Ducks’ Ferreira Set to Interview Ex-Phoenix Coach Hay

General Manager Jack Ferreira and former Phoenix Coyote Coach Don Hay are scheduled to meet this weekend to discuss the Mighty Ducks’ vacant coaching position. The time, day and place have not been ironed out.

“I’m excited about it,” Hay said Thursday from his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to meet with Jack.”

Hay, who was fired as Phoenix coach after the Ducks defeated the Coyotes in the Western Conference quarterfinals last month, is believed to be among the leading candidates on Ferreira’s preliminary list. Ferreira was traveling on the East Coast and could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Hay, 42, led the Coyotes to a 38-37-7 record and third-place finish in the Central Division in his first season as coach. He was sacked primarily because General Manager Bobby Smith did not hire him and wanted to make a change.

Hay also served an assistant coach for the Calgary Flames in 1995-96 and coached the Kamloops (Canada) Blazers of the junior-level Western Hockey League for three seasons. He said the Ducks are the only team to contact him.

Other possible candidates for Ferreira to interview include former Chicago Blackhawk Coach Darryl Sutter, current Blackhawk assistant Lorne Henning and Duck assistant Walt Kyle.

Kyle said he’s spoken to Ferreira only briefly since the Ducks last week announced the contracts of Coach Ron Wilson and assistant Tim Army would not be renewed. Kyle expects to talk further with Ferreira sometime next week.

“It’s kind of a delicate situation,” Kyle said. “I had a good experience with Ron and I’m longtime friends with Jack.”

Meanwhile, Wilson is expected to become a finalist for Hay’s old job with the Coyotes. Wilson, the only coach in the Ducks’ four-season history, met with Smith for a second interview Thursday.

Or to be more precise, they met for the second and third times Thursday. Wilson interviewed with Smith during the day, then was scheduled to have a dinner meeting with Smith and Minneapolis-based owner Richard Burke.

Former Boston Bruin Coach Brian Sutter is believed to be the other finalist for the Coyote job. Earlier this month, Sutter interviewed with San Jose General Manager Dean Lombardi about the Shark job. Former Duck assistant Al Sims was fired after one season as Shark coach.