The Anaheim Ducks have turned to Nico Myatovic after losing A.J. Greer to the injured reserve.
Per a team announcement, Anaheim recalled Myatovic from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL and placed Greer on IR with an upper-body ailment.
Greer’s injury traces back to last night’s game against the Ottawa Senators, when he took a high hit from Senators forward Dylan Cozens about halfway through the third period. Greer stayed down for a few moments before getting back to his feet and trying to go after Cozens.
Officials stepped in right away and stopped any fight from breaking out. Cozens was tossed from the game, though Jeff Marek of The Sheet confirmed he would not face any supplemental discipline from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
The timing is especially rough for Greer, who had started to find his rhythm. Through his first six games with the Ducks, he had just one assist and a -5 rating while averaging 12:01 of ice time per game. In the seven games before that, he put up four goals and five points with a +4 rating, and his average ice time climbed to 13:47.
Myatovic now gets his chance. The 21-year-old was Anaheim’s second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and was among the last forwards cut from the preseason roster.
He has made noticeable progress this season. Over his previous two years with the Gulls, Myatovic totaled 17 goals and 38 points in 135 games, along with a -2 rating. That wasn’t enough to turn heads in a major way, but the Ducks were surely hoping for more.
He gave them a little more in preseason, picking up two assists in three games for Anaheim, and he’s carried that momentum into the AHL this year. In 11 games with San Diego, the Prince George, BC, native has scored five goals and eight points with a +1 rating.
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