Ducks' settled lineup brings measure of calm

Though the departures might be better described as a fire sale, they cleared enough money from the books to sink the Ducks under the salary cap, re-sign popular forward Teemu Selanne and allow the remaining players to fully concentrate on the season opener Oct. 9 in San Jose.

Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger, who scored twice in a 3-2 overtime victory Wednesday night against the Kings at Honda Center, including the game-winner with 1 minute 56 remaining in overtime, was sorry to see his teammates depart but said it's important for the roster to be settled heading into the season.

"You want to have your team solidified by the end of training camp," said Pronger, who scored his first goal in the opening minute of the game. "Make sure guys know who is going forward and who's going to be committed and dedicated to the task at hand."

Two months into last season, the Ducks were confronted with uncertainty when defenseman Scott Niedermayer decided to end his three-month hockey sabbatical and return to the team. To make salary room for Niedermayer, the Ducks traded center Andy McDonald to St. Louis.

After the recent trades and addition of several new players to the defensive corps, Pronger said he doesn't anticipate any delay in getting accustomed to his teammates. Among the newcomers on the Ducks' blue line are Ken Klee, who was part of the Schneider trade, and Steve Montador, who was acquired in the off-season through free agency. There are a number of young players also pushing to make the roster.

"You look at Kenny and Steve, both physical guys who can move and make plays," Pronger said. "That's kind of where the league is going, mobile guys who can make passes and move the puck up the ice, get it into the forward's hands and play solid defense."

Putting the puck in the net is also a valuable skill, as Pronger showed against the Kings.

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The departure of Schneider and O'Donnell is good news for Kent Huskins, a 29-year-old who played six minor-league seasons.

While mostly playing on the third defensive line last season, Huskins had four goals and a plus-26 rating in his first full campaign with the Ducks. His role is expected to grow this season, and he has been demonstrating he's more than up for the task.

Against the Kings on Wednesday night, he assisted on a goal by Chris Kunitz, which tied the score, 2-2, at the 13:40 mark of the second period, then did a head-first slide to break up a 2-on-1 breakaway about three minutes later.

Huskins said he changed his workouts over the summer, using sprint cords to develop more speed. Nothing can replace the ice time he experienced last season, however.

"Just having a full season under my belt, I'm kind of gradually getting more confident," he said.

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The Ducks continue to receive diminished returns for the Schneider deal.

Brad Larsen, who was part of the trade with Atlanta, remains hobbled by a lower abdominal injury.

Larsen, a forward, is considering flying to Philadelphia to meet with Dr. William Meyers, one of the leading experts in the treatment of sports hernias. Among the athletes Meyers has worked with are Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere and centers Todd Marchant and Sammy Pahlsson.

"We're just kind of taking it one day at a time right now and hopefully it's progressing in the right way," he said. "It's going to take a little time."

Larsen skated Wednesday morning, but the injury, which occurred during training camp with the Thrashers, had not improved.

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Kings left wing Matt Ellis was claimed off waivers Thursday by the Buffalo Sabres. Ellis was claimed off waivers by the Kings in February. He had one goal, an empty netter, and two points in 19 games for Los Angeles last season.

The Kings also assigned forward Andrei Loktionov to the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. Loktionov was drafted in the fifth-round of the 2008 entry draft, No. 123 overall.

dan.arritt@latimes.com