Mighty Ducks, Kings Look for Help for Playoff Chase

Spring is apparently too late for the Mighty Ducks and Kings, who are determined to make trades now to bolster their lineups for the stretch run.

The Ducks are in the market for a creative center to play with wingers Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, team President Tony Tavares said at Sunday’s NHL All-Star game.

They also could use a defenseman and an enforcer to keep teams from abusing Kariya and Selanne.

“My view is we’re right up against it,” Tavares said. “If we don’t turn it around now, we’re out of the playoff picture.”

He also said the Ducks were not in the running to acquire defenseman Roman Hamrlik, traded recently from Tampa Bay to Edmonton, or right wing Bill Guerin, who went from New Jersey to Edmonton.

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King General Manager Dave Taylor said he has been talking to other GMs recently but sees nothing imminent. He has spoken to Pittsburgh on several occasions about right wing Jaromir Jagr but said nothing is likely to come of those discussions.

Taylor acknowledged he has spoken to the Detroit Red Wings about unsigned restricted free agent Sergei Fedorov.

Wayne Gretzky’s assist on the North American All-Stars’ first goal gave him a record 21 points in All-Star competition. He had shared the lead with Mario Lemieux.