A recap of the Ducks' busy day. Updates with Murray comments.

In a day of major rebuilding, general manager Bob Murray traded away Samuel Pahlsson, Travis Moen, Kent Huskins and Steve Montador. Forward Brendan Morrison also was claimed off waivers by the Dallas Stars prior to the noon trade deadline.

New to the lineup are center Erik Christensen, who will be plugged in immediately as a top-six forward, center Petteri Nokelainen, a candidate to fill Pahlsson's role, and spare defenseman James Wisniewski.

"Over the last few years here, chasing another Cup, we've let assets get away from us and got nothing for them," Ducks general manager Bob Murray said. "That had to stop. We're out of the playoffs today, could be in the playoffs tomorrow. I fully expect this team to run for a playoff spot. I don't think we're anywhere near out of it. I expect our players to make a good shot at it; I see no reason why we can't."

All of the players traded were due to become unrestricted free agents July 1, and Murray indicated he had lost confidence in his ability to re-sign them. None of the players acquired will be unrestricted free agents this year, and none is older than 25.

"There's two times in a year when you get to do things with your team: the trade deadline and the draft," Murray said. "If I sense anything, that these players have thrown in the towel, well, the draft's not far away."

The day's biggest trade involved Pahlsson, who had played more games as a Duck (527) than all but four players in franchise history. He had missed the past 13 games -- spanning the entire month of February -- with mononucleosis. Both he and Moen were anchors on the checking line that was integral to the team's 2007 Stanley Cup playoff run. Prospect Logan Stephenson and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2009 draft will also go to the Blackhawks.

In return, the Ducks received minor-league center Petri Kontiola along with Wisniewski, a 25-year-old who has spent the early part of this season recovering from a knee injury. In 31 games for Chicago, he had two goals, 13 points and a plus-six rating.

"He's a heart and soul guy," Murray said of Wisniewski. "He plays hard, competes hard, does a little bit of everything -- power play, penalty kill. He's our type of player. I wouldn't have done anything with Sammy Pahlsson unless I could get him out of there."

Kontiola, 24, has 15 goals and 53 points in 61 games for Chicago's AHL affiliate. The 6-foot, 205-pounder projects as a second- or third-line center and will be assigned to Iowa.

Moen and Huskins were packaged to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for collegiate center Nick Bonino, goalie prospect Timo Pielmeier, and a conditional draft pick.

Bonino, 20, was taken in the sixth round of the 2007 draft by the Sharks. He has 13 goals and 37 points in 33 games for Boston University this season. Murray said he is especially high on Bonino, saying "I can't emphasize how good we think he is."

"He sees the ice, feels the ice unbelievably well," the GM said. "His skating was always a little awkward-looking ... but this guy's learned how to skate. he's become a skater."

Pielmeier, 19, was a third-round pick in 2007. He has gone 29-9 with a 2.62 goals-against average for Shawinigan-Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). If the Sharks reach the Stanley Cup finals this year, the Ducks will receive a 2009 second-round pick in return. Otherwise, the pick becomes a 2011 fourth-rounder.

Moen, 26, had bounced around the Ducks' forward lines this season, posting four goals, 11 points, 77 penalty minutes and a minus-11 rating in 63 games. He had a career year in 2006-07 with 11 goals, 21 points and 101 penalty minutes. Huskins has bided his time on injured reserve since Jan. 1 with a broken foot. In 33 games, the 29-year-old defenseman has two goals, six points and a plus-6 rating.

In their first trade completed Wednesday, defenseman Steve Montador was dealt to the Boston Bruins in exchange for center Petteri Nokelainen.

Nokelainen was a former first-round draft pick (selected 16th overall by the Islanders in 2004) whose best skill as an NHL player has been winning faceoffs. The 23-year-old Finn has won 62.1 percent of his draws (54 of 87), while contributing three assists in 33 games for the Bruins this year. He hasn't played since taking a high stick to his eye against San Jose on Feb. 10, but his vision is believed to be back at full health.

Murray says he first spotted Nokelainen as a 15-year-old and has been tracking him since. 

"He's a hard on the puck player," the GM said. "He does a little bit of everything. He needs an opportunity and he's going to get one here."

Murray didn't go so far as to say that Nokelainen would be handed Pahlsson's job, but will instead be given a chance to develop into the role as he matures -- similar to how the Ducks treated Pahlsson when he arrived via trade from Boston in 2001.

Montador had exceeded expectations in his first year as a Duck, setting career highs in assists (16), penalty minutes (125), and was on pace for a career-high plus-minus rating (plus-15, a team high). He flashed his versatility by alternating between forward and defense, at times in the same game.

Morrison disappointed himself and the team after receiving a $2.75 million free-agent contract in the off-season. He didn't score a goal until Nov. 7, en route to 10 goals and 22 assists in 62 games. The 33-year-old attributed his slow step to off-season ACL surgery, from which he still hasn't fully recovered.

Murray said he began looking at Christensen even before the Thrashers visited Honda Center on Feb. 15. Christensen went to Atlanta at last year's trade deadline in the deal that sent Marian Hossa to Pittsburgh.

"Pure skill," was the GM's description of Christensen. "He can move the puck, handle the puck. He got 19 goals with Pittsburgh a couple years ago with good players. We have good players here on our top two lines. He'll get that opportunity here."

If nothing else the Ducks got younger, saved money -- slimming the team's cap hit to $52.2 million, $4.5 million below the ceiling -- and shed a few expiring contracts without dealing any of their star players. The question now is whether this new collection of players can lift the Ducks out of a three-way tie for eighth place in the Western Conference standings -- or if the rebuilding will only prove its value next year.

"We couldn't let these unrestricted (free agent) guys go," Murray said. "Talking to these guys -- Travis, Sammy, Husky -- they love it here, wanted to stay here, but they say 'I've got to try free agency.'

"Contract negotiations were going nowhere. They all want to get to free agency. I understand that as a former player. It would have been totally irresponsible of me to not get the best I could for these unrestricted guys."

After the deals were completed Wednesday, the Ducks recalled forward Troy Bodie and defenseman Brendan Mikkelson from Iowa, and returned forward Drew Miller to the AHL.

>>The Ducks' lineup a week ago, compared to their probable lineup today:

THEN

Forwards:

Kunitz, Getzlaf, Perry

Ryan, Ebbett, Selanne

Moen, Pahlsson, R.Niedermayer

Parros, Marchant, Brown

bench: Carter, Morrison

Defensemen:

S.Niedermayer, Festerling

Brookbank, Pronger

Montador, Hedican

bench: Huskins (IR), Beauchemin (IR)

NOW

Forwards:

Christensen, Getzlaf, Perry

Ryan, Ebbett, Selanne

Marchant, Nokelainen, R. Niedermayer

Parros, Carter, Brown

bench: Ebbett, Bodie

Defensemen:

S.Niedermayer, Festerling

Brookbank, Pronger

Whitney, Hedican

bench: Wisniewski, Mikkelson, Beauchemin (IR)