Hebert Tops List of Positives

There are plenty of reasons for the Ducks to be excited as they head into their seventh season-opener Saturday, against the defending champion Dallas Stars.

But it all starts in goal, where Guy Hebert was superb in four exhibition appearances. His goals-against average was a puny 0.95, but there was more to it than mere statistics.

“Guy has had a strong training camp,” Mighty Duck Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “He’s worked hard, but what I’ve liked best about him has been the focus he’s had in all his games.”

Hebert, the last original Duck on the roster, opened training camp by saying, “I’m more excited about this training camp than ever before.”

Reminded this week of his comments, Hebert said, “I’m sure we’re going to have our ups and downs this season. But we’ve worked extremely hard in trying to make some strides. I’m sure the coaching staff is pretty happy.”

Certainly, the Ducks’ seventh camp had a look and feel that was far different than the franchise’s first in 1993. Hebert said he spoke with Jack Ferreira, vice president of hockey operations, about the changes after a 3-2 loss to Colorado gave the Ducks a 3-4-1 exhibition record.

“Jack said to me, ‘We’ve come a long way. Look at all the talent we have now,’ ” Hebert said.

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Hebert already has produced one comment for an opposing bulletin board. “I hate Dallas,” he said. “You can put that in the paper.”

He should hate the Stars. After all, the Ducks are 7-19-1 against Dallas in the franchise’s history.

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The Ducks assigned goalie Tom Askey to Kansas City of the International Hockey League on Tuesday.

They also sent defensemen Dan Trebil, Vitaly Vishnevski and forwards Maxim Balmochnykh, Peter LeBoutillier and Bob Wren to Cincinnati of the American Hockey League.

With the addition of right wing Ladislav Kohn in a trade Monday with Atlanta, the Duck roster is at the league limit of 23.