Ducks Make Deals for Defensemen : Hockey: Semenov traded to Flyers. Karpa, who was rejected by the Kings, is acquired.

The Mighty Ducks looked to the future Wednesday, trading veteran center Anatoli Semenov to Philadelphia for a prospect, then making a second deal for a suspect--Quebec’s David Karpa, whose trade to the Kings last week was voided by the NHL after he failed his physical.

The Kings rejected Karpa after their doctors determined he needed wrist surgery and would be out five months. But the Ducks believe Karpa can play now and have the surgery later. Even if it turns out he can’t play, their future isn’t now anyway.

The Ducks’ medical team hasn’t personally examined Karpa yet, but their doctors have conferred extensively with Calgary’s team physicians, who were chosen to conduct independent exams after the trade was voided.

“This kid will be glowing in the dark he’s had so many X-rays,” said Duck General Manager Jack Ferreira, who promised Quebec a conditional 1997 draft pick--conditional on when and how much Karpa plays. The King deal was for a fourth-round pick in 1995.

“We’re willing to take the risk even if he doesn’t play this year,” Ferreira said. “It’s just that if he needs an operation, fine, we can wait till next year. That’s basically what it comes down to.

“We had our doctors talk with (the Calgary doctors) and review X-rays, MRIs, a CAT scan. We had a hand specialist consult. The conclusion is it’s not 100% healed, but he can play with it. If it does give him a lot of pain and we find out he can’t play, then we’ll operate now.”

Karpa, a 23-year-old defenseman, played 60 games for the Nordiques last season, scoring 17 points and logging 148 penalty minutes.

He was the second young defenseman the Ducks acquired Wednesday. They shipped Semenov--once their best player--to the Flyers for Milos Holan, a defenseman who has played in only eight NHL games.

Semenov, 33, was the Ducks’ leading scorer last season until his elbow was dislocated on an errant hit by teammate Stu Grimson in December. But his performance this season led him to fall out of favor with Duck Coach Ron Wilson, who criticized Semenov’s defensive play and his lack of production, scratching him in consecutive games in February and then curtailing his ice time.

Instead of showing his playmaking skill on a line with rookies Paul Kariya and Valeri Karpov, Semenov was reduced to hoping to be in the lineup. He had three goals and seven points in 15 games, missing six games, and his plus-minus rating of minus 10 was among the worst on the team.

Semenov took a few parting shots at Wilson for saying he thought Semenov still seemed “a little leery of contact” more than a year after the injury.

“I think it’s bull what he said about me, that I’m scared to hit,” Semenov said.

As for his decline in status with the team, Semenov said, “Ask Coach. He doesn’t talk to me, doesn’t say to me, ‘Hi,’ the last couple of months. That’s interesting. Everybody should be nice to each other.”

Semenov also complained that Wilson pressured him to play last season before he felt he was 100%. Then when Semenov started slow ly this season, Wilson pointed out that his struggle extended back to the time he was injured. Semenov had 24 points in 29 games before the injury and only 13 in the 35 games since he was hurt.

Ferreira said he “couldn’t explain” Semenov’s decline and called it “ancient history,” saying “now we wish him luck.” An attempt to reach Wilson was unsuccessful.

Ferreira said he made the trades because “we have to get younger,” and said Semenov’s age contributed to his expendability.

“(Holan) has proved himself in the (minor leagues) and he’s 23 and I guess we can be more patient than the Flyers,” Ferreira said.

Holan, a third-round draft pick in 1993 after playing five seasons in the Czech Elite League, has been in the minors all season and is the top-scoring defenseman in the American Hockey League with 49 points in 56 games for the Hershey (Pa.) Bears. He is expected to join the Ducks as soon as Friday after returning from a trip home to the Czech Republic.

Duck Note

Rookie Valeri Karpov, who was sent to minor league San Diego last week to recover his confidence, was called up on Wednesday.

Times staff writer Mark Pargas contributed to this story.