ANAHEIM — Urho Vaakanainen was cleared to play Tuesday against the Dallas Stars. He was paired with veteran defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk for his Ducks debut after he was acquired before the March 21 trade deadline from the Boston Bruins in exchange for defenseman Hampus Lindholm.

Ducks coach Dallas Eakins didn’t expect Vaakanainen to be the next Bobby Orr.

Or Scott Niedermayer.

Or even Lindholm, for that matter.

“He hasn’t played for quite a long time,” Eakins said. “I just want him to go out there and play and get his feet under him, be comfortable. I don’t think this is going to be a big evaluation game for him. New organization. A lot going on. Hasn’t played in a while. I want him to start getting comfortable.”

Vaakanainen hasn’t played since Feb. 19 because of an upper-body injury, the last of the 15 games he played this season with the Bruins. He had four points, all assists, while logging an average ice time of 19:17. He also had one goal and seven assists in 23 games with the AHL’s Providence Bruins.

What should Ducks fans expect from him?

“Our structure and the Boston team’s is similar, so he should be able to plug in and play,” Eakins said. “He’s got his head up all the time. He’s got his hands away from his body. He can move his feet. It looks like he can shoot the puck. He’s deliberate with every pass. He doesn’t lack confidence.

“That’s all fine and great in practice. I’ve watched him (on video) play some games. He looked good in those. Now, we’ve just got to get his feet underneath him and get him going and see if he can be an everyday NHL defenseman.”

Vaakanainen, 23, played only nine games with the Bruins and 11 with Providence in 2020-21, spending most of the pandemic-altered season on Boston’s taxi squad, available if needed but mostly just skating and practicing with a small group of players rather than actually playing in games.

“Some teams did it differently,” Eakins said. “We took the approach that we were all in it together. Other teams said, ‘You taxi guys, you’re going to skate on your own.’ In both of those scenarios, I think those players really suffered. They basically missed a year of playing hockey, and that’s not easy.

“The only way you get better is reps, reps, reps, reps, and especially at that age.”

JONES UPDATE

The Ducks don’t want to rush left wing Max Jones back into their lineup before the end of the regular season April 29, but he might be available to play a handful of games, according to Eakins. Jones has been skating this week with Larry Barron, the Ducks’ skating and skills development coach.

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“The ballpark was kind of mid- to late-April,” Eakins said of Jones’ expected return to the lineup from a torn chest muscle. “We’re not going to push that. He’s out on the ice. It’s amazing. You put a kid like that on the ice. It’s been a long year, right? It’s been a long year on the bike. It’s been a long year working out. Getting back on the ice, it’s almost like his personality has changed. He’s happier.

“Will he end up with the team? I don’t know. That’s up to our doctors.”