Emery clears waivers, on way to AHL

Ray Emery, signed Monday by the Anaheim Ducks, has cleared waivers and has been assigned to the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.

The waiver period ended at noon ET on Tuesday.

Emery is attempting to come back from avascular necrosis, a condition which saw the near-complete degradation of the top of the ball in his hip joint. It's the same condition that led to the end of the athletic career of two-sport star Bo Jackson.

Emery had surgery in April, and began on-ice workouts in October. He hasn't played an organized hockey game since Feb. 1, 2010, when he made 18 saves for the Philadelphia Flyers in a shutout victory against the Calgary Flames.

"Ray Emery has been a solid NHL netminder for several years and is only 28 years old," said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray. "We are going to give him a chance to go to Syracuse and establish himself again. He's worked hard to get back into shape and we are looking forward to seeing what he can do."

Murray admitted the move is a bit of a gamble, but feels confident that Emery will hold up physically.

"We had to check with the trainer," Murray told the Orange County Register. "We had our doctor make a phone call. We had our goalie coach (Pete Peeters) make a phone call to his goalie coach (Eli Wilson). We did all the things we could to be sure.

"You'll never be sure until he plays games. He's got to get in games. He's got to play games. He hasn't played in a long time. We won't be sure until then. We've had people see him. His goalie coach and his trainer are pretty confident he's ready for the next step. We'll go with that."

Emery will provide veteran insurance for All-Star Jonas Hiller and backup Curtis McElhinney. Hiller is second in the League in games played (47) and shots faced (1,479) and first in saves (1,361). He had to sit out Saturday's game after complaining of fatigue and light-headedness. McElhinney, 27, has played just 54 NHL games, and only one in the playoffs. Emery backstopped the Ottawa Senators to the 2007 Stanley Cup Final -- where they lost to the Ducks -- and is 18-12 in 30 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected]