Simpson Is Traded to Ottawa for Schastlivy

The Mighty Ducks traded defenseman Todd Simpson to Ottawa for left wing Petr Schastlivy on Wednesday.

Simpson, who is making $1.5 million, had four goals and seven points in 46 games this season but had not played up to expectations after being picked up on waivers before the season. Schastlivy, who is making $650,000, has two goals and six points.

“Todd is going to be an unrestricted free agent, and he was not playing regularly,” Duck General Manager Bryan Murray said. “We’re allowing him to go to a good team where he has a chance to win a cup. Petr was playing on the fourth line in Ottawa and will get a chance to play on a top-two line here. It’s an opportunity for him to show us what he can do.”

Murray said that he was not going to jettison players who have contracts beyond this season now that the Ducks are 13th in the Western Conference.

“We are not going to trade guys who are core players, who play regularly,” Murray said. “Todd is the only player that wasn’t in that category.”

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Mike Leclerc, out all season rehabilitating from knee surgery, will return to the lineup next week, either Wednesday against Phoenix or Friday against Calgary. Leclerc was cleared to play by doctors last week.

The Ducks have missed Leclerc’s physical style of play. He had nine goals and 28 points last season despite playing on a bad knee.

-- Chris Foster