Kilger Gives Ducks Something to Consider : Hockey: Rookie’s composure and talent is readily apparent in 7-3 exhibition loss to Dallas Stars.

This time a year ago, Paul Kariya was taking his first exploratory steps into the NHL.

Now Chad Kilger is following in Kariya’s footsteps--with less fanfare and much larger skates.

Kilger, the Mighty Ducks’ 6-foot-4, 215-pound rookie center, had a goal and an assist and played with striking composure in his first exhibition game Sunday, a 7-3 loss to the Dallas Stars at Reunion Arena.

The Ducks aren’t saying he’s already made their team, but it’s getting harder and harder to imagine him wearing the uniform of the Kingston Frontenacs, his junior team in the Ontario Hockey League.

“Who the heck knows? It’s one exhibition. You don’t want to jump on the bandwagon,” said Coach Ron Wilson, who nevertheless said Kilger “is going to be a great player.”

Kilger needs to work on his defensive play, but that’s to be expected. His size and skating ability--with a stride that gobbles up ice--put him in good stead. “And he has a head for the game,” Wilson said. “He made some nice little plays sometimes 18-year-olds don’t think about.

“He didn’t get too excited. He did his job, and he hit some people. He has to learn not to try to stickhandle through so many guys at this level. . . . But you’ve got to like what you saw out of him.”

The exhibition was marred by an injury to Bobby Dollas, the Ducks’ best defenseman. Dollas sprained his left shoulder when the Stars’ Mike Modano dealt him a crushing check against the boards early in the game.

Dollas is expected to miss about a week, though he hopes to return sooner.

Modano seemed intent on showing he’s in top form after last season’s ankle surgery, scoring two goals--one on a breakaway--and assisting on another.

Kilger’s goal came off a move near the left post during a power play, but the better play was the assist, when he took a nifty pass from Kariya near the left post on the power play and quickly sent it across the crease to a wide-open Todd Krygier.

“It was a good first experience, my linemates and everybody helped me out a lot,” Kilger said. “I’ve still got to go out and work hard every day and prove to the coaching staff and the general manager I’m capable of playing at this level.”

Kilger said he was a bit nervous, but Kariya didn’t see it.

“I roomed with him and he watched a movie last night and went straight to sleep,” Kariya said.

“I thought he played really well. His biggest asset is his speed. For a guy that big, he is able to fly. Todd and I are pretty good skaters, and he keeps up with us.”

Duck Notes

The NHL crackdown on restraining fouls contributed to 26 penalties, nine on obstruction calls. The Stars had 13 power plays, the Ducks nine, and there was lots of four-on-four. “It’s going to take time to sort out the changes and break some habits,” Coach Ron Wilson said, noting that young defenseman Nikolai Tsulygin struggled the most. “It didn’t look like Nik had any idea what we had showed him on the video. He was the biggest culprit on the team.” . . . The play Bobby Dollas was injured on may have exposed a problem with the new rule enforcement. “Yeah, it’s the Get-the-Defenseman rule,” Dollas joked. “I think they’ll have to modify it a little bit, or it’s not fair.” Dollas was going back to get the puck in his defensive zone when Mike Modano came in unhampered on the forecheck and nailed him against the boards. Usually, a defenseman counts on his partner to hold up the first forechecker, or take him out of the play with a pick. “It wasn’t a bad check, but in the old NHL the guy forechecking probably wouldn’t have gotten to our ‘D,’ Wilson said. “I hope it’s not open season on defensemen.” . . . On the other hand, a tightly called game is good news for speedy, skilled players such as Paul Kariya. “I thought the game--when we were playing--had great flow,” Kariya said. “These rules put an emphasis on skating. With these rules, if you can’t skate very well, you’re doomed.” . . . Defenseman Oleg Mikulchik, signed as a free agent after playing about half the season with Winnipeg last season, is pushing some of the established defensemen. . . . Right wing Steven King--recovering from reconstructive surgery on both shoulders--played but probably is headed for the minors. “It’s going to take Steven a while to catch up to game speed,” Wilson said.