By Eric Stephens, Times Staff Writer

Trade of All-Star and a draft pick for Wright and Beauchemin shows realities of salary cap.

In a blockbuster move that illustrated the economic realities of the new salary-cap-driven NHL, the Mighty Ducks on Tuesday traded six-time All-Star Sergei Fedorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets for journeyman forward Tyler Wright and rookie defenseman Francois Beauchemin.

The Ducks also included in the deal a fifth-round pick in 2006, but the clear objective was to shed Fedorov's $6.08-million annual salary and free up significant space under the $39-million cap.

General Manager Brian Burke didn't hide this fact during a conference call. The team had little flexibility, and Wright's salary of $947,333 and Beauchemin's salary of $500,000 will drop the Ducks' cap figure to about $34 million.

"I can't sell this as a stand-alone hockey deal, and I won't," Burke said.

In acquiring Wright and Beauchemin, Burke said both would have roles with the team.

"Tyler Wright is a scrappy player, an excellent penalty killer who chips in with goals," he said. Beauchemin is "a stay-at-home defenseman. He's physical when we need him to be."

Neither, however, is in the same stratosphere as Fedorov.

After spending 13 seasons in Detroit, where he was on three Stanley Cup-winning teams, Fedorov signed a five-year, $40-million contract to become the Ducks' franchise player and ease some of the sting of losing longtime captain Paul Kariya.

Less than 1 1/2 seasons later, the onetime NHL most valuable player leaves without meeting expectations. Fedorov led the Ducks in scoring in 2003-04 with 31 goals and 65 points but the team was 12th in the Western Conference.

His high point with the Ducks — maybe the only one — came on Feb. 14, 2004, at Vancouver, where he had two assists to become the first Russian-born player to score 1,000 points in the NHL. But his tenure ends with only one point in five games this season after a lengthy absence because of a groin injury.

Burke wouldn't criticize Fedorov, who boarded an airplane Tuesday and is expected to be in the Columbus lineup tonight for its home game against St. Louis.

"This is a guy who has done great things in this game," Burke said. "He worked hard here, he had a great preseason and then he got injured."

Fedorov's name had surfaced in trade rumors days ago, and he addressed them after the Ducks' practice Tuesday before the deal was announced. "Of course it bothers me, I'm a human being," he said. "But the question is do I pay attention to it much? No."

Pat Brisson, Fedorov's agent, said the trade came as a shock even though he was aware of the rumors. The 35-year-old forward picked up the final three years of his deal even though he could have opted out and become a free agent after this season.

Despite the Blue Jackets' being one of the NHL's worst teams at 5-13-0-0, Brisson said his client was looking forward to playing in Columbus largely because of his relationship with General Manager Doug MacLean and coach Gerard Gallant. MacLean was an assistant general manager in Detroit, and Gallant is a former teammate.

"About 10 days ago, Brian [Burke] told Sergei everything was fine, but you know things happen," Brisson said.

The move may also be a precursor to another deal by the aggressive Burke, in his first year with the Ducks. Since the lockout ended in July, he has signed Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne and traded forwards Steve Rucchin and Mike Leclerc.

With Rucchin and Fedorov gone, the Ducks have put a greater burden at center, where they are left with Rob Niedermayer, Andy McDonald, Samuel Pahlsson and rookie Ryan Getzlaf. But Burke now has about $5 million more to bring in help.

"We intend to reinvest that money differently," said Burke, who insisted that the trade wasn't made to shake up the Ducks, whose 7-7-2-2 record has them tied for last in the Pacific Division with 18 points.

"I don't think you shake teams up by moving a star-caliber player," Burke said. "We're not panicking about where we are in the standings." 

Meanwhile, Columbus gets what it desperately needed — a front-line center to go along with star wing Rick Nash. The team is last in the league with 34 goals, a major part of why it sits fourth in the Central Division. "I think maybe he's ready for this challenge at this point of his career," MacLean said, "and for this franchise."

Times staff writer Helene Elliott contributed to this report.

FEDOROV

•  Scored 31 goals and had 34 assists in his first season for the Ducks in 2003-04; has 431 goals and 589 assists in 15 seasons.

•  Won three Stanley Cup titles (1997, 1998 and 2002) and made the All-Star team six times during his 13 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.

•  Won the Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP) in 1994 when he scored 56 goals and had 64 assists in 82 games.

WRIGHT

•  Played with Edmonton (beginning 1992), Pittsburgh (beginning 1996) and Columbus (2000).

•  Scored a career-high 19 goals with 11 assists in 2003.

•  Scored three goals in 11 games in the 2000 playoffs.

BEAUCHEMIN

•  Beauchemin, in his first season, has two assists in 11 games.