Agreement Keeps Dollas, Ducks Out of Arbitration

The Mighty Ducks took another step toward completing contract negotiations for the coming season Wednesday by reaching an agreement with defenseman Bobby Dollas on a new multiyear contract, avoiding a scheduled arbitration date.

The team has less than a week to make a deal with goaltender Guy Hebert if it is to avoid an arbitration hearing in which Hebert probably will seek more than $1 million a year.

The average scheduled compensation for goaltenders last season was slightly more than $700,000. Hebert’s $575,000 salary ranked 30th even though his 3.13 goals-against average last season ranked 20th among starting goalies. Backup goalie Mikhail Shtalenkov also is scheduled for arbitration next week.

The team declined to announce terms of Dollas’ contract, but he earned a substantial raise over his previous salary of $275,000 by being one of the Ducks’ most consistent players. Dollas, 30, has scored 20 points in each of the last two seasons and led the team with a plus-minus rating of plus-17 over that time.

“We’re reached an agreement and we’re happy not to be going to arbitration,” said Dollas’ agent, Fred Simpson.

In another contract move, the Ducks guaranteed themselves the right to match any offer to right wing Todd Ewen by offering him a 10% raise over his recent $435,000 arbitration award. Had the team not made that minimum offer, Ewen would have become an unrestricted free agent, available to the highest bidder.

*

At least 59 Duck games will be televised next season, up from 45 in the team’s first season. Prime Sports will broadcast 35 games, including 17 home games, and KCAL Channel 9 is scheduled to televise 20 games, 14 of them from Anaheim.

ESPN plans to televise four games, three of which would overlap with other broadcasts, and Fox Channel 11 is scheduled to broadcast three games.