Murray said Kesler underwent hip surgery on June 8 in Colorado to take "three or four" pieces out of his hip capsule. Though he appeared in all 17 playoff games last year, it was a case of Kesler simply being Kesler. In other words, he toughed it out.
"As of right now, there is no timeline whatsoever," Murray said, on the shutdown center's return. "He couldn't skate [during the second half of the season]. No push-off on his right leg. He has to rebuild his glutes and quads. That's what we're in the process of doing right now. I'm hopeful to have him back before Christmas, but that's all I'm going to say right now. You know how Kes is. He's pushing it pretty good."
Kesler, as expected, was not on the ice today.
Lindholm and Vatanen are both recovering from offseason shoulder surgeries that took place on May 30. Initially, it was believed Vatanen's recovery would take longer than Lindholm's, but that might not be the case anymore.
"We're projecting somewhere around November 1 for both to play, which would be 22 weeks post-surgery - exactly what Orr [Dr. Orr Limpisvasti, Medical Director, Orthopedic Surgeon] wants," said Murray.
Both defensemen have been skating, and earlier today they took part in stickhandling and agility drills with a group of Ducks on the Olympic sheet of ice.
"We're going to be pretty careful with this," Murray said. "I don't know who is going to play first, but that doesn't matter."
Murray also gave an update on prospect defenseman Jacob Larsson, who is recovering from knee surgery to fix "MCL and meniscus problems." The 20-year-old blueliner played in the opening game of Anaheim's three-game Prospect Showcase tournament last week and was on the ice today with the likes of Lindholm and Vatanen.
Murray says they will take time with Larsson's recovery (he showed some swelling in the knee following the rookie game), but expects him to play in the preseason.
