Ducks to Interview Former Sharks’ General Manager Today

Jack Ferreira, who assembled the expansion San Jose Sharks’ first team, is scheduled to be interviewed today for the Mighty Ducks’ general manager job, an NHL source said.

Ferreira, who also met with Walt Disney Co. officials in January about the possibility of guiding their expansion team, was expected to check into a Southland hotel under a Disney reservation Thursday night, a hotel operator confirmed.

Ferreira was general manager of a Shark team that had a 17-58-5 record in its first season. He was forced out in a power struggle after last season. He has been working as a scout for the Montreal Canadiens this season.

Another of about 10 contenders for the job, Al MacNeil, director of hockey operations for the Calgary Flames, checked out of the same Southland hotel Thursday morning. Attempts to reach MacNeil and Ferreira at the hotel were unsuccessful.

Others who have been interviewed by team President Tony Tavares and Disney Chairman Michael Eisner include former Vancouver Canuck and Philadelphia Flyer Coach Bob McCammon, Quebec Nordique scouting director Pierre Gauthier, and Sherry Bassin, part-owner and general manager of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.

The Ducks also have contacted Flames’ assistant general manager Al Coates and Western Hockey League president Ed Chynoweth. It could not be confirmed whether Coates and Chynoweth have been interviewed.

In addition, Tavares held a two-hour meeting on the East Coast on Tuesday with Ed Johnston, the former Hartford Whaler and Pittsburgh Penguin general manager, Johnston confirmed. However, it would probably be necessary for Johnston to meet with Eisner for him to be considered a strong contender.

The Ducks have fallen behind their 1993 expansion companion, South Florida, in putting their hockey executives in place. The as-yet unnamed Florida team, owned by H. Wayne Huizenga, named Bobby Clarke as general manager March 1, and already has scouts at work.