Team Still Could Deal for Oilers’ Comrie

ATLANTA — Although the Ducks were reluctant to trade winger Joffrey Lupul to Edmonton for the rights to unsigned forward Mike Comrie, it’s possible they’ll reformulate a deal.

Reports in Canada say the Oilers might instead take Corey Perry, who’s leading the Ontario Hockey League in scoring for the London Knights. But Duck General Manager Bryan Murray said that although he has kept in touch with his Edmonton counterpart, Kevin Lowe, he hadn’t spoken to Lowe since late last week.

“This is the cruelest part, for the kids to have their names mentioned in these rumors,” Murray said. “I don’t know where [Perry’s name] came from. We haven’t mentioned names. They have talked about a variety of situations, and that’s all.”

Murray, who accompanied the Ducks on this 0-3-1 trip, planned to watch their Cincinnati affiliate in Salt Lake City today and Sunday. “We’re going to look at some of those kids there in the fashion that some of them may be ready,” he said.

“If our players are not good enough now or they’re not playing hard enough that means we’ve got to do something to make us better.”

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Winger Rob Niedermayer, out for a third straight game because of a groin pull, said he felt some improvement and said he is targeting Wednesday against San Jose at the Arrowhead Pond for his return. “It’s just day to day,” he said.