Ducks’ newest player eager for new beginning

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Center Kyle Chipchura, acquired today by the Ducks from Montreal for a fourth-round draft pick in 2011, said he had a feeling he might be traded after getting off to a slow start that included no goals in 19 games and a team-low minus-10 defensive rating.

‘It wasn’t a total surprise,’ he told reporters during a conference call. ‘I felt like a change was coming but when it happens it’s still a shock.’

That said, he added, ‘I’m very excited and I’m looking forward to the challenge.... Hopefully a fresh opportunity, fresh start will help put me on the right track.’

Chipchura, 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, was never a big scorer in junior hockey but was chosen 18th overall by the Canadiens in the 2004 draft. He was considered more of a character player and was appointed captain of the Canadian junior team for the 2005-06 world junior championships. He led that team to a gold medal, which might have created expectations he could never fulfill.

‘Montreal is definitely one of the tougher places to play, but also one of the more special places to play,’ he said.

Chipchura won’t be able to join the Ducks for a few days because of immigration regulations. He said he had been told his wait could be as short as a day and a half or as long as five days. The Ducks are at Dallas Thursday and Minnesota on Friday, and return home to face Ottawa on Sunday.

Once he joins them, he’s looking forward to a reunion with Saku Koivu, his teammate in Montreal until Koivu signed with the Ducks as a free agent last summer. ‘He’s the greatest captain I ever played with,’ Chipchura said.

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-- Helene Elliott