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MIGHTY DUCKS NOTES : Wilson’s Contract Expected to Be Extended

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The Mighty Ducks plan to reward Coach Ron Wilson after the team’s first two seasons by extending his contract, General Manager Jack Ferreira said Monday.

Wilson still has one year remaining on a three-year contract after guiding the team to a 49-73-10 record in the franchise’s first two seasons--including an NHL-record 33 victories by a first-year team in 1993-94.

“We want to extend him out,” Ferreira said, adding that an announcement isn’t likely until later this summer after the contract is renegotiated.

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Ferreira’s contract is also expected to be extended.

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Center Stephan Lebeau, who recently signed with Lugano in the Swiss League, might not have been re-signed anyway because the Ducks were concerned about his high salary, which would have been $650,000 last season if not for the lockout.

“It was too much money to pay for him to fit in where he was going to fit in on our team,” Ferreira said. “I wasn’t sure whether or not we would make a qualifying offer.”

Lebeau was the Ducks’ third-leading scorer last season, with eight goals and 16 assists.

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The Ducks will not re-sign defenseman David Williams, who played out the option year of his contract this season, Ferreira said.

Williams, 27, a member of the original Ducks, appeared in 21 games this season and had two goals and two assists. He was sent to minor league San Diego late in the season, and Ferreira said he will not be offered a new deal because of the team’s depth at defense after recent trades.

Ferreira said he will make new offers to Todd Ewen, Joe Sacco and Garry Valk, whose contracts also have expired. In addition, Ewen and Valk are awaiting arbitration hearings to determine last season’s salaries.

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