Still Talking, Kariya Agent Says

Team President Tony Tavares, General Manager Jack Ferreira and agent Don Baizley met Thursday in Chicago to continue negotiations on a new contract for unsigned free agent Paul Kariya.

“There’s no agreement,” Baizley said. “We don’t have a rupture in our relationship. We have a civilized disagreement. Each side is frustrated the other can’t see it their way. But both sides are still talking. We talked today.”

Baizley refused to guess when Kariya, the NHL’s third-leading scorer with 44 goals and 99 points last season, might be signed or whether he might sit out the season. An NHL source said last weekend that Kariya was angered by a take-it-or-leave offer by Walt Disney Co. Chairman Michael Eisner last month and was considering sitting out the 1997-98 season.

“I’d have to say, ‘I don’t know,’ ” Baizley said.

What’s the holdup?

“I don’t think I can get into substance,” Baizley said. “In any contract, there are two big issues to be resolved: term and compensation. Clearly, they are the two big issues here.”

Baizley said a final offer has not been made by the Ducks. He also discounted a newspaper report that Kariya was asking for more than $8 million a season, at least $1 million more than the Ducks’ most recent offer.

“There’s been speculation with regard to Paul’s money demands, and they’re wrong,” Baizley said.

Neither Tavares nor Ferreira could be reached for comment.

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Mikhail Shtalenkov has been invited to play on the Russian Olympic team, along with fellow goaltenders Nikolai Khabibulin of the Phoenix Coyotes and Andrei Trefilov, who is in the Buffalo Sabre organization. The final roster is expected to be selected by Dec. 1.

Shtalenkov is 1-0-1 with a 1.92 goals-against average in two starts for the Ducks.

TONIGHT’S GAME

Anhaeim vs.

Edmonton

* 7:30

Site--The Pond.

Radio--KRLA (1110).

Records--Ducks 1-2-2, Oilers 2-4-1.

Record vs. Oilers--(1996-97) 4-1.

Update--The Ducks played perhaps their most intense game of their season in a 2-2 tie Wednesday with the Philadelphia Flyers. They continue to struggle on offense, averaging fewer than two goals a game. Center Steve Rucchin is not expected to play, although he practiced Thursday. Rucchin has missed four consecutive games because of a groin strain. Defenseman Bobby Dollas has a bruised toe and is questionable for tonight’s game. Edmonton’s Bill Huard has a sprained knee and is sidelined indefinitely. The Oilers had 50 shots but only two goals against Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy in Wednesday’s 6-2 loss.