The Anaheim Ducks will be without Ryan Poehling for a while after a rough sequence Saturday night turned into an MCL sprain and an injured-reserve stint.
On Tuesday, the team said Poehling is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. His move to IR also cleared the way for 2025 first-round pick Roger McQueen to be called up from the Ducks’ American Hockey League affiliate, the San Diego Gulls.
Poehling’s injury came in the third period against the Calgary Flames. He had just beaten Dustin Wolf for his first goal of the season, a shorthanded tally that put Anaheim in front. But as the rush continued, Flames defenseman Zayne Parekh tried to break it up and took out Poehling’s feet, sending him into the Calgary net.
The forward’s left leg then slammed awkwardly into the post. Poehling stayed down in pain, needed help getting off the ice, and was taken to the Anaheim dressing room.
He did not return. Despite the scare, he finished with a goal and an assist in 11:49 of ice time, and the Ducks went on to win 4-2.
Through five games this season, the former St. Cloud State Husky has two points, a minus-1 rating and an average of 14:15 of ice time.
The setback is the latest in a career that has been interrupted by injuries. During his time in the Montreal Canadiens organization, Poehling dealt with concussion issues.
And over the last four seasons as a full-time NHL player, he has not played in every game of a single season. He also missed a key Game 6 in last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights after a late hit from Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb, who was suspended for the play.
The Ducks also have Poehling signed to a four-year contract extension worth an AAV of $3.75 million through the 2029-30 campaign.
In Other News...
Flames Finally Got The Response Fans Needed After That Start
The Flames finally got the kind of response they had been searching for on the road in Anaheim, where a shaky start gave way to a 4-2 win over the Ducks and a break from an early-season skid. Calgary jumped out first, then watched the game tilt on penalties and Ducks goals before settling in and finding its footing in the second and third periods.
Aydar Suniev helped swing the night back in Calgarys favor, Martin Pospisil delivered a crucial late goal, and Yegor Sharangovich added the empty-netter to finish it off. Dustin Wolf also steadied things with several important saves, and for a club that has been looking for signs of resilience, this was a much-needed one even with the penalty issues still hanging around. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Could Have A New Trade Question On Defense Soon
The trade chatter around Calgarys blue line is starting to build, and Zach Whitecloud is suddenly one of the names worth monitoring. The Maple Leafs have been doing their homework on the Flames defenceman, a sign that his blend of size and edge has registered around the league as teams look for help on the back end.
For Calgary, the interest is notable because it puts another veteran defender into the conversation at a time when clubs are already taking stock of their rosters early in the season. With Philadelphia weighing changes up front, Chicago nearing Connor Bedards return and Carolina facing a long absence for Jordan Staal, the market is already starting to shift, and Whiteclouds situation could become one more moving part before long. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Face A Tough Blue Line Call As Trade Buzz Builds
The blue-line market is already starting to stir, and Calgary finds itself in the middle of it as other teams begin circling for help. One name drawing attention is Zach Whitecloud, the kind of veteran defenseman contenders tend to monitor closely when they want stability and a little postseason pedigree, especially with his Stanley Cup background still carrying weight around the league.
For the Flames, the conversation is complicated by where Whitecloud sits in his Calgary tenure and how quickly trade talk can turn into real pressure. He was acquired in the Rasmus Andersson trade and is still pointless in five games, which does not change his value as much as it frames the scrutiny around him as the rumor mill picks up and rival clubs keep searching for answers on the back end. [Read more 🡒]