Carney Hopes to Skate Soon

The Mighty Ducks are closer to getting defenseman Keith Carney back. He said he would be on the ice in the next five days.

Carney, out since Oct. 2 with a broken right foot, was examined during Friday’s game, and the result was positive enough that he felt ready to take the next step in his rehabilitation.

He will make the upcoming five-game trip with the Ducks and said he hoped to be back in the lineup before it is over.

“They looked at it two days ago, and the foot still wasn’t feeling that well,” Carney said. “In just two days it was really better. That is encouraging because we can now move on to the next thing.”

Carney is the linchpin of a defense that has had trouble managing the puck in his absence.

“The plan is now to get a skate on as soon as possible,” Carney said. “I’m really hopeful that I will be back soon.”

Carney’s return will give the Ducks a glut on defense, which may force General Manager Bryan Murray to make a move.

“At some point, we’re going to have eight defensemen,” Murray said.

“You can never have too many defensemen, but that is not comfortable for the coach. We can’t send anyone down, so we’ll carry an extra player on the blue line.”

Murray didn’t rule out the possibility of a trade.