Preseason schedule announced.

Here it is:

Wednesday, 9/16: vs. Phoenix Coyotes, Honda Center, 7:05 p.m.
Thursday, 9/17: vs. Vancouver Canucks, Honda Center, 7:05 p.m.
Friday, 9/18: at Phoenix Coyotes, Jobing.com Arena, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, 9/19: at L.A. Kings, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, 9/21: vs. San Jose Sharks, Honda Center, 7:05 p.m.
Thursday, 9/24: at Vancouver Canucks, GM Place, 7:05 p.m.
Friday, 9/25: at San Jose Sharks, HP Pavilion, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, 9/27: vs. L.A. Kings, Honda Center, 5:05 p.m.

Tickets will go on sale Saturday, Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased online at AnaheimDucks.com. Tickets will also be available by calling Ticketmaster at (714) 703-2545, or in person at the Honda Center box office on a first come, first served basis.

The complete NHL regular season schedule is expected to be released later this week.

Ducks lure KHL defenseman to Anaheim.

Defenseman Steve McCarthy has signed a one-year contract with the Ducks. The 28-year-old defenseman has appeared in 302 career NHL games but played last season in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), going scoreless with 16 PIM in 18 games with Ufa Salavat Yulayev.

He has modest career totals of 17 goals and 55 points in an NHL career that includes stints with the Blackhawks, Canucks and Thrashers during an eight-year NHL career. McCarthy last appeared in the NHL with Atlanta in 2007-08, collecting a goal and seven points with 48 PIM in 55 games. In 2006-07, he matched a personal best in points (16) while setting a career high in assists with the Thrashers.

Originally selected by Chicago in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, McCarthy spent his first four NHL seasons with Chicago before being acquired by Vancouver in exchange for a third-round selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft on Aug. 22, 2005. During his first season with the Canucks in 2005-06, he was acquired by Atlanta in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft on Mar. 9, 2006.

Ducks sign defenseman Boynton.

The Ducks’ search for a veteran defenseman appears to be complete with the signing of Nick Boynton early Thursday to a one-year contract. He will earn $1.5 million after making $2.95 million with the Florida Panthers in 2008-09, the final year ofa contract he originally signed with the Phoenix Coyotes.

“Nick is the type of veteran defenseman we were hoping to add to our lineup,” general manager Bob Murray said in a statement. “He’s played over 500 NHL games and brings a physical presence to our team.”

Continue reading “Ducks sign defenseman Boynton.” »

Saku Koivu signs for 1 year, $3.25 million.

The Ducks have signed unrestricted free agent center Saku Koivu to a one-year, $3.25 million contract. After spending all of his 14-year career with the Montreal Canadiens — the last ten years as captain — Koivu said he was lured by the chance to play with fellow Finn Teemu Selanne, as well as a more laid-back environment in Southern California.

Continue reading “Saku Koivu signs for 1 year, $3.25 million.” »

Marchant resigns for 2 years, $2.25 million.

The Ducks have resigned forward Todd Marchant to a two-year contract that will pay the defensive specialist $1 million next year and $1.25 million in 2010-11.

“We’re pleased that Todd will remain a Duck for the next two seasons,” Ducks general manager Bob Murray said in a statement. “His versatility on the ice and presence in the locker room is something this club has deeply valued over the past four seasons.”

Marchant, 35, notched five goals and 18 points in 72 games last season, his fourth in Anaheim. Marchant also appeared in all 14 of Anaheim’s Stanley Cup Playoff contests, contributing one assist and one goal — the triple-overtime winner in Game 2 of the conference semifinals on May 3 at Detroit.
Continue reading “Marchant resigns for 2 years, $2.25 million.” »

Iowa Chops placed on suspension.

The future of the Iowa Chops franchise grew dimmer today when the American Hockey League placed the franchise under involuntary suspension for violation of league rules. Iowa served as the Ducks’ AHL affiliate last season.


The Ducks rescinded the affiliation in May after the Iowa franchise had failed to make regular payments that were part of the affiliation agreement. The Des Moines Register reported that club owners used their franchise as collateral to obtain a loan worth nearly $2 million in March 2008, which is a violation of AHL rules.

Flyers to extend Pronger’s contract

Chris Pronger has signed a seven-year, $35 million contract extension to remain in Philadelphia. Pronger’s new contract will expire in 2016, when the defenseman will be 41 years old.


The Ducks traded Pronger to the Flyers on June 26 along with minor-league forward Ryan Dingle for Luca Sbisa, Joffrey Lupul and two first-round draft picks. Among the reasons Ducks GM Bob Murray traded Pronger was that the defenseman, who was in the final year of a $6.25 million contract, might be difficult to re-sign.

That appears to have been a good call: Pronger will receive $7.6 million each of the first two years of the extension, a raise of $1.35 million over this, the final season of the contract he earned with the Ducks.