Ducks’ Olausson Calls It Quits

Fredrik Olausson, who quarterbacked the Mighty Ducks’ power play the last two seasons, announced his retirement Monday.

Olausson, 33, plans to return to his native Sweden in June. He has offers to play in Europe, but hasn’t decided whether he will accept one or hang up his skates for good after 14 NHL seasons.

“My children are growing up,” he said. “I want to see a lot more of them and they want to see a lot more of me.”

Olausson and his wife, Carina, have three girls.

Olausson had two of his best seasons in his second stint with the Ducks. After signing as a free agent in 1998, the defenseman had 56 points--16 goals, 40 assists. This season, he had 15 goals and 34 points.

“Everybody knows he can still play. It’s a shame. It’s a sad thing,” said right wing Teemu Selanne, who also played with Olausson with the Winnipeg Jets in the early 1990s.

In another development, Coach Craig Hartsburg said left wing Paul Kariya broke his right foot in February.

At the time, the Ducks called the injury, which sidelined Kariya for seven games, a bruise.