Ducks Get Help for Second Line

The Mighty Ducks gained skill and experience when they acquired left wing Marty McInnis from the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

McInnis, who had 19 goals last season for the punchless Calgary Flames, is expected to bolster the Ducks’ second line. Unlike previous attempts, this move might actually bring the desired result.

McInnis, 28, was traded twice Tuesday. First, he went from Calgary to Chicago as part of a multi-player deal. The Ducks then sent a fourth-round pick in the 2000 draft to Chicago for McInnis, who will join new linemates Travis Green and Tomas Sandstrom for tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

McInnis and Green played together with the New York Islanders for parts of five seasons, helping the Islanders reach the Eastern Conference finals in 1992-93. They also were linemates for about 2 1/2 seasons.

“I think it’s a great move,” Green said. “I’m excited about it. He’s really going to help us. We’ve got to get some production [from the second line] to take the heat off the other lines.”

Pierre Gauthier, Duck team president-general manager, said he made the deal primarily because he wanted to add more experience. He stressed that he was not unhappy with the play of youngsters such as Johan Davidsson, whose place McInnis will take on the second line.

“We have nine guys who have played less than 100 games in the NHL,” Gauthier said. “We’ve got a good mix now with McInnis. The point is, at this time of the year, we need to grow as a team. Adding another veteran to the mix is the right thing to do. Not to take anything away from the young guys, but we need the balance.”

Davidsson, a rookie from Sweden, has one assist in six games and has played solidly. Neither Gauthier nor Coach Craig Hartsburg said what the Ducks’ plans are for Davidsson.

It’s expected that he will remain in the lineup, since center Josef Marha, sidelined for five games because of a sprained right ankle, was put on the injured-reserve list Tuesday.

“Johan has been pretty good there [on the second line],” Hartsburg said. “We’re not disappointed in him. Or in any of our kids. This will mean less pressure on the kids to produce.”