MIGHTY DUCK NOTEBOOK / ROBYN NORWOOD : Broken Foot Sidelines Kasatonov

Mighty Duck defenseman Alexei Kasatonov, who represented the team in the All-Star game last month, is returning today from Buffalo, N.Y., to Anaheim because of a broken bone in his right foot that will sideline him indefinitely.

X-rays Monday showed a fracture of the first metatarsal, the bone leading to the big toe, and the foot is so swollen and sore that Kasatonov was unable to wear a shoe, much less skate, the day after the injury.

Kasatonov, 34, was hurt Sunday when he was hit in the foot by a shot during the second period of the Ducks’ 4-1 loss at St. Louis. A further estimate of how long he will be out is expected after he is examined today by team orthopedist Ronald Glousman.

Kasatonov, who played for the Soviet Union’s Central Red Army team for 12 seasons and competed in three Olympics before joining the NHL in 1990, has four goals and 18 assists this season.

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In a move related to the Ron Tugnutt-for-Stephan Lebeau trade, the Ducks acquired minor league goaltender John Tanner from Quebec on Monday in exchange for a 1995 fourth-round draft pick.

Tanner, 22, will be assigned to minor league affiliate San Diego to replace Mikhail Shtalenkov, who joined the Ducks Sunday as the backup goalie after Tugnutt was traded to Montreal. Tanner was 14-15-4 with a 3.63 goals-against average for Cornwall of the American League this season. In 21 NHL appearances, all with the Nordiques, he has a 2-11-5 record and a 3.60 goals-against average.

Lebeau, who is expected to give the Ducks an offensive boost, was to practice Monday with the Ducks, but was late arriving to Buffalo because of flight delays. He is expected to make his debut with the Ducks against the Sabres on Wednesday.