Despite Cloudy Future, Karpov’s Smile Shines

From a distance, Valeri Karpov looks the same. He skates just as swiftly, handles the puck just as easily, makes all the familiar moves on the ice.

But up close, it’s clear things have changed since he last played for the Mighty Ducks.

The jersey isn’t the same. Instead of the purple and green colors of the Ducks, Karpov wears a lime-green practice jersey of the Long Beach Ice Dogs.

Instead of the posh surroundings of the Pond of Anaheim, Karpov practices with his new International Hockey League teammates at dimly lit Long Beach Arena.

Karpov’s physical appearance has changed too. His smile is still as bright as ever and his eyes twinkle when he tells a funny story.

But now there is a long purplish scar running from the corner of his right upper lip to his left cheek, a reminder of the 75 stitches needed to close a gash suffered when he fell into the skate blade of another player in late December. It was just the latest in a string of injuries that has slowed Karpov’s progress, hindered his scoring production and led to his demotion to the minor leagues on Dec. 17.

He first played for the Ducks’ American Hockey League affiliate at Baltimore, but on Jan. 13 was assigned to Long Beach--a clear signal that he no longer fits into the Ducks’ plans.

Karpov is in the final season of a three-year contract, which further clouds his future.

And yet he is happy.

“Definitely, very happy,” he said after a recent practice.

Karpov is pleased to be closer to his home in Irvine and downright thrilled to be playing well and for a winning team.

Unlike his tenure with the Ducks, Karpov has been a consistent producer for the Southwest Division-leading Ice Dogs. He has recorded a point in eight of his nine games with Long Beach, scoring five goals with eight assists.

“My goal is to play here and do my best,” Karpov said. “If you have good stats and if you do well, you will go back to the NHL.”

The question is: Will Karpov ever see the inside of the Pond as a member of the Ducks again?

Karpov, a right wing, would love to rejoin the Ducks soon and help them grab their first playoff berth, but it seems unlikely.

Even with a rash of injuries to forwards Kevin Todd, Ted Drury and Roman Oksiuta, Karpov has stayed in the minors. Instead, the Ducks recalled youngsters Peter LeBoutillier, Sean Pronger and Craig Reichert from Baltimore to bolster the lineup in recent weeks.

Karpov’s skill and speed would seem to be just the right combination to help take the pressure off the Ducks’ top line of Paul Kariya, Steve Rucchin and Teemu Selanne.

With the exception of another veteran defenseman, what the Ducks appear to need most for the season’s stretch run is another goal-scorer. Recent opponents have concentrated their defensive efforts solely on slowing Kariya and Selanne and taking their chances with the rest of the Ducks.

Based on his performance for the Ice Dogs, Karpov would appear to have what the Ducks lack. But his NHL track record has been spotty at best. In nine games this season, he had one goal and no assists.

Duck management has always had high expectations for Karpov, but he hasn’t delivered. He showed flashes of his potential occasionally, but more often looked tentative. Plus, he wasn’t capable of playing the hard-nosed defense Coach Ron Wilson demands from his forwards.

Karpov said injuries and the lockout during his rookie season are the main reasons why he hasn’t lived up to his billing as a prolific goal-scorer.

In 30 games during the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season, Karpov scored only four goals with seven assists.

He had nine goals and eight assists in 37 games last season, but missed 29 games with a broken right wrist.

Earlier this season, he earned a steady shift as the Ducks tried to regroup after Kariya missed the first 11 games with an abdominal injury. Then on Oct. 24, Karpov was knocked out after a violent blind-side check by Hartford’s Steven Rice. Karpov missed the next eight games because of a combination of post-concussion syndrome and a neck strain.

When he was fit enough to play again, the Ducks were winning and Wilson didn’t want to alter the team’s chemistry. Karpov was the odd man out and soon enough he was en route to Baltimore.

Then, during a game just before Christmas, he tripped while trying to clear the puck out of the defensive zone and crashed face-first into the skate blade of a Baltimore teammate. The gruesome cut cost Karpov his baby-faced looks and another week or so on the sidelines.

“Just another unlucky injury,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it. Why 75 stitches? Why so many? It wasn’t my whole body, only the face.”

On the mend again, Karpov soon was on the move again--to Long Beach and a homecoming of sorts. After three weeks without seeing his wife, Milena, and son, Sergei, Karpov was happy to be headed home to Irvine.

David McNab, Duck assistant general manager, called with the news, but gave no further explanation. Karpov didn’t particularly care why. He was just happy to be playing closer to his family.

“It was a bad year,” Karpov said of 1996. “Fortunately, it’s over. We’re starting a new year and hopefully there will be more positive things.”

Joining the Ice Dogs’ top line certainly has bolstered Karpov’s confidence and he has produced like never before as a pro.

“He’s got good skills,” Long Beach Coach John Van Boxmeer said. “When he gets the puck, he’s looking to score. He’s looking to do something with it. Some guys get the puck and don’t know what to do with it.

“When a guy comes down and plays well at this level, that’s all he can do. The idea is to come down and try to get noticed.

“I think he’s done a pretty good job.”