In a move that helps clear the way for the return of defenceman Scott Niedermayer, the Anaheim Ducks traded forward Andy MacDonald to the St. Louis Blues for centre Doug Weight on Friday.

The trade frees up salary cap space to bring back Niedermayer, who was contemplating retirement after the Ducks won the Stanley Cup last season before deciding to return earlier this week.

Doug Weight is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
(Tom Gannam/Associated Press)

The Ducks also receive prospect Michal Birner and a seventh-round pick in the 2008 entry draft.

Anaheim would have been over the cap next season had it not significantly reduced salaries.

Weight, who has four goals and seven assists in 29 games with the Blues this season, is earning $3.5 million US this season, but will become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Weight said he was getting "more excited by the minute" at the prospect
of playing for the defending Stanley Cup champions.

"It's good to be a Duck," he said during a conference call from his home. "It's been a strange turn of events over the past couple of days."

Burke thinks Weight will be a better fit for Anaheim, saying he has great respect for his desire to play for the Americans at the World Championships.

"I know he can pass and he can compete," the GM said.

McDonald is in the second year of a $10-million, three-year deal, but has struggled to this point of the season, with just four goals, 12 assists and a minus-four rating in 33 games.

Niedermayer, a four-time Stanley Cup champion, is expected to return in an Anaheim uniform either Friday night against Minnesota or Sunday against San Jose.

The Ducks will also use some of their cap space to negotiate a long-term deal with forward Corey Perry, who can become a restricted free agent during the upcoming off-season. Perry, 22, leads the team with 17 goals.  

With files from the Associated Press