The Ducks have acquired center Kyle Chipchura from the Montreal Canadiens for a fourth-round 2011 draft pick. In another move, defenseman Brendan Mikkelson was returned to Toronto of the AHL and defenseman Brett Festerling was recalled from Toronto.

Ducks GM Bob Murray called a Chipchura a “heart-and-soul player.” The 23-year-old has appeared in 19 games for Montreal this season, going scoreless with 16 penalty minutes (PIM).

“My role here in Montreal was a bottom-six forward guy, who comes to compete every night and plays a gritty game,” Chipchura said in a conference call Wednesday. “I came off to a rough start here in Montreal. Hopefully, a fresh opportunity will help me turn things around.”

Asked to explain the rough start, Chipchura said “It’s hard to say. There is no excuse for it. I had shoulder surgery in the offseason and didn’t have training camp. My first few games, before I knew it I was minus-six after four games or something like that. It’s a tough league and you have to be consistent. I felt like I had my ups and downs.”

Chipchura has played three NHL seasons with Montreal, collecting four goals and 14 points with 31 PIM in 68 career games. Over four AHL seasons with Hamilton from 2006-09, Chipchura recorded 37 goals and 98 points with 154 PIM in 178 games, and helped the Bulldogs win the 2007 Calder Cup. The Canadiens drafted him 18th overall in 2004.

Christensen went scoreless in nine games with the Ducks this season before being loaned to AHL Manitoba on Nov. 19. He played in six games with Manitoba, and scored a goal in each of his first two games with the Moose before going scoreless in his last four.

Festerling has appeared in 24 AHL contests with Toronto and San Antonio this season, earning four points, all assists, with 21 PIM and a plus-3 rating. Mikkelson appeared in 22 contests for Anaheim this season, recording two assists with eight PIM.