Salei Represents Next Chapter in Defense

Ruslan Salei is already getting a lot of attention, on and off the ice. Whether that’s a good sign remains to be seen.

The Mighty Ducks, a team founded on defense, are talking up a defenseman who has never played in the NHL and admits to being a bit timid so far. This could be trouble.

On the other hand, Coach Ron Wilson prefers to see the big picture.

“Our philosophy hasn’t changed,” Wilson said. “The only way to be competitive and win games is to have a good defense.

“We have more mobility. We will be able to get the puck out of our zone a lot quicker. You can increase the pressure you apply on the other team. You’re in people’s faces when you skate better.”

So the Ducks now intend to skate circles around opponents. Mobility is now the catch-phrase and Salei is the poster boy.

Salei, a 22-year-old from Minsk, Belarus, was the Ducks’ first-round pick in the June draft and was signed to a three-year, $2.25-million contract. He has played only one year of professional hockey, with the Las Vegas in the International Hockey League last season. He is being touted as a quick, tough defenseman who can score. But Salei admits that, so far, he has tiptoed somewhat through the preseason.

“Until now, I haven’t felt comfortable,” Salei said. “The NHL is a much higher level. I’ve been playing it safe until I learn. It’s going to take time to adjust.”

Wilson said he will not rush Salei, but he might not have a choice.

The defense has been turned over more times than Wilson and Co. wished. Bobby Dollas is the only defenseman remaining from the first season and there are few recognizable names.

They were forced to reorganize on the fly last season because of illness, injury and the trade.

Milos Holan was lost before last season began when he was diagnosed with leukemia and underwent a bone marrow transplant. Don McSween suffered a severe skate blade cut, which took months of rehabilitation, and the Ducks eventually bought out his contract. Oleg Tverdosky, the Ducks’ No. 1 pick in 1994, was part of the package that went to Winnipeg in exchange for Teemu Selanne. It was a deal that brought playoff expectations with it.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had to rebuild a couple times,” Duck General Manager Jack Ferreira said. “Losing Milos and McSween caused us to take a step back. And Oleg, well, you got to give up something to get something.”

But did the Ducks give up too much? Not according to Wilson, not as long as they have . . .

“I think Salei is going to be a better overall defenseman,” Wilson said. “Oleg was one-dimensional in the sense that he was going to be offensive minded. I think Ruslan is going to be the kind of defenseman you want back there. It’s still too early to tell.”

To help pass that time, the Ducks are in the market for a quality defenseman.

“Yeah, but those guys don’t grow on trees,” defenseman Fredrik Olausson said. “It’s not like you snap your fingers and get one.”

So the Ducks will rely on the team defense concept that has been in place since Day 1.

Olausson, a 10-year veteran, is the most team’s most prominent defenseman. The Ducks’ power play improved when he was picked up on waivers from Edmonton last January. The Ducks were last in the league when Olausson arrived, then jumped considerably.

Then there’s Dollas, who has survived this long with his hard play.

“We used to be an older defense,” Dollas said. “All that’s changing. If you can’t do this job, they will find someone who can. We have a lot more speed now, but we don’t have as much experience.”

The drop off in experience is more like a free fall.

Jason Marshall and Darren Van Impe picked up valuable playing time at the end of last season.

“Salei has done an impressive job for us,” Olausson said. “He has been stable, rock solid. I think he’s a lot stronger than most of us believed.”

The downside, though, is evident to Dollas.

“Oh, he’ll be solid,” Dollas said. “He finishes his checks and plays hard. But you don’t want to put too much on him too soon. Earlier on, you don’t want him out there in crunch time, where one mistake can hurt his confidence.”