Mighty Ducks Focus on Page in Their Search for Coach

Pierre Page, who resigned Wednesday after two seasons as Calgary’s coach after failing to get a contract extension, has emerged as the leading candidate to become the Mighty Ducks’ next coach.

General Manager Jack Ferreira of the Ducks said Thursday he has talked to Calgary General Manager Al Coates twice within the last month about Page.

“[The first time] they said they were talking [about a new deal for Page], but then Al called me Saturday to see if I was still interested in Pierre,” Ferreira said. “I said, ‘Yes,’ and that’s as far as it went. I had a feeling something was up, though.”

Ferreira spoke to Coates a third time Thursday and formally asked permission to interview Page, who had one season remaining on a three-year contract that paid him about $240,000 per season.

The Ducks have been slowly searching for a coach since announcing May 20 that Ron Wilson’s contract would not be renewed after four seasons.

Early favorite Don Hay, fired after one season as Phoenix Coyote coach, fell out of contention after a lackluster second interview with Ferreira and team president Tony Tavares on Saturday in Anaheim.

Duck assistant coach Walt Kyle, former Buffalo General Manager John Muckler and former Boston Coach Steve Kasper also were on Ferreira’s short list. But Page has apparently moved past those three.

Page, 49, is known around the NHL as a hard-nosed coach, unafraid to bench a player for making mistakes or giving a poor effort. In addition to coaching Calgary, he coached Minnesota for two seasons and was general manager and coach in Quebec for four seasons before the team moved to Colorado in 1995.

Page, who was unavailable for comment Thursday, figures to be a logical choice as Duck coach for Ferreira.

They are longtime friends, having worked together for six seasons in the Calgary organization in the 1980s. Ferreira also hired Page to coach the North Stars when he was Minnesota’s general manager from 1988-90, so a formal interview is probably unnecessary.

Tavares, top Duck scout Alain Chainey and perhaps Disney Chairman Michael Eisner are expected to meet with Page, however.

Ferreira again said he’s not likely to make a definitive decision on his next coach until after July 1.

He was in Toronto to attend the NHL awards dinner Thursday night, then flew to Pittsburgh for Saturday’s draft. He and Tavares are traveling together on the Ducks’ fan cruise in the Caribbean next week and won’t return to the team’s offices until June 30.