Pleasant Surprise : The Move Was Unexpected, but Todd’s Glad He’s a Duck

Kevin Todd was confused at first, then angry, worried and, finally, happy to be returning to Southern California.

Todd still hasn’t figured out why the Pittsburgh Penguins dangled him on the waiver wire Oct. 4, but he is certain of one thing: He’s glad to be a Mighty Duck.

On the day before the Penguins opened the season, Todd was given the word. The Ducks had just picked him up off the waiver wire. Todd had no idea he was going to be placed on waivers. He had been traded before but never put on waivers, and he wasn’t sure how to react to the news.

“I had played in every preseason game,” he said. “I was second or third in scoring. I had practiced hard.”

And then he was off to Anaheim.

Goodbye Mario Lemieux, hello Teemu Selanne.

Goodbye Iron City, hello Orange County.

Upon further review, Todd decided the move wasn’t so bad after all.

The Ducks, as Todd knew while playing for the Kings from 1994 to 1996, are an up-and-coming team. Plus, as a former King, he knew the lay of the land. He had lived in Hermosa Beach, so joining the Ducks wasn’t going to be so bad from a beach and palm trees standpoint.

Still, he was puzzled.

Why had the Penguins given up on him?

Hadn’t they just signed him to a two-year deal worth $1.2 million?

Hadn’t he decided against taking other offers to join the Penguins as a free agent?

Plus, there was the little matter of contacting his wife, Dana, to let her know they were headed back to California.

“They basically hauled me out of practice and told me,” said Todd, 28, who talked briefly with the Ducks before signing with Pittsburgh last July 10. “I couldn’t find my wife for five hours. I didn’t know whether I had to fly to Anaheim right away.

“But it ended up being good. My wife was upset at first, then happy to be going to Anaheim.”

The Ducks represented another chance for Todd to enhance his six-year NHL career. Coming off a 16-goal, 43-point season for the Kings, Todd believed he would be an important part of the Penguins’ plans for at least the next two seasons.

To be sure, Pittsburgh is considered a contender to win the Stanley Cup this season. But the reasons are Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr and Ron Francis, to name a few. Todd figured he would be a third-line checker, a grinder on a roster stocked with flashy all-stars.

He thought he would be content in that role, but it was not to be.

When the Penguins selected Craig Muni in the waiver draft a week before the season opener, they had to place another player on waivers to make room for the veteran defenseman.

Todd was the one the Penguins selected.

“I still have no idea why,” he said.

Now, he has been asked to assume a greater role with the Ducks, who aren’t expected to win the Cup but might make the playoffs for the first time in their history. Todd is needed to help carry the offensive load and provide a bit of grit in the defensive end.

“We need Kevin to use more of the skill side than the grinder side of things,” Coach Ron Wilson said. “He’s looked very good so far. He’s been a real blessing with the injury to Paul Kariya. Certainly, he’s not as skilled as Paul, but at least he stops the bleeding from [the offensive] point of view.”

With Kariya sidelined indefinitely by an abdominal injury, Todd has responded with the needed offensive punch. He scored his third goal of the season Wednesday during the Ducks’ 4-3 loss to Philadelphia. He also is tied with Jari Kurri for second on the team with seven points. They trail Selanne, who has 11.

It’s been a promising start for Todd personally, but he can’t shake the feeling that the Ducks need to jell. And quickly.

“Obviously it’s early, but we’re not happy with a 1-3-2 start,” he said. “The next two games [tonight against San Jose and Sunday against Boston] are very important games.

“I played with Wayne [Gretzky] and Jari in L.A. and went through training camp with Mario and Jagr, so I’ve been with some very good players. I think our team has two of the best young players in the game.”

Todd was speaking of Selanne and Kariya.

“I was excited to be coming here after the initial shock wore off,” Todd said. “This is a young team that works hard and wants to win.”