With Carney Out, Simpson Helps Fill Void

Todd Simpson walked into practice Monday, his first day as a Mighty Duck, and began cramming for a season in Anaheim.

The Ducks thought they needed another burly defenseman after Keith Carney sustained a broken foot Thursday. Carney, the Ducks’ top defenseman, is expected to be out three to four weeks.

Simpson, whose $1.5-million contract made him expendable in Phoenix, plugs the Carney void off the ice and on it.

“When [Steve] Thomas didn’t return this year, one thing you give up in him was the kind of guy he was in the dressing room,� Coach Mike Babcock said. “[Todd] is that kind of guy. That was important for us. But his bite and tenacity, his ability to play against our big guys last year, was very noticeable to me.�

Simpson, 30, has used his 6-foot-3, 215-pound body to develop a reputation as a no-nonsense defenseman, playing the last seven seasons with Calgary, Florida and Phoenix.

“If you’re looking for me to be a 20- to 30-goal scorer, you’re going to be waiting a long time,� Simpson said, smiling. “I’m not like some players who go out there and everything comes naturally. There are guys who go out there and make their team a whole lot better. I go out there and try to make the other team a whole lot worse.�

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Jason Krog, who began last season with minor league Cincinnati, will get a shot at playing on the Ducks’ first line with Sergei Fedorov and Rob Niedermayer. Krog has spent the last two days of practice skating with those two.

“Sergei creates so many scoring creates that you have to always be ready,� said Krog, who scored 10 goals last season and three more during the playoffs. “He makes a lot of plays that other guys can’t.�