Mighty Ducks’ Pursuit of Page Picks Up Speed

Tanned and relaxed after a weeklong Caribbean cruise, Mighty Duck General Manager Jack Ferreira on Tuesday renewed his pursuit of Pierre Page.

Ferreira hopes to resolve compensation issues today with Calgary Flame General Manager Al Coates. Page had one season remaining on his contract when he resigned as coach of the Flames two weeks ago. The Ducks have been searching for a coach since they did not renew Ron Wilson’s contract May 20.

“I think maybe they’re trying to get their new coach hired, then maybe they won’t be so mad about letting [Page] go to another division team, and maybe it won’t be as important to them,” Ferreira said of the Flames, who reportedly are close to hiring former Boston and St. Louis coach Brian Sutter.

Don’t expect the Ducks to part with a top draft pick in order to hire Page, however.

“If you’re talking about a draft pick, there’s no way we’re going to give up a No. 1 or No. 2 pick,” Duck President Tony Tavares said. “A potential prospect? Yeah, maybe that works.”

There are numerous creative ways for the Ducks to pacify the Flames and get their man.

Last season, the Phoenix Coyotes gave Calgary a third-round draft pick and the proceeds from an exhibition game in order to hire Don Hay as coach. Former NHL Commissioner John Ziegler once ordered Detroit to give the gate for three exhibitions to St. Louis in exchange for hiring Coach Jacques Demers.

“We’re not going to mortgage our future,” Tavares said. “A deal will be struck or we’ll move on.”

Plan B apparently revolves around assistant coach Walt Kyle, who recently had an impressive interview with Ferreira and Tavares.

It does not involve coach of the year Ted Nolan, whose one-year contract extension was taken off the table Monday by Buffalo General Manager Darcy Regier.

“I don’t see him as a fit here,” Tavares said of Nolan.

In other news:

--Veteran enforcer Ken Baumgartner signed a three-year contract with the rebuilding Boston Bruins.

“As good a guy as he is and as much as he helped us last year, it wasn’t as important that we re-sign him,” Ferreira said.

The Duck roster is stocked with younger, less-expensive tough guys, including Shawn Antoski, Peter LeBoutillier and Jeremy Stevenson.

--This week, Ferreira plans to make a counteroffer to goaltender Guy Hebert’s agent.

“It will get done shortly,” Ferreira said.

--Ferreira also is waiting to see a counterproposal from Paul Kariya’s agent.

“This is a tough one to judge,” Ferreira said. “If they would just tell us what they want it would be a lot easier.”