DENVER — More and more, as the days have passed, it seems likely that Ryan Kesler’s season is over.

Kesler hasn’t skated because of an ongoing hip issue since the Ducks’ loss March 6 to the St. Louis Blues and he didn’t join his teammates for their trip to play the Arizona Coyotes and the Colorado Avalanche.

“I don’t know if we’re going to see him again this year,” said Bob Murray, the Ducks’ general manager and interim coach.

Asked after Friday’s morning skate at Pepsi Center whether it would be better to simply shut down Kesler for the remainder of the season, treat his hip during the offseason and regroup for training camp in September, Murray said, “If he were willing to do that, that would be fine. We’ll see.”

Kesler underwent major hip surgery after the 2016-17 season and hasn’t been the same player since. Kesler, a Selke Trophy winner and a five-time finalist, played only 44 games last season, scoring only eight goals and 14 points. He has three goals and eight points in 60 games this season.

His last appearance, against the Blues, was the 1,001st game of his NHL career. One night earlier, against the Coyotes, he played his 1,000th game, reaching a milestone that drove him through countless hours of rehabilitation exercises and off-ice workouts after his surgery.

He became the seventh active United States-born player to reach the 1,000-game mark.

“It was a fun night, a fun day, just reminiscing on all the years in the past,” a cheerful Kesler said after his milestone game last week against Arizona. “I said I wouldn’t do it, but I ended up doing it. I’ve had a great first 1,000 games. I’ve had lot of fun in this league.”

Murray said there was no timetable for Kesler’s return to the ice or the lineup.

“I don’t know when he’s coming back,” Murray said. “He’s hurting pretty good.”

Kesler insisted on pushing through to his 1,000th game and Murray wasn’t going to stop him.

“I get why he wanted to do that,” Murray said. “It would have been very difficult to say no.”

Kesler, 34, has three seasons and a little more than $20 million remaining on a six-year, $41.25-million contract extension he signed with the Ducks on July 15, 2015. The Ducks could buy him out of his contract if they believe he can no longer be a productive player. They also could place him on long-term injured reserve.

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The Ducks went into Friday’s game against the Avalanche with their 25th-ranked power play clicking at a 15.7-percent success after going a combined 0 for 6 in the past three games, including 0 for 4 in a 6-1 loss Thursday to the Coyotes. Their penalty-killing unit ranked 23rd in the 31-team NHL. Related Articles NHL, players unveil series of anti-racism initiatives

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“They’re both not good enough,” Murray said. “The power play seemed to be going in the right direction for a while and then got sidetracked, although we had chances (Thursday) night. The penalty kill, it’s hard work and discipline.”

Staying out of the penalty box seemed to be the best cure for a malfunctioning power play, Murray said. The Ducks had been shorthanded five times or more in five of their past six games going into Friday, and they had given up at least one power-play goal in four of six.

“That has crept back into our game again,” he said. “The numbers have crept back up again.”