Ailing Kesler waddles his way along for Ducks

The concern in the NHL off-season was so great about the health of Ryan Kesler’s surgically repaired hip that a least one well-informed pundit suggested he might not play at all in the 201819 season.

Elliotte Friedman’s report in May drew pushback from the Ducks, but there was no denying the concern over what the future looked like for Anaheim’s secondline centre.

The former Canuck laboured through 44 games in 2017-18, having missed much of the first half after undergoing a surgical procedure on his hip.

Doctors removed a floating hip capsule during the June 2017 operation. Ducks GM Bob Murray said at the time that even though Kesler had played the entire previous season, the injury had seriously affected his skating ability.

Kesler has played 19 of the Ducks’ 22 games this season, but has only four goals. His shot-attempt percentage is a mediocre 42 per cent, a far cry from his career percentage of 52.2.

After Wednesday morning’s skate, Kesler acknowledged his game is still not close to where he believes it needs to be.

“Obviously I’m coming back from a major injury,” he said.

“I feel like I’m still making progress. That’s the important part, that I’m not dipping, that I’m still making progress. I still have a long way to go. It’s better than it was last year.”

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle has known Kesler for a long time, going back to 2004-05 when he was coach of the Manitoba Moose in Winnipeg — the Canucks’ American Hockey League affiliate at the time — and had Kesler as a secondyear pro.

“He’s one that doesn’t hide it very well,” he told reporters. “We have an expectation of Kes being the Ryan Kesler of years gone by.

“He’s been adequate. Is he the same Ryan Kesler as years ago? No. Simple as that. And that’s part of the adjustment period that he has to understand and we have to maybe utilize him in a different manner.”

DUCKS’ INJURY WOES WORSE THAN CANUCKS’

The Ducks have seven players on their injured list. With the return of Anders Nilsson, the Canucks are down to five.

Carlyle said he’s trying to avoid frustration while putting more focus on how his team defends.

“It gets frustrating in the moment when you’re told that ... but basically you just move on,” he said. “You have to provide leadership because you have to keep your group focused on the task at hand”

EDLER CLOSE TO A RETURN

Alex Edler, the Canucks’ ostensible No. 1 blue-liner, worked out with teammates during Wednesday’s skate, but skated with Alex Biega, the team’s other spare defenceman.

Canucks coach Travis Green said Edler is close to returning.

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Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks

6 p.m., SAP Center SNETP, SNET 650 AM