Anaheim Acquires Green in Trade With Islanders

The Mighty Ducks failed to pry Trevor Linden from the Vancouver Canucks, but said Friday they got the center they coveted by acquiring Travis Green from the New York Islanders.

But the Ducks also lost experience, toughness and a bit of history when they traded defenseman J.J. Daigneault, center Mark Janssens and left wing Joe Sacco to the Islanders for Green, defenseman Doug Houda and minor-league right wing Tony Tuzzolino.

Earlier in the day, Vancouver traded Linden to the Islanders for defenseman Bryan McCabe and right wing Todd Bertuzzi.

Green (14 goals and 26 points in 54 games) and Houda (three points in 31 games) are expected to join the Ducks in time for today’s game against the Kings. Tuzzolino will be assigned to Cincinnati of the American Hockey League.

“We were interested in getting some more quality on the ice,” General Manager Jack Ferreira said. “We wanted a quality second-line center and we got that. Travis could be a 60- to 80-point guy. If he played with Paul [Kariya] and Teemu [Selanne] it could be a lot more.”

The early plan is for Steve Rucchin to remain with Kariya and Selanne on the first line with Green playing on the second line--perhaps with Scott Young and Tomas Sandstrom.

In Daigneault, the Ducks parted with an aging defenseman who was not as effective as he was last season, one of their few enforcers and an original member of the team.

- Janssens probably was the Ducks’ most consistent winner of important faceoffs. He certainly was their best fighter, which leaves an enormous void on a team that offered little in retaliation after Kariya suffered a concussion when he was cross-checked in the jaw Sunday by Chicago Blackhawk defenseman Gary Suter.

Sacco’s departure leaves goaltender Guy Hebert as the lone remaining member of the Ducks’ opening-night roster in 1993.

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Kariya continues to suffer from dizziness as a result of Sunday’s concussion and will not play today. His fitness for Canada’s opening game in the Olympics next Friday also remains in doubt.

Kariya did not practice Friday.

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In going 8-1-1 over their last 10 games, the Kings are the hottest team in the NHL. The 17 points they’ve earned is the most by the Kings over a 10-game span since they went 8-1-1 from Feb. 14 to March 5, 1991.

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The Kings are negotiating to buy about six acres on a vacant lot in El Segundo to build a training center for the team and the Lakers. The facility would include two ice rinks and a full-size NBA court (likely for eventual use by the Lakers) with separate locker rooms.

TODAY Kings at Ducks

* Noon * Channel 11

Site--Arrowhead Pond.

Radio--XTRA (690), KRLA (1110), KCKC (1350), KPLS (830).

Records--Ducks 19-27-9, Kings 25-20-9.

Series--Kings lead, 1-0-1.

Update--This is the last game for each team before the Olympics. The Ducks have a two-game winning streak and are 4-2-1 since the all-star break. Teemu Selanne has either scored or assisted on seven consecutive goals for the Ducks. Guy Hebert has faced 40 or more shots in five consecutive games in goal for the Ducks. The Kings haven’t given up a third-period goal in the last four games. Stephane Fiset is expected to start in goal for the Kings. He has given up only two goals in his last 202:09 minutes.