Ducks give up on D Sbisa for season

Oct 27, 2009 - 1:36 AM ANAHEIM, Calif.(AP) -- The Anaheim Ducks have reassigned 19-year-old defenseman Luca Sbisa to his junior team, preventing him from returning to the NHL this season.

The Ducks acquired Sbisa from Philadelphia during the summer in the trade that sent Chris Pronger to the Flyers. Anaheim hoped the Italian-born Sbisa could play a regular role, but he managed no points and a minus-1 rating in eight games.

Sbisa was sent to Lethbridge of the Western League on Monday. Since Sbisa is under 20, he can't be recalled to the Ducks after getting sent down.

Anaheim also recalled goalie Justin Pogge from Bakersfield before Monday's game against Toronto to fill in for Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who plans to rest his injured groin muscle for at least two days.