Ducks inquire about Ray Emery as a third goalie

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The Ducks have inquired about goaltender Ray Emery and are likely to sign him to be a depth player in case Jonas Hiller or backup Curtis McElhinney get hurt, Helene Elliott reports.

Emery, who played in the KHL during the 2008-09 season and is currently unsigned, would not have to go through waivers because he did not play in another league this season.

Ducks fans no doubt will remember Emery from the 2007 playoffs. He helped lead the Ottawa Senators to the Stanley Cup final, posting a 2.26 goals-against average and three shutouts along the way. But then the Ducks changed ended that, winning the Cup in five games.

Emery, now 28, was with the Senators for parts of five seasons, but by the start of the 2008-09 season was out of the NHL and had signed with the KHL. During the off-season in 2009 he signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, but he played in only 29 games before being diagnosed with avascular necrosis.

The condition essentially meant that the flow of blood had been cut off to the ball in his right hip, causing it to completely deteriorate. That not only severely limited his ability to move but was intensely painful (think Bo Jackson). Emery underwent a new type of bone-grafting surgery last April, which allowed him to avoid having a full hip replacement.

Though his contract with the Flyers expired in June, he has worked hard to get back to the top of his game. Clearly, that is what the Ducks would be counting on. Stay tuned.

-- Debbie Goffa