Ducks acquire Montreal’s Kyle Chipchura for a draft pick, tinker with roster

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[Updated at 11:07 a.m.] The Ducks, shuffling their roster with a series of small moves, have acquired center Kyle Chipchura from the Montreal Canadiens for a fourth-round pick in the 2011 entry draft.

In other transactions, the team reassigned defenseman Brendan Mikkelson to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and recalled defenseman Brett Festerling from the team. The Ducks also announced that center Erik Christensen was claimed off waivers by the New York Rangers.

Chipchura was a first-round draft pick in 2004, selected 18th overall by Montreal. But he struggled with the Canadiens this season, going scoreless in 19 games with a plus-minus rating of minus-10. The 6-foot-2, 206-pound center was benched in Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs after being on the ice for two goals. The Ducks’ announcement noted he has 16 penalty minutes and ranked second on the Canadiens in faceoff percentage at 53.8%.

‘Kyle Chipchura is a heart-and-soul player,’ Ducks General Manager Bob Murray said in a statement. ‘A team leader in both his professional and amateur career, Chipchura will be a valuable addition to the Anaheim Ducks.’

When Chipchura will join the Ducks as they depart on a two-game trip remains uncertain because of immigration issues, a team spokesman said.

-- Robyn Norwood

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