Brutal Injury News for Ducks' Forward After Illegal Hit

After a few successful years in the AHL, Anaheim Ducks depth forward Chase De Leo was hoping to finally break through in the NHL this season. Until he took a brutal, illegal knee-to-knee hit from the Los Angeles Kings' Arthur Kaliyev this past week. 

Kaliyev got a four-game suspension, but De Leo won't get off that easily. He's set to miss two months with a medial collateral ligament sprain. 

UPDATE: Chase De Leo will miss approximately eight weeks with an MCL sprain suffered Tuesday at Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/wO1DlV1zYs

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) October 5, 2023

De Leo captained the Ducks' AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, last season, and posted 23 points in 22 games, after registering 56 points in 55 games the previous AHL season at Utica. 

The 27-year-old is on the second season of a two-year, $1.53 million contract, and had a strong chance to break camp with the Ducks. 

He was originally selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the 4th round of the 2014 NHL Draft (No. 99 overall) and has played a handful of games in the league since, not recording a point, however, in seven chances. He's had some strong seasons in the AHL of late, recording 114 points over 114 games in the past three years. 

Unfortunately, his chance at an NHL job will now have to wait at least eight weeks. 

Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports