Dany Heatley’s only played four games this year and hasn’t dressed since early November -- on Wednesday, the Ducks let slip why.
Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau told The Times on Wednesday that Heatley underwent a surgical procedure, in mid- to late November, after trying to return to play in late October and proceeding to go pointless in four games.
Heatley was placed on injured reserve after being a healthy scratch in the Ducks’ Nov. 12 home victory over the Kings. His original recovery plan was to rest and rehabilitate, but that changed.
A Ducks spokesman confirmed Heatley’s surgery took place “about three weeks ago,” a procedure that was previously not announced.
Anaheim begins a five-game road trip beginning on Friday in Edmonton, and Heatley is scheduled to travel with the team. Should the former 50-goal scorer draw back in, it’ll be interesting to see where he lands -- upon signing a one-year, $1 million deal with the Ducks, there was speculation he’d be a top-line option next to Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.
Perry, of course, is sidelined for the next 3-4 weeks with a knee injury suffered on a hip check from Minnesota blueliner Keith Ballard.