A new opportunity for Ducks’ youth.

For the Ducks, the benefits of having a wealth of players participating in the Olympics extend beyond organizational pride.

Anaheim’s eight Olympians are considered non-roster players by the NHL until after their national team is eliminated in Vancouver. That means that goaltender Jonas Hiller, whose Swiss squad lost to the United States on Wednesday, became the first to officially re-join the Ducks – the league added him to the active roster at 2 p.m. today.

Ryan Getzlaf, Scott Niedermayer, Corey Perry, Saku Koivu, Teemu Selanne, Bobby Ryan and Ryan Whitney, meanwhile, are giving Randy Carlyle and Bob Murray some vacant roster spots to play with until they’re gone from the Games.

On Thursday it was announced that Dan Sexton, Timo Pielmeier, Brendan Mikkelson and Brett Festerling had been recalled from the minors, and both Sexton and Pielmeier were among the 16 players in practice Thursday. Mikkelson and Festerling were still en route from Toronto, where they had been playing with the American Hockey League’s Marlies.

“This is when the NHL-level team, the parent hockey club, has to be
selfish,” said Carlyle, who expected no additional recalls. “I’ve been on the other side of it and it’s not a lot of fun
when those things happen. But the reality of it is, we made a decision
that’s in the best interest of the Anaheim Ducks. They can come
complement us in this time.”
Continue reading “A new opportunity for Ducks’ youth.” »

Sexton, Pielmeier, Festerling, Mikkelson up.

The Ducks have recalled defensemen Brett Festerling and Brendan Mikkelson from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, right wing Dan Sexton from AHL Manitoba and goaltender Timo Pielmeier from ECHL affiliate Bakersfield. Sexton and Pielmeier took part in practice Thursday, the team’s first since the Olympic break, while Festerling and Mikkelson were still en route from Toronto.
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Chipchura, Festerling in; Mikkelson, Christensen out. Updates.

The Ducks have acquired center Kyle Chipchura from the Montreal Canadiens for a fourth-round 2011 draft pick. In another move, defenseman Brendan Mikkelson was returned to Toronto of the AHL and defenseman Brett Festerling was recalled from Toronto.

The New York Rangers claimed center Erik Christensen off waivers, which will pave the way for Chipchura to join the NHL roster immediately. The only thing that might hold him back is immigration paperwork; the Alberta native has never been employed by a U.S. team.

Continue reading “Chipchura, Festerling in; Mikkelson, Christensen out. Updates.” »

Ducklings migrating from San Antonio

Some of the Ducks’ top prospects are flying north this winter.


Denied ice time by the Phoenix Coyotes’ prospects playing in San Antonio — the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate — Matt Beleskey, Troy Bodie and Brett Festerling have been re-assigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Additionally, Ryan Donally will be assigned to ECHL affiliate Bakersfield.

The Coyotes under new head coach Dave Tippett have gone with an older lineup, and several former young NHLers (Kyle Turris, Viktor Tikhonov, Mikkel Boedker, et. al.) have spent most or all of the season in San Antonio.

The Toronto Marlies are the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs.