Anaheim Ducks forward Isac Lundeström set to make season debut Wednesday night

One of the top young players down the middle for the Anaheim Ducks is set to return to the lineup.

The team announced that Isac Lundeström will make his season debut on Wednesday night, when the Ducks play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

News broke last August that the 24-year-old suffered a serious injury while training in his native Sweden. It was later revealed that Lundeström had torn his Achilles tendon, needing immediate surgery.

The 2018 first-round pick was projected to be out six months, though some reports suggested Lundeström could return by Christmas. Nevertheless, the Ducks are going to welcome back the Luleå product, furthering the youthful depth at center in their lineup, as they have Mason McTavish and Trevor Zegras ahead of him.

Lundeström had been skating with the team since last month, participating in full team practice prior to New Year’s Eve.

According to DFO’s line combinations, Lundeström will be on the third line with Adam Henrique and Brett Leason on his wings.

Lundeström missed over a month with a fractured finger last season, and ended up scoring 14 points in 61 games. It was a definite drop off from his coming-out party during the 2021-22 season, when Lundeström registered 29 points in 80 games. In 212 career games, he has scored 26 goals and 32 assists.

Lundeström is in the final year of a two-year deal, with an AAV of $1.8 million. He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

The Swede returns to a Ducks team that is, once again, near the bottom of the Pacific Division. With a 13-23-0 record, their 26 points has them just five clear of the San Jose Sharks for last in the division, and the entire NHL. Anaheim is also 14 points out of a playoff spot.