Ducks’ Cam Fowler set to return to lineup; Urho Vaakanainen placed on injured reserve

The Anaheim Ducks announced a pair of roster moves Wednesday that will see veteran defenseman Cam Fowler return to the lineup, while young blue-liner Urho Vaakanainen has been placed on the injured reserve.

Fowler has missed the past 11 games with an upper-body injury, with his last appearance coming in a 5-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks in early November. On the season, Fowler has played 12 games, picking up two assists.

Originally chosen 12th overall by Anaheim in the 2010 NHL Draft, the 32-year-old Windsor, Ont., native has spent his entire career with the Ducks, counting 986 games in which he has registered 96 goals and 359 assists for 455 points. Per PuckPedia, Fowler is signed through 2025-26 and carries a $6.5-million annual average value.

As for Vaakanainen, the 25-year-old Finnish rearguard has been limited to five games on the season, having missed Anaheim’s past eight contests due to an upper-body ailment. Earlier this season, Vaakanainen was also scratched for nine straight games. Through his five appearances, Vaakanainen has picked up one assist while averaging more than 13 minutes per game in ice time.

Anaheim originally acquired Vaakanainen from the Boston Bruins in the 2022 deal that saw the Ducks part with former rearguard Hampus Lindholm. In the same deal, Anaheim added Boston’s first-round selection in 2022, plus second-round picks in both 2023 and 2024.

Of note, the 2022 first-round selection became center Nathan Gaucher, currently competing with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. A graduate of the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts, Gaucher has picked up a lone point through 18 appearances with the Gulls season, his second pro campaign after registering 25 points through 72 outings with San Diego a year ago.

Sitting 10-10-3 on the season, the Ducks find themselves at the bottom of the Pacific Division, but only five points shy of the second wildcard position in the Western Conference.