Disney’s Role Could Increase

General Manager Pierre Gauthier has told Duck players that Disney intends to become more involved with the team, according to sources. Gauthier would not elaborate recently on what was meant by “more involved.”

Those assurances were made a few weeks after statements in January by Disney President Robert Iger to the effect that the team was still on the market.

Iger had said that Disney would be open to selling the Ducks and the Angels, provided the buyer would keep both franchises in Anaheim. Iger made it clear that Disney officials saw no future in keeping the teams.

“Long-term, I’m not sure there’s great synergy value or brand value” in owning professional teams, Iger had said at the Salomon Smith Barney Entertainment, Media and Telecommunications conference. “If someone stepped up and offered the right price, we’d be willing to sell.”

John Dreyer, a spokesman for Disney, said that Iger’s statement was not a shift in position for the company. He also said that having teams perpetually on the market would not affect the day-to-day operations or plans.

“We have similar commitments to both teams and to Anaheim,” Dreyer said.

Disney officials may become even more committed to beefing up the Ducks. As with any fixer-upper, improvements increase the chances of a sale.

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Right wing Timo Parssinen has worked at learning the North American game and those efforts have brought him back to Anaheim.

Parssinen, who played in Finland, was recalled from minor league Cincinnati after Marty McInnis was traded to Boston on March 5.

It is his fourth tour of duty with the Ducks and he has established himself ... somewhat.

“He’s a character guy and went down and played hard,” Coach Bryan Murray said. “He has become a guy we know can play in this league and be an adequate player. He’ll play in the NHL. I’m not saying he will be playing for us, but he will be an NHL player.”