Ducks, Rucchin Agree on $9.2-Million Deal

The Mighty Ducks signed center Steve Rucchin to a four-year contract worth $9.2 million Tuesday.

Rucchin, 27, scored 53 points last season, second only to Teemu Selanne on the Ducks.

The signing reflected the Disney sports philosophy of spurning expensive free agents but rewarding talented young players. The Ducks now have signed Paul Kariya, Selanne and Rucchin to long-term deals worth a combined $42.7 million.

“It’s the right thing to do,” General Manager Pierre Gauthier said. “The way you build teams is the way we’re doing it here. You take care of your own players, develop them and pay them according to the market.

“My company wants to win as much as any owner in the league. But they want to win the right way, and that’s the way I believe it should be done.”