The Anaheim Ducks have added depth and size up front, acquiring David Steckel from Toronto in exchange for Ryan Lasch and a seventh-round pick in 2014.
Steckel, 31, has appeared in 13 games for Toronto this season, registering one assist while averaging seven minutes of ice time per contest.
The longtime Washington Capital (with a brief stint as a New Jersey Devil) fits into Anaheim’s apparent modus operandi for this season — get big, get physical.
At 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, Steckel will join a team that brought in the likes of Bryan Allen (6-foot-5, 226 pounds), Sheldon Souray (6-foot-4, 233 pounds) Patrick Maroon (6-4, 225) and Brad Staubitz (30 fights over the last two seasons).
In January, the Ducks also signed noted enforcer Jay Rosehill to a one-year deal.
Steckel’s best NHL season came in 2008-09 — in Washington, under current Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau — when he posted a career-high 19 points and led the Capitals in faceoff winning percentage (57.9).
He also appeared in 14 playoff games for the Caps that year, scoring 3G-2A-5PTS while averaging over 16 minutes a game.
In Lasch, the Leafs get a 26-year-old forward that played in Sweden during the 2010-11 season and Finland during 2011-12.
He played briefly with Anaheim’s AHL affiliate in Norfolk this year before heading back to the Swedish Elite League, where he’s currently with the Vaxjo Lakers.
This move opens up an NHL roster spot for the Leafs, which coincides with Joffrey Lupul being medically cleared to return to action after breaking his arm.
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If they were, it would add fuel to the speculation that the team might relocate to Quebec City.
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He doesn’t have a goal in eight postseason contests.
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It’s not clear if they will be available on Thursday.
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The match starts at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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PHT Morning Skate: Where Stars look to expand their footprint
May 22, 2013, 7:13 AM EDT
AP
Wednesday’s collection of links.
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He was pretty good.
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Series tied 2-2.
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You be the judge.
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An apology was issued.
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Discuss: Sharks take Game 4, even semifinal series against Kings
May 22, 2013, 12:54 AM EDT
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Turning into a heck of a series.
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Lots happening in this one. More highlights coming, by the way.
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Been dealing with plenty of traffic in front of him all throughout playoffs.
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Video: Kings’ Brown shaken up after collision with Sharks’ Marleau
May 21, 2013, 11:14 PM EDT
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Does the league take a look at this?
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Suddenly a scorer, Bruins’ Boychuk wants to meet The Great One
May 21, 2013, 11:07 PM EDT
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Where did this scoring come from?
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The comments are now open.
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Both make their series debuts tonight.
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That’s a long way up to do that.
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This might be getting old to him by now.
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He was banged up roughly in Game 3.
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A 13-percent rise from last year.
