Assistant Coaches Pay the Price for Ducks’ Worst Season

Someone had to take the fall for the worst season in the Mighty Ducks’ five-year history. So, the Ducks fired assistant coaches Don Hay and Walt Kyle on Thursday.

Hay and Kyle have been offered other jobs within the organization. It’s believed Hay has been asked to coach the Ducks’ minor league affiliate in Cincinnati with Kyle moving into an administrative role to assist General Manager Jack Ferreira.

It was not immediately known whether they would accept their new assignments.

“It’s a little bit of a shock for them,” Coach Pierre Page said. “It’s a little tough to take.”

The Chicago Blackhawks recently interviewed Hay for a head coaching vacancy created when Craig Hartsburg was fired when the season ended.

Hay coached the Phoenix Coyotes for one season in 1996-97 before joining the Ducks last summer. He also was an assistant under Page with the Calgary Flames.

Kyle has been in the Duck organization, as a minor league coach and an assistant in Anaheim, since 1994. Kyle and Hay also were successful coaches in the junior-level Western Hockey League.

“This was a decision based solely on discussions between Pierre Page and myself,” Ferreira said in a prepared statement. He was unavailable for further comment.

Two new assistants are expected to be hired in time for the NHL draft June 27 in Buffalo. Page said he supplied Ferreira with a list of candidates Thursday.

Thursday’s moves appear to signal that Ferreira and Page will continue in their jobs next season.

“I think we’re all set now, but what does a two-year contract say?” Page said. Page and Ferreira each have two seasons remaining on their contracts.

It has been rumored that Ferreira and Page would be fired in the wake of the Ducks’ 26-43-13 record and 12th-place finish in the 13-team Western Conference.

Reports from Ottawa had Senator General Manager Pierre Gauthier, who was the Ducks’ assistant general manager for the franchise’s first 2 1/2 seasons, replacing Ferreira.

And Ferreira’s departure would mean Page would also have to go. After all, Ferreira hired his longtime friend, Page, to replace Ron Wilson, who was not rehired after the Ducks’ first winning record and playoff appearance last season.

Team President Tony Tavares’ reluctance to give Ferreira or Page a vote of confidence only contributed to the air of uncertainty around the Pond. Tavares was acting in accordance with Page’s wishes, however.

“I don’t want any vote of confidence,” Page said. “I’ve told Jack and Tony that.”

Page’s relationship with several veteran players was sometimes shaky, which added to speculation that he would be fired. The players were critical of his constant shuffling of line combinations and defense pairings.

There was apparently no such dressing room grumbling about Page’s assistants, particularly Kyle.

He was seen by the players as a straight-forward, no-nonsense coach. Hay had a well-publicized falling out with Jeremy Roenick in Phoenix, but there was no such animosity with the Ducks.

By season’s end, defenseman Bobby Dollas and winger Warren Rychel--the most outspoken critics of Page--had been traded. Dollas went to the Edmonton Oilers and Rychel was sent to the Colorado Avalanche as part of the Ducks’ youth movement.

Tavares and Ferreira say they intend to add experience to their youthful roster by being aggressive in the free-agent market. Signing a veteran defenseman such as St. Louis’ Al MacInnis is their top priority when free agency begins July 1.

The Ducks also are expected to pursue Pittsburgh center Ron Francis, who is not expected to be re-signed by the Penguins.

Times staff writer Bill Shaikin contributed to this report.