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Ducks Find Coach in Hartsburg

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<i> From Associated Press</i>

Craig Hartsburg, fired in April after the Chicago Blackhawks failed to make the playoffs for the first time in 29 years, returned to the NHL on Tuesday as coach of the Mighty Ducks.

Hartsburg, 39, was the second choice of Ducks general manager Jack Ferreira, who initially offered the job to minor-league coach Butch Goring. Goring turned it down in a salary disagreement.

That didn’t bother Hartsburg, who signed a three-year contract.

“To me, it’s a moot point,” he said. “I don’t care that someone was picked before me.”

He replaces Pierre Page, who was fired in June after 10 months on the job. The Ducks were 26-43-13 and failed to make the playoffs last season.

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Ferreira said Hartsburg will make more than the $400,000 a year the Ducks offered Goring, but he declined to reveal a specific salary.

“It came down to NHL experience,” Ferreira said. “He’s been through all phases and can relate well to the players.”

Hartsburg played 10 years in the NHL with Minnesota before a hip injury forced him to retire during the 1988-89 season. Ferreira, then the North Stars general manager, immediately hired Hartsburg as an assistant. From there, Hartsburg spent four seasons an an assistant in Philadelphia and coached one season in the Ontario Hockey League before becoming coach of the Blackhawks in 1995.

“It’s a fresh start for myself, for the organization and for the players,” said Hartsburg, who had a 104-102-40 record in Chicago.

He led the Hawks to the playoffs in his first two seasons, but they finished five points out of a playoff spot last season--the first time Chicago missed the postseason since 1969.

“I come here with no bold promises or statements,” Hartsburg said. “I come here with a plan and principals I believe in. I know there’s going to be some bumps in the road.”

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The Ducks can’t be much worse than they were last season. They finished next-to-last in the Western Conference and 23rd out of 26 NHL teams overall. Injuries to stars Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, along with forwards Steve Rucchin, Travis Green and Scott Young, didn’t help.

“I feel like I can make those guys better players,” Hartsburg said.

Kariya received a concussion when he was cross-checked by Chicago’s Gary Suter on Feb. 1 and missed the season’s final 28 games.

Hartsburg said he doesn’t anticipate any awkwardness between himself and Kariya because of Suter’s hit.

“I feel very bad about Paul being injured in that situation. I know the incident wasn’t an intentional thing by Gary,” he said. “He’s [Kariya] healthy and I can’t wait to work with him.”

Hartsburg said if hadn’t gotten a coaching offer, he might have scouted for Chicago next season.

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