GM Murray in Trade Mode

With the Mighty Ducks’ playoff hopes pretty much crushed for this season, General Manager Bryan Murray will be a seller not a buyer as the March 9 trade deadline approaches.

So just how much longer some players will be able to use the organization’s marketing slogan, “I am a Mighty Duck,� remains to be seen.

Murray has said repeatedly that he will not trade the core players. However, he also said he would listen to any proposed deal but declined to comment about any trades.

The only certain untouchables on the roster seem to be goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, center Sergei Fedorov and defenseman Keith Carney. Murray had shopped Carney around the league earlier in the season but made it clear that he was going to hang on to Carney at the recent general managers’ meetings, a hockey source familiar with the Ducks said.

Tampa Bay General Manager Jay Feaster has actively pursued reacquiring forward Vaclav Prospal, and what held up a deal last week was Murray’s insistence that it include $4 million, the amount the Ducks gave Prospal as a signing bonus, according to the source.

Prospal, who signed a five-year, $16.5-million contract as a free agent last summer, was offered to teams in December, when he was mired in a 17-game goal-less streak, the source said.

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It took him six hours and a couple of late-night plane changes, but defenseman Denis Grebeshkov finally made his NHL debut.

Grebeshkov, selected 18th overall by the Kings in the 2002 draft, had two shots and logged 17:54 of ice time in the Kings’ 2-1 victory Saturday over the Ducks.

He was called up from minor league affiliate Manchester (N.H.) after defenseman Jason Holland was put on the injured reserve list because of a thigh bruise suffered Wednesday against the Dallas Stars.

“I don’t know if he has a pulse or not,� King Coach Andy Murray said of Grebeshkov. “He got in at about quarter to 12 [on Friday]. Just stepped in the lineup today. Very smooth and cool with the puck.�

Grebeshkov had one goal and four assists in 25 games for Manchester.

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TODAY

Kings at Ducks, 1 p.m., ESPN

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- XPRS (1090).

Records -- Ducks 22-26-9-8; Kings 25-17-15-7.

Series record -- Kings lead, 2-0-1-1.

Update -- Duck forward Mike Leclerc probably won’t play because of a hip injury, which he aggravated Saturday. The Kings have given up two goals in their last three games, all started by backup goalie Cristobal Huet.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.