Ducks Start Search for a Head Coach : Hockey: Team gets permission to interview San Diego’s Rick Dudley, the first of many likely to go through the process.

The Mighty Ducks, who are beginning the search for their first coach, have received permission to talk to San Diego Gull Coach Rick Dudley after the Gulls’ season.

“He’ll be a consideration,” Duck General Manager Jack Ferreira said.

Don Waddell, general manager of the International Hockey League Gulls, said Ferreira sought permission to approach Dudley during conversations about San Diego becoming the Ducks’ minor-league affiliate.

Dudley, 43, was coach of the Buffalo Sabres from 1989 to 1991. He had a record of 85-72-31 over a little more than two seasons before being fired 28 games into the 1991-92 season.

In San Diego this season, he guided the Gulls to a 62-12-8 regular-season record, surpassing the Montreal Canadiens’ professional hockey record of 60 victories in a season, set in 1976-77. The Gulls have advanced to the Turner Cup finals, and open a seven-game series against the Ft. Wayne Komets on Friday in San Diego.

Dudley, a former NHL player who has coached teams to league finals in four minor leagues and was a contender for NHL coach of the year in 1990, has a reputation as an intense coach.

Ferreira said he has a list of perhaps a dozen candidates with four or five in particular in mind, and he hopes to begin interviews by next week. He said Wednesday he has not received permission to talk to any other candidates, in part because some work for teams still involved in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

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The Ducks are working to negotiate an affiliation with the Gulls, who have been successful as an independent.

Waddell said the team is considering a partial affiliation under which the Gulls would consist of a combination of players provided by the Ducks and others signed by the Gulls. The Gulls have thrived by signing veteran players and paying good salaries.

“We need to keep our identity and our fans,” Waddell said. “We need to have control over our own team. We can’t give that up.”

Ferreira said the negotiations “are getting there.”

“They’ve been an independent for so long, now for them to want to talk to us and go the route of developing an affiliation is different for them,” Ferreira said. “It’s not finalized. I’m glad they’re willing to talk. It makes sense in a lot of ways. We’re close; we’re still talking.”