Ducks re-sign Salcido.

Restricted free-agent defenseman Brian Salcido accepted the Ducks’ qualifying offer, a one-year, two-way contract that will pay $550,000 if he reaches the NHL and $62,000 in the minors.

The 24-year-old from Hermosa Beach appeared in his first two NHL games last season, notching one assist. For AHL affiliate Iowa, Salcido had 10 goals and 43 points in 76 games and was the leading scorer among Chops defensemen.

AHL presence in California?

The Ducks are searching for an AHL affiliate, and one person seems to think the answer is even closer than Iowa.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports thatRon Hahn, who once ran the San Diego Gulls on behalf of the San Diego Sports Arena, is talking to the Ducks about becoming their affiliate in the American Hockey League a year from now. Writes Lee “Hacksaw” Hamilton: “As the AHL expands further west, want to bet we have AHL hockey here next winter? My bet is that it would be a hit.”

Justin Kemp, who runs the ECHL’s Ontario Reign with his father, Barry, also mentioned the possibility of an AHL presence in San Diego recently. If anything, Kemp suggested the 2010-11 season would be too early, but at least there are rumblings. San Antonio, Texas, is host to the nearest AHL team to California. Its territory is decidedly in the American Northeast, though the league has been expanding gradually westward in recent years.

Speaking of the ECHL, a TV report out of Bakersfield tonight suggested that the Ducks might not be partners with the local Condors in 2009-10.

Getzlaf, Perry, Niedermayer invited to Team Canada orientation.

Hockey Canada announced today that Scott Niedermayer, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry have been invited to participate in Canada’s National Men’s Hockey orientation camp. The camp, which precedes the selection of Team Canada’s 2010 Olympic team, will be held Aug. 24-27 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary. Niedermayer, Getzlaf and Perry were among 46 players invited to the camp.
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Ducks re-sign Scott Niedermayer.

Scott Niedermayer re-signed this morning for one year at $6 million, plus bonuses which will not count against the Ducks’ cap number.

“Keeping Scott Niedermayer in an Anaheim Ducks jersey was paramount for our club,” Ducks general manager Bob Murray said in a statement. “We’re extremely pleased he’s chosen to remain with us and look forward to another great season from a Hall of Fame-bound player.”

The captain was named an all-star in 2008-09, his 17th NHL season. He played in all 82 regular-season games and 13 more in the playoffs, and waited until the hours leading up to the draft last Friday to postpone retirement one more year.

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Ducks re-sign Christensen for 1 year.

Erik Christensen will return to the Ducks on a 1-year contract worth $750,000, which is what he earned last year.


A natural center who can play both wings, Christensen had trouble fitting in after he was acquired from the Atlanta Thrashers for prospect Eric O’Dell at the trade deadline. He proceeded to register two goals and 11 points in 25 regular-season games, but was a healthy scratch in five of the Ducks’ 13 playoff games.

The 25-year-old then revealed that he had been playing all season with a lingering shoulder injury, which he had surgery to repair in June. Christensen isn’t expected to be ready for training camp as he recovers.

A high-skilled player with good hands, Christensenscored a career-high 18 goals in 63 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006-07. Heproved adept in shootouts this year, and might be a candidate to center the Ducks’ second line.