers as general manager. He was fired last season.

Smith is not replacing Jack Ferreira, who resigned earlier this month as director of player personnel to accept a similar position with the Atlanta Thrashers. This is a new position created for Smith.

*

The Ducks trimmed their roster to 33 players Tuesday. They assigned centers Marc Chouinard, Jarrett Smith and Bob Wren and left wings Torrey DiRoberto and Jay Legault to Cincinnati of the American Hockey League.

Left wings Maxim Rybin and Alexei Smirnov were sent to Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League and Dynamo Moscow, respectively. Goaltender James Jensen and defenseman Justin Harney were cut from the squad.