Kariya Situation Still Up in the Air

Coach Pierre Page began the final week of training camp by trimming his roster to 31. Or 30, if you don’t count Paul Kariya.

And Page certainly isn’t counting on Kariya’s arrival before the Ducks leave next Monday for season-opening games Oct. 3-4 against the Vancouver Canucks in Tokyo.

“We’re like a bunch of little kids hoping Mom and Dad sort it all out,” Page said of the contract stalemate between the Ducks and Kariya.

The Ducks have made Kariya, a restricted free agent, two offers--an initial five-year contract worth $25 million and a more recent deal believed to be worth about $7 million a season. Kariya and his agent have not made counteroffers and talks are at a standstill.

“We’re trying everything right now,” Page said of opening the season without Kariya. “We’re spreading out our talent and giving us a new identity.”

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Center J.F. Jomphe, who had seven goals and 14 points in 64 games last season, was perhaps the most noteworthy player cut. He was assigned to the minor league affiliate at Cincinnati.

Center Antti Aalto, defensemen Mike Crowley, Marc Moro and Nikolai Tsulygin, and right wings Jeff Nielsen and Igor Nikulin also were sent to Cincinnati.

The Ducks will cut once more to reach the 25-player limit for the Japan trip.

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The Ducks held their first full practice on the Olympic-sized rink, about 15-feet wider than a standard NHL rink, at Disney Ice in Anaheim in preparation for the Tokyo games. . . . Neither Shawn Antoski, who has a mild concussion, nor Espen Knutsen (groin strain) participated in Monday’s workout. Neither is expected to miss more than a day or two of practice. Knutsen leads the Ducks with five assists in four exhibition games.