Bergeron has work to do to break into lineup

Marc-Andre Bergeron thought his days as a member of the New York Islanders were numbered when he fell out of favor with Coach Ted Nolan.

But when the NHL trade deadline passed at 3 p.m on Tuesday, Bergeron thought he wasn’t going anywhere.

“My wife pretty much said, ‘All right, I guess no luggage this year,’ ” he said. “And then the phone rang.”

To his surprise, the 27-year-old defenseman learned he was going to Anaheim to join a team that was already loaded on the blue line.

“Obviously being a defenseman and you look at the lineup here, you don’t think they need a defenseman,” Bergeron said. “At the same time, I’m just fortunate they decided to bring me in.”

Bergeron had nine points and nine assists in 46 games with the Islanders. The Ducks are familiar with him from when he played alongside Chris Pronger for the Edmonton Oilers in the 2006 Western Conference finals.

In this situation, the Ducks are hoping that he’ll push for playing time and be another offensive weapon from the point. “On a lineup like this, there’s no doubt that you’ve got to be good to be in the lineup,” Bergeron said. “There’s no secrets here. At the same time, I’ve had to compete in the past and answered the bell.”

Bergeron may get a shot to impress his new team Friday against Calgary as Pronger is questionable after surgery to repair a small fracture in his jaw. He was hit by the follow-through of a shot by Chicago winger Patrick Sharp on Sunday.

Injured centers Doug Weight and Todd Marchant returned to the ice but didn’t take part in any contact drills. Weight said his left shoulder is feeling better and he could be ready for Monday’s game against Ottawa. Marchant said Wednesday was a “positive sign” that his shoulder strain is improving.

“You just want to wait until there’s no chance that you can fall down and rip anything,” said Weight, out since Feb. 8.

Outside of their acquisition of Bergeron, the Ducks plan to defend their Stanley Cup title with the lineup that’s already lifted them to fourth place in the Western Conference.

“They chose to stay with this group and rightfully so,” Coach Randy Carlyle said. “These players have earned the right to continue to be together because of their work ethic and their commitment.”

Francois Beauchemin was given the day off for “maintenance” to heal a “series of ailments over the last little while,” Carlyle said. Corey Perry did not practice because of flu-like symptoms.

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eric.stephens@latimes.com