Duck Overhaul Continues With the Firing of Charron

The Mighty Ducks’ hockey season ended Sunday.

Coach firing-and-hiring season began Monday.

Pierre Gauthier, team president and general manager, didn’t wait long to decide against retaining Guy Charron as coach. Gauthier gave Charron the news after the team’s season-ending loss Sunday against the San Jose Sharks and made his decision public Monday.

Hiring a replacement, who will be the Ducks’ fourth coach in five seasons, won’t happen as quickly. Gauthier said he does not have anyone in mind and would not speculate about possible candidates or guess when he expects to hire the fifth coach in the franchise’s history.

“It’s best for us to get a fresh start,” Gauthier said. “We are continuing with our major changes.”

Recent moves have included the Dec. 14 firing of Craig Hartsburg as coach and the March 5 trade of Teemu Selanne to the Sharks for winger Jeff Friesen, goaltender Steve Shields and a conditional draft pick.

“The guy has to be a good teacher, a strong leader of men, but also someone who can lead us to the playoffs next year,” Gauthier said when asked about the qualities he hoped to find in his new coach.

Pat Burns, fired earlier this season by the Boston Bruins, and Ted Nolan, former Buffalo Sabre coach, are among those who could be on Gauthier’s list. But Gauthier did not say if he would hire a coach with NHL or head-coaching experience.

“My criteria is, I want someone who can keep the club growing, but at the same time, help us make the playoffs next year,” he said.

Charron believed he could have been the right man for the job and expressed disappointment that he won’t be given a chance to continue. He said he was undecided about whether to accept Gauthier’s offer to remain with the club as an assistant coach.

“Obviously, I believed I could have done this job and done it well,” said Charron, who was 14-26-7-2 after replacing Hartsburg. “Pierre has taken this direction and he’s the one who makes the decisions.”

Charron joins Hartsburg (1998-99 to Dec. 14, 2000), Pierre Page (1997-98) and Ron Wilson (1993-94 to 1996-97) on the list of fired Duck coaches.

“Ron had a pretty long tenure here,” said Paul Kariya, the team’s captain since 1996-97. “Since him, it’s gone pretty quick. It’s difficult because you don’t get used to one system, one style of coaching, one style of play. Every coach has his own individual style, his own take on how the game should be played. As a player, you have to adjust to that. It would be terrific if we got some stability.”

Stability was as difficult to come by as victories this season. Injuries to key players, among them Kariya and top-line center Steve Rucchin, combined to cripple the Ducks’ playoff hopes at midseason.

Rucchin suffered a broken nose and cheekbone Nov. 15 against the Colorado Avalanche. Subsequent headaches and dizziness associated with post-concussion syndrome continue to keep him off the ice.

Kariya broke his right foot while blocking a shot Dec. 17 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Ducks went 2-11-2-1 while Kariya was sidelined because of his third broken right foot in as many seasons.

Defenseman Niclas Havelid underwent season-ending knee surgery in January. Defenseman Ruslan Salei sat out about two months because of post-concussion syndrome. Winger Mike Leclerc was sidelined because of knee and abdominal injuries.

The team never recovered, finishing in last place in the Western Conference with a 25-41-11-5 record for 66 points. Their 25 victories were one fewer than the previous club low, set in going 26-43-13 for 65 points in 1997-98.

“There’s going to be a new era,” Gauthier said. “We had a formula here. Our goaltender [Guy Hebert] was from the original team. We had two superstar players [Kariya and Selanne] getting half the payroll [$18 million of the $40 million]. Now we’re changing the formula.”

The first step was acquiring Shields from San Jose to bolster the team in net. Jean-Sebastien Giguere already had played well enough to enable Gauthier to waive Hebert and his $3.8-million salary for next season.

But a good deal more must be accomplished before the 2001-02 season begins.

“We need to have a great off-season, that’s the bottom line,” said Friesen, who plans to spend the summer working out with Kariya in Orange County. “We can’t just talk about it. We’ve got to execute. We need a good off-season program.”

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Timeline

Oct. 29

Mighty Ducks defeat Calgary, 6-3, to improve record to 6-3-1-2, their best start in franchise history.

Nov. 15

Ducks lose to Colorado, 3-0, to extend their winless streak to 0-6-2. Center Steve Rucchin is hit in the face with the puck and plays only two more games because of post- concussion syndrome.

Nov. 16

General Manager Pierre Gauthier meets with the team and vows not to fire Coach Craig Hartsburg or trade stars Paul Kariya or Teemu Selanne.

Dec. 14

Gauthier fires Hartsburg, left, the day after Ducks defeat Columbus, 5-4, in overtime. Guy Charron, a Hartsburg assistant, is named coach for remainder of season.

Dec. 17

Paul Kariya, left, suffers a cracked bone in his right foot while blocking a shot against Tampa Bay. The Ducks go 2-11-2-1 in the games he misses.

Jan. 15

Defense-man Niclas Havelid suffers a season-ending knee injury in a 3-2 loss to Pittsburgh.

March 5

Selanne, left, is traded to San Jose for forward Jeff Friesen, goalie Steve Shields and a conditional draft choice. On the same day, goalie Guy Hebert, the last original Duck, is put on waivers. Two days later, he is claimed by the New York Rangers.

April 8

Ducks lose season finale to San Jose, 4-1, to finish last in Western Conference, behind expansion teams Minnesota and Columbus.

April 9

Gauthier announces Charron, right, who was 14-26-7-2 after replacing Hartsburg, will not return as head coach.