Ducks Defenseman Souray Out 4 To 6 Months After Wrist Surgery
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sheldon Souray will be out four to six months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right wrist, the club announced Tuesday.
The 37-year-old defenseman was hurt while working out off the ice on July 17, the team says. He had surgery July 25 in Los Angeles, likely keeping him out at least until December.
Souray's lengthy absence is a blow to the defending Pacific Division champions, who also signed former Edmonton defenseman Mark Fistric to a one-year deal worth $900,000.
Souray made a solid debut with the Ducks last fall, getting seven goals and 10 assists with a plus-19 rating. He is a key power-play contributor with his booming slap shot, one of the NHL's best.
The three-time All-Star signed a three-year contract with Anaheim last summer after a lengthy career with New Jersey, Montreal, Edmonton and Dallas. Souray has returned from numerous injuries during his 13-season career, missing a full year with a wrist injury in 2002-03 and spending the 2010-11 season in the AHL during a dispute with the Oilers.
Fistric is a defense-minded defenseman who has appeared in 282 career NHL games, scoring just three goals. He had six assists in 25 games last season with the Oilers after spending his first five NHL seasons with the Dallas Stars.
Toni Lydman is expected to retire after spending the past three seasons with Anaheim, but the Ducks still have young defensemen Cam Fowler and Luca Sbisa alongside veterans Francois Beauchemin, Bryan Allen and Ben Lovejoy, who agreed to a new three-year deal this summer.
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