Kariya Faced With Mighty Ducks’ Final Contract Proposal

The Mighty Ducks’ $6-million offer to Paul Kariya is a “take-it-or-leave-it” deal, General Manager Jack Ferreira said Tuesday.

“We’re not going to change the dollars,” Ferreira said of the three-year offer the team made Friday, which sources say would pay Kariya an average of about $2 million a year, including signing bonuses.

Ferreira said he has not become pessimistic while waiting for Kariya to decide.

“It’s taken a year and a half, what’s a few more days?” said Ferreira, adding that agent Don Baizley’s questions have regarded clauses, not the essence of the offer.

Baizley said Sunday a decision is likely this week. He contends that if Kariya doesn’t sign this season he would become an unrestricted free agent because he would be too old to re-enter the draft under NHL rules. The Ducks dispute this and the NHL has declined to make a ruling on the hypothetical situation.

Ferreira and club president Tony Tavares, frustrated by the stalemate, upped their original offer by more than $1 million a year last week and told Baizley it is their best offer, attempting to force a resolution.

The Ducks made Kariya their top draft pick 14 months ago, taking him fourth overall in the 1993 NHL draft. Provided he signs, he is being touted by preseason publications as the main challenger to Quebec’s Peter Forsberg for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the rookie of the year.