Mogilny Ends Holdout

The Vancouver Canucks, who have managed to win only three games this season and stand last in the Western Conference, announced Friday they have signed holdout restricted free agent Alexander Mogilny.

Mogilny signed a four-year deal worth $17.6 million, according to the Canadian Press.

Mogilny, the Russian forward acquired from the Buffalo Sabres and one of the Canucks’ bright lights offensively, did not report to training camp because of a contract dispute.

But he recently returned to Vancouver from Malibu, amid reports negotiations between his agent and the Canucks (3-11-2) were getting warmer.

The high-scoring forward may be ready to play in time for tonight’s game at GM Place against the Mighty Ducks. If not, he could play Tuesday at the Forum against the Kings.

Mogilny’s signing comes three days after Canuck owner John McCaw fired President and General Manager Pat Quinn, who had been handling the Mogilny talks.

Meanwhile, Mike Keenan, whose volatile coaching style took teams from three organizations to the Stanley Cup finals, has been in Vancouver since Wednesday to interview for the general manager job.

A source close to Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment, the Canucks’ parent company, told the Vancouver Sun on Friday that Keenan came to Vancouver to meet with chief executive Stephen Bellringer and deputy chairman Stanley McCammon.

Keenan twice coached Team Canada to gold medals at the Canada Cup, won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers and was a losing finalist with the Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks.

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The Ottawa Senators signed forward Alexandre Daigle to a one-year contract extension.

Daigle, 22, was the No. 1 pick in the 1993 NHL draft, signing a much-publicized five-year, $12.25-million deal after a stellar junior career.

Terms of the contract extension were not disclosed.

Daigle, the top-earning Senator at $3.1 million last season, had his best year last season when he collected 26 goals and 25 assists. Hampered by an elbow injury this season, he has only three goals and two assists in eight games to rank 11th among Senators in scoring.

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Former Montreal Canadien coach Jacques Demers interviewed for the Tampa Bay Lightning coaching position, and WDAE radio in Tampa is reporting that he will be announced as the successor to the fired Terry Crisp and interim coach Rick Paterson this weekend. . . . Carolina goaltender Sean Burke, jailed over the weekend after allegedly beating his wife, was not in uniform for the third consecutive game since his arrest. . . . Montreal forward Stephane Richer suffered a sprained left knee in the first period of the Canadiens’ game against San Jose and did not return.