Rucchin Slowly Working Way Back

Center Steve Rucchin, sidelined nearly three months because of a stress fracture in his left ankle, took another step Sunday. While his Mighty Duck teammates were rushing off to watch the Super Bowl after practice, Rucchin was taking the ice to skate.

He wore no equipment, only sweat clothes, and was not going to stay out long. But for the last week he has gingerly stepped onto the ice, as the next step in returning from his injury.

“I’m just going to go out and flip the puck around to see if I remember how to do that,” Rucchin said. “Hopefully soon I can go out and do some drills.”

Rucchin has missed 40 games since hitting the ice to block a shot against Dallas on Nov. 11. He suffered a stress fracture in his ankle, which later needed surgery when doctors discovered it was not healing properly.

It is the second consecutive season that Rucchin has missed a large portion of the season because of injuries. He missed 66 games last season.

Rucchin, the Ducks’ top line center, hopes to return soon after the Olympic break, but has no timetable.

If Rucchin is able to play the final quarter of the season it will help Duck management decide whether to re-sign the 31-year-old. Rucchin is in the last year of a four-year, $9.2-million contract.

“Obviously, this has been a disappointing season and I hope I can play the last two months,” Rucchin said. “But it’s nothing I can get down about. My main focus is to help the team. But when you have been out as long as I have, you sit around and think about stupid things and the contract has come to mind.”

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The Ducks, who won five consecutive games heading into the All-Star break, held an informal workout Sunday, going about 45 minutes without coaches.

Assistant captain Dan Bylsma and veterans Jason York and Keith Carney pushed the Ducks through drills and a short four-on-four scrimmage. Coach Bryan Murray observed off the ice.

Team captain Paul Kariya was the only player absent, as he had the day off after playing in Saturday’s All-Star game.

“Things are going to get better here and they are going to get better not because some outside forces are involved,” Bylsma said. “It’s going to get better because things happen from within and we decide to do it as a team. Guys took control out there, Jason York, Keith Carney calling drills. It’s going to get better because we make it better, not because some one waves a magic wand.”

Chris Foster