Vaakanainen has undergone hip surgery, according to Eric Stephens of The Athletic.
Vaakanainen, who was injured during a game against Arizona on Jan. 28, is projected to need five-to-six months to recover, so he's not expected to play again this season. He has two assists in 23 games with Anaheim in 2022-23. Vaakanainen is in the first campaign of a two-year, $1.7 million contract.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Surfaces on IR
Rotowire
Vaakanainen (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Monday, per the NHL media site.
Vaakanainen was injured in a game against the Coyotes on Jan. 28. His placement on IR probably means he won't play Monday against Dallas. Vaakanainen has chipped in two assists, 27 shots on goal and 28 blocks in 23 appearances this season. He could be replaced in the lineup by Colton White or Kevin Shattenkirk (lower body).
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Can't finish contest
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Vaakanainen (undisclosed) didn't complete Saturday's game versus the Coyotes, Lisa Dillman of The Orange County Register reports.
Vaakanainen logged an assist to end an 11-game point drought, but he was absent for much of the third period. The Ducks didn't provide an update on the 24-year-old's status after the game. His injury comes at a fairly decent time if it isn't a long-term issue -- the Ducks are off until Feb. 6 versus the Stars. Vaakanainen has two helpers, 27 shots on goal, 28 blocked shots, 18 hits and a minus-16 rating through 23 appearances this season, so fantasy managers won't need to track his recovery.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Generates helper Friday
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Vaakanainen produced an assist in Friday's 6-1 loss to the Predators.
This was Vaakanainen's second game back after missing three due to an illness. The 23-year-old played in 10 of the Ducks' 14 games in December, so it appears he has an edge over Colton White for playing time. Vaakanainen's helper was his first point in 11 appearances this season, and he's added 10 shots on net, 14 blocked shots, nine hits and a minus-7 rating in a third-pairing role.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Good to return Wednesday
Rotowire
Vaakanainen (illness) will draw into the lineup for Wednesday's game against Vegas.
Vaakanainen missed Anaheim's previous three games because of the illness. He has no points in nine contests in 2022-23 while averaging 16:41 of ice time. Nathan Beaulieu, who played in Anaheim's previous three games, will be a healthy scratch.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Out Friday
Rotowire
Vaakanainen (illness) is not in Friday's lineup against Calgary.
Vaakanainen has missed three straight games and it's unclear when the team expects him to return. His next chance to suit up will be Dec. 28 against Vegas.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Still sidelined Wednesday
Rotowire
Vaakanainen (illness) remains out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Wild.
Vaakanainen will miss his second straight game with the illness. His next chance to play is Friday versus the Flames, though it's unclear if he'll be ready by then.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Unavailable Tuesday
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Vaakanainen (illness) won't play Tuesday versus the Kings.
Vaakanainen's absence means the Ducks will go back to the traditional 12-forward, six-defensemen lineup. It's unclear if he'll be feeling well enough to suit up Wednesday versus the Wild.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Makes season debut during loss
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Vaakanainen recorded two blocked shots during Tuesday's 2-1 overtime loss to the host Predators.
Vaakanainen (upper body) returned to the lineup for the first time Tuesday and skated on the third pairing with Kevin Shattenkirk. The 2017 first-round draft pick dressed for his first game with the Ducks since suffering an injury April 29. Eased back into the lineup against the Predators, Vaakanainen received 14:52 of ice time and recorded one shot on goal.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Activated from IR
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Vaakanainen (upper body) was recalled from his conditioning stint and removed from injured reserve Sunday.
Vaakanainen has been on injured reserve since the start of the year and he'll also miss Sunday's tilt with Seattle. The 23-year-old could make his season debut in the near future.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Set for conditioning loan
Rotowire
Vaakanainen (upper body) was assigned to AHL San Diego for a long-term injury conditioning loan.
Vaakanainen suffered the injury in a preseason game Sept. 30, and he's been out of action since. He'll likely need multiple games to get up to speed, and it's possible he could be assigned to the Gulls even after his loan is over.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Goes on IR
Rotowire
Vaakanainen (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve Sunday, per CapFriendly.
Vaakaninen was taken off the ice on a stretcher on Sept. 30 after he crashed into the boards in preseason action against San Jose. The Ducks announced that the 23-year-old blueliner was making good progress shortly later, but a timetable for his recovery and the specifics of the injury were not provided.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Making progress
Rotowire
Vaakanainen (undisclosed) has continued to improve since he was released from the hospital Friday,
Details of the injury remain undisclosed, so it remains difficult to know when Vaakanainen will be ready to return to action. He left the ice on a stretcher Friday after he crashed into the boards in a preseason match against San Jose.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Stretchered off ice
Rotowire
Vaakanainen (undisclosed) was taken to the hospital after crashing into the boards during Friday's preseason game against San Jose.
Fortunately, Vaakanainen was completely alert and had full mobility after he was taken off the ice. An update on the 23-year-old blueliner should be available in the coming days after he undergoes further testing.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Pens two-year extension
Rotowire
Vaakanainen signed a two-year contract extension with the Ducks on Friday.
Vaakanainen appeared in 29 top-level contests split between the Bruins and the Ducks last season, picking up six helpers while averaging 19:19 of ice time per game over that span. The 23-year-old defender will likely have a regular spot in Anaheim's lineup next year, but he likely won't produce enough offense to be a viable fantasy option.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Struggles after March trade
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Vaakanainen posted just two assists and a minus-5 rating in 14 games with the Ducks after he was traded from the Bruins.
Vaakanainen had four assists in 15 outings with the Bruins this year. His role was more stable with the Ducks, but the downgrade in the quality of his teammates likely contributed to lesser offense. The Finn added 27 hits, 28 blocked shots and 27 shots on net in 29 appearances. Still 23 years old, Vaakanainen will likely get a chance to further establish himself at the NHL level next season after he signs a new contract as a restricted free agent.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Suiting up Saturday
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Vaakanainen (illness) is in the lineup Saturday versus the Kings.
Vaakanainen missed one game due to an illness. He'll return to a second-pairing role alongside rookie Jamie Drysdale, while Simon Benoit will exit the lineup.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Out due to illness
Rotowire
Vaakanainen (illness) won't play Tuesday versus the Kings.
Vaakanainen will miss his first game since March 26, which was due to an undisclosed injury after he was traded from the Bruins. The defenseman has two assists in 10 games with the Ducks. Simon Benoit will enter the lineup with Vaakanainen sidelined.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Posts power-play assist
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Vaakanainen recorded a power-play assist in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Flyers.
Vaakanainen set up a Trevor Zegras go-ahead goal at 14:13 of the second period. This was Vaakanainen's second helper in six games with the Ducks, and he's started to see time on the second power-play unit as well. The Finnish blueliner has six assists, 22 shots on net, 17 hits, 18 blocked shots and a minus-3 rating in 21 appearances between the Ducks and Bruins this season.
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Ducks' Urho Vaakanainen: Draws first assist for Anaheim
Rotowire
Vaakanainen posted an assist in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Stars.
In just his second game with the Ducks, Vaakanainen got on the scoresheet when he set up Kevin Shattenkirk's third-period tally. The 23-year-old Vaakanainen should be in line for regular playing time in the final month of the campaign. He's earned five helpers, 16 shots on net, 13 blocked shots, 12 hits and a plus-1 rating in 17 games between the Ducks and the Bruins this season.
