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Ducks Grant Pronger’s Wish

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Times Staff Writer

Not content with an appearance in the Western Conference finals, the Ducks on Monday made clear their intention to win the Stanley Cup by acquiring a superstar who stood in their way last season.

Chris Pronger wanted a trade from the Edmonton Oilers and was granted his wish as the Ducks snagged the five-time All-Star defenseman and former NHL most valuable player for right wing Joffrey Lupul, a top prospect and three draft picks.

With Pronger, the Ducks are at a projected $40-million payroll that includes raises to their remaining restricted free agents.

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“We’re making a statement to our players and our fans that our goal is to win a championship,” General Manager Brian Burke said.

“If expectations go up, that’s fine. We’ve got to get this done.”

Pronger, 31, led Edmonton to a five-game victory over the Ducks in the conference finals and then helped his team to the Cup finals, where they lost Game 7 to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Before the June 24 entry draft, Pronger told the Oilers he wanted a trade, citing “personal reasons.” The surprise request came less than a year after he signed a five-year, $31.25-million contract after a trade from the St. Louis Blues. While with St. Louis, he won the 2000 Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP as well as the Norris Trophy for top defenseman.

In joining the Ducks, he and fellow Norris winner Scott Niedermayer will be arguably the NHL’s best one-two punch on the blue line.

In a conference call with reporters, Pronger said he was glad the deal was done, given that there had been days of rampant rumors about why the native Canadian would want to leave hockey-crazy Edmonton.

There were various reports that his wife, Lauren, did not want to live in Edmonton.

“It was a tough time,” Pronger said. “Obviously, it’s not exactly the way I would have liked things to go but at end of the day, I appreciate [Oilers General Manager] Kevin Lowe, his staff and the organization for doing it in a expeditious manner.

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“With everything behind me now, I can turn my focus and attention in the right direction.”

Acquiring the intimidating 6-foot-6 defenseman didn’t come without significant cost. Lupul, 22, had been one of the Ducks’ stars in the playoffs, while prospect Ladislav Smid was the team’s top draft pick in 2004.

Lupul, an Edmonton-area native who grew up cheering for the Oilers and whose grandfather, Tom Mayson, is part of that team’s ownership group, had 28 goals in his second full season with the Ducks and added a team-leading nine in the postseason, including a club-record four in one game against the Colorado Avalanche.

Smid, a 20-year-old defenseman out of the Czech Republic, was expected to challenge for a roster spot.

But the deal reportedly wasn’t sealed until Burke added the draft picks.

The Oilers will receive a first-round pick in 2007, a second-round pick in 2008 and a conditional first-round draft pick if the Ducks reach the finals within the next three years.

Monday’s move is an emphatic answer to their Pacific Division rivals. On Saturday, Rob Blake signed with the Kings and Ed Jovanovski signed with the Phoenix Coyotes.

“This is a deal we have to do despite the high price,” Burke said.

In Pronger’s one season with the Oilers, he had 12 goals and 44 assists in the regular season and was arguably the most dominant player in the playoffs with five goals and 16 assists in 24 games while playing over 30 minutes a night.

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“As soon as we learned this was likely to happen, we jumped into it,” Burke said of the trade.

Burke drafted Pronger in 1993 while he was general manager of the Hartford Whalers.

Teemu Selanne, who has had a rivalry with Pronger, joked about wanting his own hotel room before expressing his happiness over the deal.

Selanne said one reason he signed his below-market, one-year $3.75-million contract last week was that Burke said he wanted the flexibility to make another major move.

Of Pronger, Selanne said: “It’s a big relief to play with him and not against him.”

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