IRVINE — There isn’t much time on the clock for a player on a tryout to make an impression in Ducks’ training camp.
Rocco Grimaldi didn’t waste it.
Grimaldi had two assists in the first period and added another in the second in the Ducks’ 3-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday in Tucson. Two were primary assists, including one on Isac Lundestrom’s power-play goal. He made smart decisions with the puck and twice came close to scoring.
The strong first impression in the preseason opener led to another chance to create a second one. Grimaldi was set to get another look Tuesday night against the Sharks in San Jose.
Of note, forward Jakob Silfverberg was scheduled to play his first game since suffering a blood clot in his right leg in March. It occurred in the calf area and limited him to 53 games.
“It was very unexpected and definitely not one of the things you see coming,” Silfverberg said earlier in camp. “You can see yourself getting hurt but a blood clot is never even in the back of your mind.
“It took the summer to get that settled in the back of your head. Honestly, it took the full summer of medicine to get in good shape, which was a little bit frustrating. At the same time, I’m here and healthy and excited to get going again.
“It was a long, long summer but a good one. I feel really strong.”
Camp is full of fresh starts and restarts.
For Grimaldi, his presence with the Ducks’ camp on a professional tryout was a serendipitous turn of events. He was born in Orange County and his parents still live in the Seal Beach area.
“It came together at the last minute,” he said. “I didn’t really have many options so I thought this was the best one for me – gave me a chance to go in and try out, do the best I can and see what happens.”
The 5-foot-6 Grimaldi was a fan favorite in Nashville, where he played the bulk of his NHL career, 166 games with the Predators. His best season with the Predators in 2019-20, in which he had 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists).
There is a sense of unfinished business.
“I don’t think my career has panned out the way I wanted it to go,” he said. “I still think there’s a lot of dreams that I haven’t hit. There’s a lot of things I haven’t accomplished that I want to accomplish.
“I’m 29 years old. I’m even hungrier than I was at 19. It’s cool to be home. Hopefully, I’ll be here for a long time.”
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Roster moves
The Ducks made their first round of cuts Tuesday and none of them was surprising.
Four players were assigned to their respective junior teams: Center Connor Hvidston (Swift Current, WHL), defenseman Tristan Luneau (Gatineau, QMJHL), defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw, OHL) and right wing Sasha Pastujov (Guelph, OHL).
Luneau, a second-round draft pick (No. 53) in July, left on a high note, playing and scoring in Sunday’s win against Arizona.