Page "Anaheim Ducks" Paragraph 17

After an extremely slow start to the 2008 – 09 NHL season, on November 12, 2008, Burke resigned to take the same position for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Bob Murray replaced him as general manager, but the team struggled to make the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

A bevy of trade deadline deals saw the departure of some mainstays from the Cup team such as Kunitz, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Ryan Whitney ; Pahlsson, who was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for defenseman James Wisniewski ; and Moen, who was traded to the San Jose Sharks for two prospects.

The trades gave the Ducks new life as a hot streak to end the season launched the Ducks into the playoffs.

Hiller emerged as the new number one goalie during the stretch drive.

The Ducks defeated the number one seed and President's Trophy winning Sharks in six games in the first round before being eliminated in the conference semifinals by the eventual Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings in seven games.

Before the 2009 – 10 NHL season the Ducks traded Pronger to the Philadelphia Flyers for Lupul, Luca Sbisa and two first round draft picks.

Beauchemin and Rob Niedermayer also left via free agency for Toronto and New Jersey respectively.

The Ducks signed free agent center and former Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu to a one year deal.