MIGHTY DUCKS NOTEBOOK / ROBYN NORWOOD : Ladouceur Gets Some Security With Two-Year Contract

With 12 NHL seasons behind him, defenseman Randy Ladouceur knows he’s not going to get “a long-term, multiyear deal, as they say in the newspaper.”

But the Mighty Ducks have shown their captain they expect him to be playing for them a while longer, re-signing him to a two-year contract that will pay him about $600,000 this season.

That’s more than rookies Paul Kariya and Oleg Tverdovsky will make in base salary this season, although there’s a very big catch: Both received seven-figure signing bonuses.

The good news for Ladouceur, 34, is the way his contract is structured. His previous contract, negotiated when he was with Hartford, required him to play a minimum number of games to maximize his salary. That protected the club from poor play or nagging injuries.

But after he appeared in a career-high 81 games last season--including the 800th of his career--the Ducks decided to guarantee the full amount.

(General Manager Jack Ferreira) has given me a good deal. I’m very happy,” Ladouceur said. “At this point in my career, it would be disappointing if all of a sudden I went down with an injury and it ended up costing me.”

A year and a half ago, Whaler management was already steering him toward a coaching career. Not so fast, Ladouceur says.

“My original plan was to play as long as I could,” he said. “‘I’ve stayed fairly healthy and I’ve felt good the last couple of years.

“I’m taking it year by year. I’m having a great time and I’d love to stay in the game in some capacity after I’m through playing, whether it’s in this organization or another.”

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Rookies Kariya and Valeri Karpov will make their home exhibition debuts tonight in a 6 p.m. game against Vancouver at The Pond. The Ducks are 0-2-1.

Among those not scheduled to play are rookie defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky, who has been slowed by a groin injury, and veteran forwards Garry Valk, Stephan Lebeau, Terry Yake and Todd Ewen.

Pavel Bure will not be in uniform for the Canucks (3-1).

Notes

The team also announced the signings of forwards Shaun Van Allen and Denny Lambert, as well as minor league forward Dean Ewen and goalie John Tanner. Playing out their options are minor league goalie Allan Bester, defenseman Mark Ferner and forward Brian Sullivan.