Ducks Place Troy Terry on IR, Recall Sam Colangelo Ahead of Rivalry Clash with Kings
Just hours before puck drop on one of the most heated rivalries in the NHL, the Anaheim Ducks made a flurry of moves that could have a real impact on their lineup-and their momentum.
The headline? Star forward Troy Terry has been placed on injured reserve, retroactive to January 6.
That’s a big blow for Anaheim, especially considering head coach Joel Quenneville had just said Terry would be in the lineup for Friday’s game. Terry had been a full participant in recent practices and morning skates, but clearly, the upper-body injury he’s been managing proved too much to play through.
Let’s not understate what Terry means to this team. Before the injury, he was on a tear-seven points in his last five games and 42 points (13 goals, 29 assists) in 43 games overall. That kind of consistency is hard to replace, especially from a player who’s been the Ducks’ most reliable offensive engine this season.
The Ducks aren’t standing still, though. In a corresponding move, they’ve recalled forward Sam Colangelo from the AHL’s San Diego Gulls.
Colangelo started the season with the big club, notching one goal in seven games while skating mostly in a limited, fourth-line role. Since returning to the Gulls, he’s found his rhythm-putting up 16 points (7 goals, 9 assists) in 23 games.
Colangelo brings a gritty, north-south game that fits well in a depth role, but there’s more to his game than just energy. He’s strong on the puck, isn’t afraid to drive into traffic, and has a sneaky-good shot from the perimeter. If he gets even a little bit of runway in the lineup, don’t be surprised if he chips in on the scoresheet.
Meanwhile, the Ducks also made a trade earlier in the day, acquiring forward Jeffrey Viel from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick. The pick heading to Boston will be the better of Philadelphia’s or Detroit’s-assets Anaheim previously acquired in the Trevor Zegras and John Gibson trades, respectively. Viel adds a physical edge to the roster and could be a useful depth piece as the Ducks navigate a stretch of uncertainty.
And there’s more. Forward Chris Kreider missed the morning skate due to illness and is considered a game-time decision.
Center Leo Carlsson, who’s been battling a lower-body injury, was also absent. Quenneville offered little on Carlsson’s status, saying only that they’ll “know more sooner than later.”
Add it all up, and the Ducks head into Game 47 of the season against the rival Kings with some serious lineup questions. Terry’s absence looms large, but Colangelo’s call-up and the addition of Viel give Anaheim some fresh legs and options.
This is a team still finding its identity in the post-Zegras, post-Gibson era, and moments like these-when adversity hits-can be defining. The Kings won’t be feeling sympathetic, and the Ducks will need every bit of grit, depth, and opportunistic scoring they can muster to stay competitive in a tough Pacific Division race.
Friday night’s game just got a little more intriguing.