McDonald set to face former team

ST. LOUIS -- As he prepared himself for a game against Minnesota in mid-December, Andy McDonald knew it was possible that someone was no longer going to be a member of the Ducks.

The team needed to create salary cap room in order to bring back Scott Niedermayer, who announced his intention to return after a hiatus from hockey. A deal figured to be imminent and the only uncertainty was who would be leaving.

Until General Brian Burke called to break the news, McDonald didn’t expect it would be him.

“The rumors started and there were a lot of names,” McDonald said Thursday. “My name hadn’t really been brought up. I guess I thought there may have been a possibility. But still, when I got that call, I was on my way over to play a hockey game and I was shocked.

“As soon as I heard Brian’s voice, I guess I knew. He didn’t really have to tell me.”

Just days after setting the Ducks’ franchise record for consecutive games played with 276, McDonald was dealt to the St. Louis Blues for Doug Weight in a deal that also brought prospect Michal Birner to Anaheim.

Seven weeks have passed and the principals involved will face their former teams for the first time tonight. McDonald played his first six-plus seasons with the Ducks; Weight spent seven years in St. Louis over two different stints.

Weight acknowledged that it’s not just another game for him.

“As the morning skate comes, as you’re in the visiting room of the building you played in the last seven years, I’m going to have butterflies coming into the warmup,” he said. “It’ll be special and emotional.”

Speaking outside the dressing room at the Blues’ practice facility, McDonald glowingly reflected on a seven-year stint in Anaheim in which he became one of the NHL’s most productive centers for a Stanley Cup champion and met his wife, Gina.

“I definitely took some big steps in my career there,” he said. “I have nothing but positive things to think about. Apart from the trade, that’s it.”

Playing alongside Teemu Selanne, McDonald had 34 goals and 85 points in 2005-06 and 27 goals and 78 points in 2006-07 before leading the Ducks with 10 goals in the playoffs.

But McDonald struggled without Selanne, getting only four goals and 16 points in 33 games and Burke saw an opportunity to shed $3.33 million from the payroll for the next two seasons as he tries to re-sign leading goal scorer Corey Perry.

“Guys that knew him know he wasn’t totally 100% happy with the way things were going,” goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere said of McDonald. “But at the end of the day, I think it was a good move for him.”

The 30-year-old McDonald said he is re-energized. He has five goals and 16 points in 16 games since joining the Blues, who remain in the hunt for a playoff spot. Former Ducks captain Paul Kariya said he “has been fantastic. He’s been such a great fit for our club.”

Weight also got off to a slow start in St. Louis but he wasn’t prepared to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate the deal until he realized that he wouldn’t be a big part of the Blues’ future.

“Change is hard,” he said. “But by no means do I need to say anything negative about anybody. Things happen. Both parties make decisions.”

TONIGHT

at St. Louis, 5:30 PST, FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Scottrade Center.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Ducks 27-21-6, Blues 23-19-7.

Record vs. Blues -- 0-1-0.

Update -- Defenseman Mathieu Schneider is questionable for tonight’s game after being given Thursday off to heal an arm injury, Carlyle said.

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eric.stephens@latimes.com