Little Interest in Pahlsson

Chuck Fletcher, the Mighty Ducks’ director of hockey operations, has had contact with wayward center Samuel Pahlsson, but there seems little chance of reconciliation. Pahlsson, apparently unhappy with being sent to the minors, left the Cincinnati team Tuesday and returned to Southern California.

The Ducks have been trying to trade Pahlsson, who played 80 games with the team last season and 59 after being acquired from Boston in 2000-01. He did not figure prominently in the Ducks’ plans this season.

“We had asked him to give us a little time,” General Manager Bryan Murray said. “I thought by now I would have been able to do something. There just isn’t any great interest in him. He’s a good player and I think he’s an NHL player. He should give himself a chance.”

Pahlsson’s contract would pay him $550,000 if he played in the NHL.

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Goalie Martin Gerber is expected to return from Switzerland and rejoin the Ducks on Tuesday. He returned home to see his mother, who has cancer.... Center Steve Rucchin had a seven-game point streak ended.... Mike Brown, claimed on waivers from Vancouver on Oct. 11, made his Duck debut Friday. He picked up two penalties in the second period, for charging and fighting.

-- Chris Foster