Ducks Change Pecking Order

Pierre Gauthier, hired as president of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim last month, also will be general manager of the NHL team, it was announced Thursday.

Jack Ferreira, the only general manager the Ducks have had since joining the NHL as an expansion franchise in 1993, has been offered a new position with the organization--vice president of hockey operations.

Gauthier, 45, was assistant general manager to Ferreira from 1993-95 before joining the Ottawa Senators as general manager. Gauthier spent 2 1/2 years in that position before resigning in June and signing a five-year contract with the Ducks.

“As the new president of this franchise, my first job was to evaluate where we are and where we want to be,” Gauthier said at an afternoon news conference. “As an expansion franchise, your team goes through stages. I think we reached the end of this stage, and we must get to the next level.

“It’s time for us to turn the page and move forward.”

Gauthier said Ferreira likely would take a couple of days before making a decision on whether he’ll remain with the team.

“On behalf of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, I want to thank Jack for everything he has done for the franchise,” Gauthier said. “This has been a success story from day one, largely due to Jack’s leadership and contributions. We sincerely hope he accepts the new position that has been offered to him.

“I don’t have any bad things to say about Jack Ferreira. I have too much respect and admiration for him.”

Under the leadership of Ferreira, 54, the Ducks tied an NHL record for most victories (33) by a first-year team, in the 1993-94 season, and advanced to the second round of the playoffs in May 1997.

During Ferreira’s five years as general manager, the Ducks had a 146-188-44 record.

The Ducks are coming off a 26-43-13 season, the worst record during an 82-game season in their history. Paul Kariya, one of the NHL’s top players, was limited to 22 games because of a holdout at the start of the season and a concussion that forced him to miss the final 28 games.

Pierre Page was fired as coach in June, and succeeded by Craig Hartsburg on July 21, five days after Gauthier was hired as president.

Ron Wilson coached the Ducks during their first four years. Wilson coached the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup finals last season.