ANAHEIM, Calif. — They were wearing gray Ducks practice jerseys instead of the other colors handed out to the groups of forwards that were skating on another sheet of ice. It was a sign that Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves weren’t ready to participate in all the drills their teammates went through on the first day of training camp.



And Kesler and Eaves didn’t deny that they are trailing behind while the rest of the regulars are full steam ahead as prospects largely played in an intrasquad scrimmage at Honda Center on Sunday and the exhibition games start up on Tuesday in San Jose. Chances are neither one will play in any of the six.



It isn’t ideal when it comes to preparation for another grueling NHL season. But they’re both back in the position of feeling as if they can continue their long careers. It’s a victory they can take without the need of scoreboard validation.



Their careers were threatened. For Eaves, it was a...