Odds Are, Ducks’ Coach Is on This List

Next to raising ticket prices, what the Mighty Ducks seem to do best in the off-season is search for new coaches.

General Manager Jack Ferreira appears to have a wide-open field to replace Pierre Page, who was fired Monday after only one season.

Ferreira hasn’t set a deadline for hiring the third coach in franchise history, and his search is expected to intensify after the NHL entry draft next week in Buffalo.

Here’s a handicapper’s guide to the Ducks’ coaching derby:

MARC CRAWFORD

Resume: Crawford, 37, either quit or was fired at the end of his fourth season as coach of the Colorado Avalanche. He led the Avalanche to the 1996 Stanley Cup title in the franchise’s first season after moving from Quebec to Denver.

The skinny: An arbitration hearing is expected soon to determine Crawford’s status with Colorado, which might complicate his availability.

Odds: 3-1.

TERRY CRISP

Resume: Crisp, 55, was fired as Tampa Bay Lightning coach midway through his sixth season. He also coached the Calgary Flames for three seasons, leading them to the 1989 Stanley Cup title.

The skinny: His name has not come up often in connection with other coaching jobs.

Odds: 120-1.

BUTCH GORING

Resume: Goring, 49, has coached the Utah Grizzlies of the International Hockey League for the last four seasons. He also coached the Boston Bruins for two seasons in the mid-’80s. He’s a former NHL player, which could work in his favor.

The skinny: Often mentioned for NHL coaching jobs in recent years, but rarely viewed as a serious contender.

Odds: 250-1.

CRAIG HARTSBURG

Resume: Hartsburg, 38, was fired recently after the Chicago Blackhawks missed the playoffs for the first time in 29 years. He spent three seasons as Chicago’s coach. He was an assistant coach in Minnesota in 1989-90 when Ferreira was general manager there.

The skinny: Duck winger Paul Kariya might not approve, considering Hartsburg’s critical comments after Kariya was injured by Chicago’s Gary Suter and sat out the season’s final 28 games.

Odds: 8-1.

DAVE KING

Resume: King, 49, completed his first season as an assistant coach for the Montreal Canadiens. He spent three seasons as coach of the Calgary Flames, after having served for 11 seasons as vice president, general manager and coach of the Canadian national team.

The skinny: He could be Ferreira’s man if the Canadiens give their blessing and some other team doesn’t hire him first.

Odds: 5-1.

JACQUES LEMAIRE

Resume: Lemaire, 52, resigned after five seasons as the New Jersey Devils’ coach but is still working for the team. He led the Devils to the 1995 Stanley Cup title, but his teams faltered in recent seasons.

The skinny: Ferreira has close ties to Devil General Manager Lou Lamoriello, which could work in the Ducks’ favor. Lemaire’s name hasn’t been mentioned much in the rumor mill, which also makes him a longshot.

Odds: 40-1.

ANDY MURRAY

Resume: Murray, 47, resigned last month after two seasons as coach of the Canadian national team so he could pursue other coaching positions.

The skinny: Kariya raved about Murray’s intense workouts when he practiced with the national team during a contract dispute with the Ducks. Murray has coached internationally, which could make up for his lack of NHL experience.

Odds: 15-1.

TED NOLAN

Resume: Nolan, 40, spent two seasons coaching the Buffalo Sabres, winning coach-of-the-year honors in 1996-97. But he quit after the Sabres offered him only a one-year contract extension and did not coach last season.

The skinny: He feuded with then-Sabre General Manager John Muckler, which won’t work in his favor with the Ducks, who could have hired him to replace Ron Wilson last year.

Odds: 30-1.

BILL STEWART

Resume: Stewart, 40, is a highly regarded minor league coach. He was named American Hockey League coach of the year after his first season at Saint John, Canada. Saint John lost in the AHL finals to the Philadelphia Phantoms.

The skinny: There is no shortage of fresh faces out there, but the question is, do the Ducks pass on a high-profile coach to take a chance on someone without much experience?

Odds: 35-1.

JOHN VAN BOXMEER

Resume: Van Boxmeer, 45, coaches the Ice Dogs of the IHL. He led them to the semifinals of the IHL playoffs this season, one year after reaching the Turner Cup finals but losing to the Detroit Vipers.

The skinny: He’s a former NHL player, which could work in his favor. Ferreira knows him because the Ducks have sent the Ice Dogs several players. Plus, Van Boxmeer already lives in Orange County.

Odds: 25-1.