Ducks feel tough enough

An arms race among title contenders in the Western Conference didn’t occur just in the NBA. It only seemed that way.

A similar frenzy took place in the NHL around last month’s trade deadline. Watching with interest were the Ducks, who mainly added spare parts, as they prepare for a bid to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

“Right now, I think most teams would put us up there as a tough team to beat in a seven-game series,” Ducks defenseman Sean O’Donnell said. “I think teams load up, whether it’s size or whatever they feel they need.

“They’re thinking that we need to be able to withstand a seven-game series grind, and it might have to be against the Ducks. We’re built for that.”

The Ducks spent the deadline watching the San Jose Sharks pick up All-Star defenseman Brian Campbell, and the Dallas Stars respond by grabbing center Brad Richards, a former playoff most valuable player.

The Colorado Avalanche raised eyebrows by bringing back two-time Cup champions Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote. Even the league-leading Detroit Red Wings felt the need to pluck defenseman Brad Stuart from the Kings.

How did the Ducks answer? They got an extra defenseman in Marc-Andre Bergeron.

And that’s just fine with them.

“You can’t react to what a team does,” said captain Chris Pronger, in a defiant tone echoing his general manager, Brian Burke. “You can’t think, ‘Oh, I’ve got to make a move now.’ If you’re reacting like that, you’re done.”

With 11 games left in the regular season, the Ducks are in line to be seeded No. 5.

They still have work to do to lock down a playoff spot, but a near-collapse would be the only thing that would prevent the defending champions from advancing to the postseason.

So here’s a primer of whom they might match up against once the playoffs arrive:

* San Jose. Unless the red-hot Sharks continue their winning ways and pull out a division title, these two teams appear to be on course for an all-California matchup in the first round.

Aside from Detroit, the Ducks have no greater rival at the moment. Both like to play hard and fast, and their regular-season meetings usually have a playoff-like atmosphere.

It’ll never be Dodgers-Giants, but the first playoff series between the two could give hockey in California a shot in the arm.

“It wouldn’t hurt,” O’Donnell said. “I don’t know if the whole city of San Jose loves the Sharks. But they have a great core of hockey fans there. Down here, we have the same thing.”

And then there’s this: The Ducks have won five of the teams’ six matchups this season, with the only loss coming in a shootout.

Two more meetings on March 21 and 28 could help determine who gets home ice if they do meet in the playoffs.

It might not play nationally, but a Ducks-Sharks matchup could be the best series of the opening round.

* Minnesota. The likely scenario for a rematch of last year’s first-round series would be if the Wild won the Northwest Division and got the conference’s third seeding and the Ducks slipped to No. 6. Don’t think Minnesota hasn’t learned from being punched in the mouth, literally and figuratively, by the physical Ducks over five games.

General Manager Doug Risebrough, who didn’t hide his disdain for Anaheim’s hard-nosed tactics, picked up often-suspended winger Chris Simon to add to a roster that includes enforcers Derek Boogaard and Todd Fedoruk.

* Dallas. The Ducks might secretly be hoping that the Stars win the Pacific, given that Anaheim hasn’t measured up against Dallas. The Ducks’ only win in six games against the Stars this season came Jan. 15 at home.

Now Dallas has Richards, a Conn Smythe Trophy winner in Tampa Bay’s run to a title four years ago. New co-general managers Brett Hull and Les Jackson clearly think this is their best shot to win it all in years.

If San Jose overtakes Dallas for the division title and the Ducks remain fifth in the West, the champions can look forward to a long series of being goaded into taking penalties by mouthy pest Steve Ott.

* Calgary. The number of bruises would outpace the number of goals scored.

Neither team likes the other very much, and the Flames haven’t forgotten their stunning 3-0 Game 7 loss to the Ducks two years ago. Nor has captain Jarome Iginla forgotten the Game 6 knockdown he received from defenseman Francois Beauchemin in a series-defining moment.

Anaheim has won five playoff series since. Calgary? None.

TONIGHT

at Phoenix, 7:30 PDT, FSN Prime

Site -- Jobing.com Arena.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Ducks 39-25-7, Coyotes 34-30-5.

Record vs. Coyotes -- 1-1-3.

Update -- Phoenix has surprised many by playing itself into playoff contention, but its chances have been hurt by a 14-17-3 record at home. Ilya Bryzgalov is 23-17-4 with a 2.35 goals-against average since being picked up from the Ducks off waivers on Nov. 17.

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eric.stephens@latimes.com