For Leclerc, It’s Not Easy Wearing Green

Mike Leclerc is still wearing the bright green jersey that sets him apart from his white-, black- or gray-clad teammates during practices, letting the rest of the Mighty Ducks know he’s still recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

“He’s wearing the colors of a Christmas tree,” Coach Mike Babcock said after a workout Thursday at the Arrowhead Pond. “Having him back would be like getting a big Christmas present.”

The holiday has passed, but the Ducks are willing to accept an overdue gift. After all, they have made do without Leclerc all season.

The original estimate after his June 26 surgery had him skating by training camp, but September proved to be an unrealistic goal. Later estimates suggested he would be ready to play by mid-January, but that date also has come and gone.

Leclerc, who had two goals and 11 points while skating through the Stanley Cup playoffs on one healthy knee last year, declined to say Thursday when he could play again but indicated it wouldn’t be much longer.

“I’m probably about 70%, but I’ve improved quite a bit,” he said. “The last five days, I’ve taken a step. I have a protocol that I follow. There have been times in the last two months that I’ve gone too hard. I’m being patient now. It’s been seven months since the surgery, so there’s no sense rushing into it right now.”

Leclerc’s absence has been tough on him and on the Ducks, who are last in the Pacific Division.

“We’re having a tough time figuring out how to win,” he said. “I want to help, but I can’t go out there too soon. It’s tough seeing the guys come to the rink and being frustrated every day.”

Leclerc said the next step in his return to the lineup involves more than regaining his conditioning. “I need to get the strength back in my leg,” he said. “My balance is not quite there yet. I’m going over pretty easily when guys are tugging on me when I go in the corners.”

*

For the first time in their 11-season history, the Ducks will not be represented in the NHL All-Star game. The league no longer requires that at least one player from each of its 30 teams be selected to the teams, which were announced Thursday. The game is Feb. 8 in St. Paul, Minn.

TONIGHT

vs. Minnesota, 7:30, Fox Sports Net 2

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- XPRS (1090).

Records -- Ducks 14-21-8-5; Wild 17-18-14-0.

Record vs. Wild -- 0-0-1-0.

Update -- Goaltender Martin Gerber, who has limited the opposition to fewer than three goals in 12 of 17 starts, will face the Wild tonight. Jean-Sebastien Giguere was in net when the Ducks and Wild tied, 1-1, Nov. 30. Sergei Fedorov did not play in a 2-2 tie Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings because he had stomach flu, but he is expected to play tonight.