Giguere Signs With Ducks

The Mighty Ducks signed Jean-Sebastien Giguere to a two-year deal worth $1.6 million on Friday, setting up their first goalie competition since 1993-94, when they were an expansion team.

Giguere, who will make $700,000 this season and $900,000 in 2002-03, will compete with Steve Shields in training camp. In the past, the Ducks have not had to worry about who their No. 1 goalie would be, as Guy Hebert held that spot since the team’s first season.

But Giguere supplanted Hebert midway through last season. Hebert was later released and picked up by the New York Rangers. Now Giguere will have to win the job again.

“I got to play a lot of games and got some great experience,” Giguere said. “This year, who knows what is going to happen? I’m looking forward to playing with Shields. If we both have success, that’s good for the team.”

The Ducks have never had the advantage of two goalies who could deliver consistent play.

“Because of the Olympics, we have a condensed schedule, so there will be a lot of ice time for both,” General Manager Pierre Gauthier said. “It helps in terms of security, if we have one get injured or if there’s a slump by somebody.”

Giguere, 24, was acquired in a trade with Calgary last summer. Except for two games, he spent the first half of the season with Cincinnati, the Ducks’ minor league affiliate.

He was recalled Jan. 10 and replaced Hebert as the No. 1 goalie soon after. Giguere played in 34 games and was 11-17-5 with a 2.57 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.

He started 24 of the Ducks’ last 25 games.

Shields, 29, was acquired in the Teemu Selanne trade with San Jose on March 5. He did not play a game for the Ducks after undergoing shoulder surgery.

He was the Sharks’ No. 1 goalie in 1999-2000 but missed eight games last October because of a sprained ankle. By the time he returned, rookie Evgeni Nabokov had established himself as one of the top goalies in the NHL.

The Ducks picked up Shields’ $2-million option in June.

The Ducks have two restricted free agents left to sign, left wing Jeff Friesen and defenseman Niclas Havelid.