"Scott Niedermayer has told the Ducks that he intends to play again next season, a move that immediately spurred General Manager Bob Murray to trade Chris Pronger to the Philadelphia Flyers to clear salary cap space for Niedermayer.

NHL sources said a "big" deal involving Pronger was in the works as the NHL draft began. In return for Pronger, the Ducks will get Joffrey Lupul -- who began his career with the Ducks -- two first-round draft picks, a prospect and another conditional pick.

Niedermayer must still agree to a new contract, and if he hasn't come to terms with the Ducks by July 1 he could test the free-agent market. However, it's likely he will remain in Anaheim because he said he enjoyed the team's second-half revival last season and believes the Ducks have a chance to remain among the league's elite teams. They lost a seven-game, second-round series to Detroit in May.

He has also said he wants to play for Canada in the Olympics, which will be contested in February in Vancouver. Being an active player would increase his chances of being selected."