Roster Reshuffle Brings Marchant

Desperate to find any means to stop their record-tying losing streak and turn around what is suddenly feeling like a lost season, the Mighty Ducks shook up their roster Monday for the second time in as many weeks.

On Monday, the Ducks claimed veteran center Todd Marchant of the Columbus Blue Jackets off waivers and demoted rookie forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry to the team’s affiliate in Portland, Maine. Marchant, 32, joined the team in Phoenix on Monday and is expected to be in the lineup for tonight’s game against the Coyotes.

General Manager Brian Burke said Marchant was originally part of last week’s trade of center Sergei Fedorov to the Blue Jackets, but Marchant would not set aside his no-trade clause.

The Ducks put in a claim after Columbus again put him on waivers when no other teams were willing to take on his $2.5-million average salary. In 18 games, Marchant had three goals and six assists.

“We’ve wanted him for some time,” Burke said.

He also indicated that he isn’t finished with reworking a lineup that has lost eight in a row and is in the Pacific Division basement with 18 points.

Forward Petr Sykora is reportedly on the trading block. Sykora, who has one point in his last seven games, has four goals and is making about $3.12 million on the final year on his contract. “I have not at this point offered Sykora to anybody but I wouldn’t rule out any type of move in the future,” Burke said.

Marchant, who spent his first nine seasons with Edmonton before signing a six-year contract with the Blue Jackets, has 148 goals and 238 assists in his career.

Marchant is making $2.47 million over the next three years and is slated to make $2.66 million in 2008-09. Burke shrugged at those figures and said Marchant isn’t part of another potential deal. “He’s going to be an effective player for the life of his contract,” Burke said. “You can make an argument that his salary is high for the type of player he is. That’s fine. We moved a high salary prior to getting him.” With the acquisition of Marchant, the Ducks’ salary cap figure rose to about $36 million. “We’ve got some money to spend and we’re shopping,” Burke said. “These results [a 7-10-2-2 record] are not acceptable. There’s been a culture in this market that [simply] being competitive is acceptable and it’s not.”

In sending down Getzlaf and Perry, the Ducks’ top two selections in the 2003 draft, Duck Coach Randy Carlyle said the two skilled youngsters needed more ice time than they would get staying.

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Forward Teemu Selanne did not hide his displeasure about the officiating in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. “I don’t think the referees have done as good a job as I thought they would,” Selanne said Monday after practice. “I don’t think they should be calling things that they’re calling.”

Referees Shane Heyer and Dan O’Rourke whistled the Ducks and Canucks for a combined 33 minor penalties Sunday.

“I think the referees should be reviewed after the game,” Selanne said. “It takes five minutes. Somebody, maybe a supervisor to show all the penalties. Not in a way to embarrass anybody. Just learning and learning. Getting better. I really believe that would help everybody.”

TONIGHT

at Phoenix, 6 PST, FSNW2

Site -- Glendale Arena.

Radio -- 1090.

Records -- Ducks 7-10-2-2, Coyotes 11-10-1-1.

Record vs. Coyotes -- 2-0-1-0.

Update -- With Jean-Sebastien Giguere day-to-day with a strained hamstring, goalie Michael Wall was recalled a day after being assigned to Portland. Left wing Chris Kunitz was also recalled and forward Kip Brennan was put on waivers.