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Ducks Trade Shields for a 2003 Pick

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

The Mighty Ducks traded goalie Steve Shields, a piece of the Teemu Selanne deal, to the Boston Bruins Tuesday for a third-round draft pick in 2003.

The Bruins signed Shields, a restricted free agent, to a two-year deal for a base salary of $1.2 million, with incentives that could push it over $2 million. The deal further indicates that Boston officials have no interest in re-signing unrestricted free agent Byron Dafoe after his disappointing performance in the playoffs.

“I’m ecstatic, I’m really excited,” Shields said. “It’s going to be a great opportunity with a team that is in contention to win a lot of games and be successful. That’s all I ask for.”

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Duck General Manager Bryan Murray said he was offered a player but chose the draft pick instead. He also talked with other teams, including Dallas.

The Ducks felt Shields, 30, was expendable after Jean-Sebastien Giguere established himself as the team’s No. 1 goalie. Giguere was fifth in the NHL in goals-against average (2.13) and save percentage (.920). The Ducks would have had to make Shields a qualifying offer of $2 million--his salary last season--by the end of June or lose him as a free agent.

Shields and forward Jeff Friesen were acquired for Selanne in March 2001.

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