Ex-King Todd Could Be a Find

Kevin Todd landed in Toronto Friday night and landed on the top line with Jari Kurri and Teemu Selanne Saturday night.

“With Paul [Kariya’s] situation uncertain, he’s capable of playing on the top line,” Duck Coach Ron Wilson said. “He’s also capable of playing on the third line.”

That’s praise, not criticism. Todd is a gritty two-way player who can score--and he’s an unusually good find off waivers.

The Kings didn’t re-sign Todd despite a solid year last season, and he later signed a two-year deal worth $600,000 a year with Pittsburgh, which left him off its protected list last week after signing defenseman Craig Muni, allowing the Ducks to claim him.

“The [Kings] wanted to get me at a bargain price,” Todd said. “They said in the paper I was asking for an astronomical figure and I didn’t. What I asked for, I ended up getting somewhere else.

“I don’t really think I would have signed there. A lot of teams were interested in me and I realized I didn’t want to go back to a situation where things are in disarray like they are there now.”

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Kariya did rehabilitation work in the hotel pool and skated on his own after the team’s morning skate, saying he might practice with the team later on the trip if things continue going well.

Once he starts practicing, his return will probably be close.

“I don’t think he’d need to practice more than once or twice once he feels pain free,” Wilson said. “Great players don’t need much time to be ready.”

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Kurri played in his 1,100th NHL game. He ranks 13th among active players. . . . Walt Disney Co. Chairman Michael Eisner was at the game. . . . With Kariya out of the lineup, Bobby Dollas served as captain. . . . Left wing Garry Valk has lingering soreness from a hyperextended left elbow and did not play. Healthy scratches were defenseman Ruslan Salei and center Joe Day. . . . New numbers are being worn by Ken Baumgartner (22), David Karpa (33) Roman Oksiuta (10) and Darren Van Impe (29).