For Ducks, Morning After Brings a Sobering Reality

Pierre Gauthier, president and general manager of the Mighty Ducks, said he awoke Wednesday morning and groaned.

“The fun part is over,” he said of his first thoughts a day after the Ducks were swept from the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Detroit Red Wings.

The Ducks achieved many of Gauthier’s goals of stability during a credible first season under his command. They had a winning record, 35-34-13, and reached the playoffs for only the second time in the franchise’s six seasons.

“We had a fun year,” Gauthier said. “Even [Tuesday night’s 3-0 loss in the clinching Game 4 to Detroit] was fun. The guys showed up and the fans were behind us. I think, as a team, we all wish Sept. 1 [and the start of training camp] was tomorrow.”

The last two summers have been firing-and-hiring season for the Ducks, but that won’t be the case this off-season. Coach Craig Hartsburg isn’t going anywhere.

So Gauthier and Hartsburg can concentrate on improving the team. It doesn’t figure to be an easy task. Detroit’s sweep underscored the vast gulf between a serious Stanley Cup contender and a playoff qualifier.

“There’s a lot of positives about our season,” Gauthier said. “We have a coaching staff we really feel we can go forward with. Craig is a very demanding coach. We feel good about that part of our organization.”

Gauthier, as he has in the past, cautioned against expecting a blockbuster free-agent signing once the open signing period begins July 1. He simply doesn’t believe that’s the proper way to build a team.

Trades are a possibility, but Gauthier admitted he’s going to play it close to the vest and not reveal which areas need upgrading the most. However, you don’t have to be Toe Blake to figure out the Ducks would be wise to secure an experienced defenseman and perhaps another scorer or two.

“On a successful team you only see three or four changes a year,” Gauthier said. “We want to improve the club. From a personnel point of view, you have to look at every avenue.”

Part of that will be re-signing several of his own players, including captain Paul Kariya and right wing Tomas Sandstrom. Kariya is a restricted free agent and the Ducks have the right to match any outside offer. Sandstrom is an unrestricted free agent, free to sign with any club, including the Ducks.

Gauthier expects to have Kariya signed by the opening of training camp, something Jack Ferreira was unable to do two years ago. Kariya did not sign until after sitting out the first 32 games of the 1997-98 season. The Ducks failed to make the playoffs, winning a franchise-low (for a full season) 26 games.

“My philosophy is, whether it’s Paul or anyone else, it’s a business deal that shouldn’t be a fight,” Gauthier said. “I can tell you right now, there’s not going to be any public fights. I’m not even worried about this. I’m very confident we’ll have a fair deal done before training camp. It bothers me when guys aren’t in camp.”

Kariya’s new deal probably will be in the neighborhood of the three-year, $30-million deal signed this month by Peter Forsberg of the Colorado Avalanche. Kariya’s salary this season was $8.5 million.

Gauthier also must re-sign backup goalie Dominic Roussel, defensemen Jason Marshall, Jamie Pushor, Ruslan Salei and Pavel Trnka and forwards Antti Aalto, Ted Drury and Jeff Nielsen. All are restricted free agents.

“It’s a busy summer every summer,” Gauthier said.

Gauthier and Hartsburg spent part of Wednesday meeting with the team. Hartsburg plans to hold one-on-one meetings with the players today. Improvement will be the main topic of discussion.

“We had 83 points this season,” Hartsburg said. “We can be a lot better than 83 points with some of the young guys we have. Everybody can be better. Guy [Hebert] and Teemu [Selanne] can be better too. . . . It’s too early for me to talk about what needs to be added. We’re still doing an evaluation of our players right now.”

Hartsburg hopes to see more of the high-tempo, hard-hitting style the Ducks played in the first period of Games 3 and 4 against Detroit.

“The first period [Tuesday] night, that’s the type of team we want to be,” Hartsburg said. “It’s going to take some work. In training camp, the players will all know we’re going to expect more from them.”

Of the series against Detroit, Hartsburg said, “I think we played one poor period--the first period of the second game. We were right there until the end [Tuesday]. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

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Mighty Ducks Year by Year

1993-94

* Record: 33-46-5, 71 points.

* Finish: 6th in Pacific Division.

* Top scorer: Terry Yake, 52 points.

* Goalie: Guy Hebert, 2.83 GAA.

* Playoffs: None.

1994-95*

* Record: 16-27-5, 37 points.

* Finish: 6th in Pacific.

* Top scorer: Paul Kariya, 39 points.

* Goalie: Hebert, 3.13 GAA.

* Playoffs: None.

1995-96

* Record: 35-39-8, 78 points.

* Finish: 4th in Pacific.

* Top scorer: Kariya, 108 points.

* Goalie: Hebert, 2.83 GAA.

* Playoffs: None.

1996-97

* Record: 36-33-13, 85 points.

* Finish: 2nd in Pacific.

* Top scorer: Teemu Selanne, 109 points.

* Goalie: Hebert, 2.67 GAA.

* Playoffs: Beat Phoenix in first round, 4-3; lost to Detroit in conference semifinals, 4-0.

1997-98

* Record: 26-43-13, 65 points.

* Finish: 6th in Pacific.

* Top scorer: Selanne, 86 points.

* Goalie: Hebert, 2.93 GAA.

* Playoffs: None.

1998-99

* Record: 35-34-13, 83 points.

* Finish: 3rd in Pacific.

* Top scorer: Selanne, 107 points.

* Goalie: Hebert, 2.42 GAA.

* Playoffs: Lost in first round to Detroit, 4-0.

* indicates lockout-shortened season