Babcock Quite Clear on Making Changes

Generally, the day after the trade deadline brings relief. Coach Mike Babcock had a different emotion. A season-worth of frustration seemed to pour out in a matter-of-fact tone.

Babcock lashed out with his strongest statements yet about his team’s inconsistency this season, using the passing of the trade deadline as a springboard.

“I’ve been coaching 17 years and yesterday was one of the most disappointing days that I have had in coaching,” Babcock said. “We forced our general manager to not doing anything instead of what he did last year.”

General Manager Bryan Murray acquired Rob Niedermayer and Steve Thomas at the trade deadline last season. This season, with the Ducks nine points out of a playoff spot and all but eliminated from the race, Murray made no deals.

“We’re going to make some changes, don’t kid yourself,” Babcock said. “We’re trying to build a core of good people. Being a core player means you can’t be a guy who comes and plays every third day or plays three good games and then doesn’t show up because a coach doesn’t know how to use that guy. You got to be an every-night guy to be a core guy.”

That list, this season, is a short one, according to Babcock.

“Sammy Pahlsson has played every night and Rob Niedermayer, when he has been healthy, has played every single night,” Babcock said. “You need a core of eight guys that you know are playing with urgency and demand of their teammates every single night.”

Sergei Fedorov, Petr Sykora, Vaclav Prospal and Jean-Sebastien Giguere are among those who, apparently, do not make the A-list.

Asked if anyone else was in that every-night category, Babcock sidestepped, saying, “When you look at this year, for whatever reason, we haven’t been as consistent.”

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Fedorov and Steve Rucchin missed Wednesday’s practice because they were sick, Babcock said. ... The Ducks assigned forward Michael Holmqvist to minor league Cincinnati Tuesday, which would make him eligible to play for that team in the American Hockey League playoffs. He is expected to return to the Ducks this weekend.