THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Anaheim Ducks traded defenceman Nick Boynton to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday for future considerations.

Boynton was with the AHL's Manitoba Moose when the trade was announced, and he's expected to join the Blackhawks' minor-league affiliate in Rockford. After signing with Anaheim as a free agent last July, the veteran NHL defenceman scored seven points in 42 games but failed to earn consistent playing time, getting sent down to the AHL last month for the first time in a decade.

Earlier Tuesday, the Ducks traded defenceman prospect Steven Kampfer for Boston's fourth-round pick in one of the next two drafts. Kampfer scored 17 points in 37 games with the University of Michigan this season, but Anaheim's organizational depth on defence left him expendable.

The Ducks began Tuesday in 11th place in the Western Conference playoff race, but general manager Bob Murray said he doesn't anticipate any major deals, believing the club can contend for a playoff spot with its talented veteran roster, which includes an NHL-best seven Olympic medallists.

Murray also adamantly said veteran defenceman Scott Niedermayer won't be traded. Niedermayer captained Canada to a gold medal on Sunday at the Vancouver Olympics, and has been a frequent fixture in trade rumours leading up to Wednesday's deadline.

"I never bring up that name," Murray said. "This is a broken record also. Scott Niedermayer is going nowhere. That's the last time I'll answer that question."

Anaheim also recalled right wing Dan Sexton from Bakersfield of the ECHL. The rookie free-agent signee began the season in the low minors before scoring 11 points in December for the Ducks.

Sexton has 18 points in 28 games with Anaheim, and the club couldn't wait any longer to bring him back to the major league roster. Anaheim traded Evgeny Artyukhin to Atlanta on Monday specifically to open up a roster spot for Sexton.

Coach Randy Carlyle used Sexton on a line with veteran Todd Marchant and fellow rookie Matt Beleskey during Tuesday's practice.

"It's exciting that they believed in me," said Sexton, a college star at Bowling Green last year. "I was just hoping to get picked up again."