The Anaheim Ducks announced today via a team release that the club has recalled forward Glenn Gawdin from the AHL’s San Diego Gulls, replacing him in the minors with forward Pavol Regenda. The team also assigned forward Sam Carrick to San Diego on a long-term injury conditioning loan.
When Anaheim signed Gawdin to a two-year contract last summer, many expected him to crack the opening-night lineup considering his strong 2021-22 AHL campaign and his one-way deal. However, with the player he’s replacing in Regenda having a strong camp, the Ducks opted to waive Gawdin, also claiming winger Brett Leason from the Washington Capitals for some depth.
Gawdin didn’t go away quietly, though, registering three goals and three assists for six points in his first seven games with San Diego. The former captain of the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos can play both center and wing and he could potentially slot in as the team’s fourth-line pivot between Max Comtois and Max Jones for their game tomorrow in San Jose.
Regenda, 22, had an impressive training camp after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent, earning a spot in the opening-night lineup. After posting 39 points in 43 games in the Slovak Extraliga last season, he hasn’t looked entirely out of place in the NHL. Yet he’s been used for just over 10 minutes per game, and with two assists in five outings, the team knows Regenda is still young and could benefit from some more playing time in the minors.
Of note, Carrick is working his way back from a hip injury he suffered at the end of last season. He wasn’t initially expected to return until closer to Thanksgiving, suggesting his recovery path is slightly ahead of schedule. He’ll briefly return to San Diego before coming back up to the Ducks when healthy, where he was the captain for the past three seasons.