Murray Won’t Rush to Make Change

Mighty Duck General Manager Bryan Murray’s cellphone is getting a workout these days, as general managers throughout the NHL are either becoming sellers or buyers. But at the moment, Murray is not sure where his team fits.

“I’m going to wait a week before deciding what I’m going to do,” Murray said. “I want to see how the team does.”

Translation: If the Ducks manage to string together a few victories, Murray will turn a deaf ear to the offers from teams in the playoff race. If the Ducks continue on a mediocre path, Murray said he will consider offers.

As the March 9 trade deadline nears, teams will either look to dump salary or pick up pieces for a playoff run. The Ducks sit well outside the playoff race -- 10 points out of eighth -- at the moment, which has Murray’s phone ringing.

“I have received a few calls from teams trying to gear up for the playoff run,” Murray said. “I don’t think I will trade the core players we have, but if someone offers me two real good prospects, I’ll listen.”

Murray said he wouldn’t just dump contracts to get closer to the salary cap the owners are trying to install next season. The Ducks’ payroll is about $48 million, excluding bonuses.

One league official speculated that the salary cap the owners’ desire would be about $40 million.

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Petr Schastlivy, acquired from Ottawa for defenseman Todd Simpson on Feb. 5, returned to Southern California with the Ducks, having secured a work visa to play for a team in the United States.

Schastlivy, who could play in Canada, made a dramatic impact in his second game with the Ducks, scoring the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over Vancouver on Saturday.

“He never could crack the top two lines in Ottawa,” Coach Mike Babcock said. “Sometimes it’s about opportunity. If he competes and plays gritty hockey like he did tonight, he is going to score some goals.”

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The Ducks will have a ceremony before tonight’s game against Dallas to honor Sergei Fedorov, who became the first Russian-born player to reach the 1,000-point plateau.

TONIGHT

vs. Dallas, 5, Fox Sports Net 2

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- XPRS (1090).

Records -- Ducks 19-24-8-7; Stars 27-21-10-0.

Record vs. Stars -- 1-1-2-0.

Update -- The Stars have a 16-6-7 record since Dec. 12.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.