Trade Shakes Up Ducks

Mighty Duck General Manager Brian Burke said that star center Sergei Fedorov was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday for financial reasons, but Fedorov’s now-former teammates see something else.

If their top playmaker -- a three-time Stanley Cup winner and potential Hall of Famer -- can be dealt, then so can anyone, particularly on a team that hasn’t met its own lofty expectations.

“It was unexpected, but it’s the nature of our business,” forward Petr Sykora said Wednesday. “It really could have been anybody. But when your team is not doing what it’s expected to do, then that’s how it is in this league.

“I’m sure that if we don’t start winning soon, there’s going to be more guys going.”

Shock still reverberated in the dressing room less than 24 hours after the deal was wrapped. Forward Rob Niedermayer said such a big move often serves as a wake-up call.

“When you see a guy like that traded, it’ll certainly make everybody take notice,” Niedermayer said. “All of us have to strive toward a game that’s more consistent.”

The Ducks took a five-game losing streak into Wednesday night’s matchup against the Dallas Stars, having scored only eight goals in that stretch.

Their offensive woes made it tough for some players to digest why Fedorov would be traded only two games after coming off injured reserve after a groin injury. Fedorov played in only five games this season, but the one-time most valuable player led the Ducks in scoring in 2003-04.

“I’ve heard of a shake-up before, but probably not by trading your best player,” said second-year winger Joffrey Lupul, who seemed to mesh with Fedorov in training camp. “Personally, I’m sad to see him go. He’s a great player, the best player I’ve ever played with.”

Sykora said he thought Fedorov needed more time to make an impact this season.

“Sergei was gone for a lot of games, so he didn’t really get a chance to show what he can do, but in my mind, he’s one of the best forwards in this league,” Sykora said. “When you lose a guy like that, you have to replace him with other guys that will provide the offense. It’s going to be more of a challenge for us.”

Fedorov’s absence will put more of a burden on offensive forwards such as Sykora, Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne, along with rookies Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.

Getzlaf, who figures to pick up more shifts, is embracing the challenge after being drafted in the first round in 2003 as a potential top-line center.

“Obviously that’s exciting to me,” said Getzlaf, who had four goals and three assists in his first 13 games. “It’s an opportunity that if I don’t grasp it, it’s not going to be there. It’s not like them moving him was to get me more ice time.”