According to a report in the OC Register, Anaheim Ducks' defenceman Luca Sbisa will likely be re-assigned to his junior club, the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Monday.
The 19-year old Sbisa, who came to Anaheim along with Joffrey Lupul in the trade that sent Chris Pronger to Philadelphia, has no points in eight games and is minus-1. Due to the fact that Sbisa is under 20-years of age he cannot be re-assigned to the minors nor will he be able to return to the NHL this season.
Ducks' head coach Randy Carlyle said the decision had more to do with the team's struggles than Sbisa's play so far.
"A lot of it has to do with the way we're playing right now," Carlyle told the Register. "We think the young player has come in and played fairly well, but in the situation we're in right now, but we think it could be a detriment to having him in a pressure situation that we're in.
The decision was based on we want him to play in the league for 15 years, not for five years … if we can do anything to alleviate the pressure of this year, have him go back and play major junior hockey and do the things that he does well, continue to develop, I think the next step will be a lot easier."
In other Ducks news, goaltender J.S. Giguere did not practice with the team on Sunday and will likely miss Monday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Giguere aggravated a groin injury in the third period of Saturday's Ducks loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He does not believe the injury is long term.
"Give it a couple of days rest here, and see what's going to happen," Giguere told the Register. "We're not too concerned about it, but … we have to give it time and make sure it's ready."
To replace Giguere the Ducks will likely recall former Maple Leafs' goaltender Justin Pogge from Bakersfield of the AHL to back up Jonas Hiller, however it is unlikely that Pogge will face his former team.