Cam Fowler Injury: Updates on Ducks Defender's Knee and Return

On Saturday, the Anaheim Ducks offered further prognosis for defenseman Cam Fowler's knee sprain, announcing the former U.S. Olympian will be out four to six weeks. 

Fowler suffered the injury in Sunday's win over the Philadelphia Flyers and was placed on injured reserve the next day. The team recalled top prospect Shea Theodore to account for the transaction. 

According to Fowler (via the Ducks' official Twitter account), his rehab is "going well," as he said, "I feel good and the rehab is going well. I knew what to expect, and I'm trying to make it back sooner."

At the time of his injury, Fowler led the Ducks in ice time (an average of 22 minutes and 38 seconds per game) with three goals and nine assists while playing in all 34 contests to that point. 

The Ducks are already down a defenseman after Simon Despres suffered a concussion four games into the season.

Despite the alarming attrition to key contributors, Theodore, 20, offered a promising performance in his debut Tuesday against the Calgary Flames.

The Ducks’ 2013 first-round draft pick played 15:45, took 21 shifts and was credited with a blocked shot.

Above all, Theodore appeared to play with a needed confidence given that his minutes should steadily increase while Fowler recovers, as Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said, per Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun:

"

Well, there’s 25 minutes a night somebody else has to eat up, first of all. He’s so good at making that first pass out of his own zone or being able to skate it out of his own zone, that’s hard to get back. He sees the ice, he’s the definitive powerplay quarterback and we’re looking forward to seeing that.

"

The Ducks are 15-15-7 and struggling to stay afloat in the competitive Western Conference. But utilizing Fowler’s stead to get their top prospect ice time should help bring the rookie along quicker, as they hope to see him be an everyday player in the coming season or two, if not sooner.