Ducks Sign ’93 Draft Choices, Karpov and Tsulygin

The Mighty Ducks on Monday signed their second- and third-round draft picks from the 1993 entry draft, Valeri Karpov and Nikolai Tsulygin, to multiyear contracts.

Terms were not disclosed.

Both played in the Russian Elite League last season.

Tsulygin, 19, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound defenseman and a native of Ufa, Russia, scored two goals and had 11 assists for Salavat Yulayev Ufa. He also competed with Team Russia in the 1993 World Junior Championships and European Junior Tournament. He was the NHL’s 30th selection overall.

“Nikolai Tsulygin has been one of the best junior players in the world,” said Jack Ferriera, the Ducks’ vice president/general manager. “He has a lot of desire and plays with such strong determination. Tsulygin is a player who will help us defensively for years to come.”

Tsulygin is looking forward to the opportunity to help the Ducks.

“I have a great desire to play in the NHL,” he said. “I will go to training camp and see how it goes. I am confident in my ability to play at the NHL level of competition.”

Ferriera said Karpov is also a valuable asset to the Ducks, not only providing scoring ability, but “he is an excellent play-maker with a lot of high-level international experience.”

Karpov, 24, a 5-10, 175-pound right wing, scored three goals for the Russian Olympic team that lost the bronze-medal game at Lillehammer. He had 30 points in 32 games--including 11 goals--with Traktor Chelyabinsk during the Russian Elite League’s 1993-94 season. In 1992-93, he scored 25 points in 29 games and helped his team win the gold medal at the 1993 World Championships in Munich, Germany.

Karpov was the NHL’s 56th selection overall.

The Ducks have yet to sign Paul Kariya, their top pick from 1993.

Training camp for the Ducks opens Sept. 4.