Secret Is Out on Rucchin

Steve Rucchin was the best-kept secret in Canadian college hockey, and the Mighty Ducks did all they could to keep it that way as the 1994 NHL supplemental draft approached.

Rucchin was playing for the University of Western Ontario when the Ducks caught sight of him. They requested the only two game tapes available ... and kept them.

“The coach called me and demanded the tapes back,” said David McNab, the Ducks’ assistant general manager. “I told him we lost them. Florida was drafting ahead of us and we didn’t want them to see Rooch play. He was amazing on those two tapes. [Then-General Manager] Jack Ferreira watched half of one tape and decided we had to take him.”

The Ducks’ paranoia lasted right up to draft day.

“The night before, I sequestered all our scouts in the hotel,” McNab said. “They weren’t allowed to leave the floor we were on. I didn’t want to take a chance that one of them would mention Rucchin’s name to anyone.”

The Ducks drafted Rucchin with the second pick the next day.

Rucchin has remained a top priority. Paul Pressler, who oversaw the Ducks for Disney, asked General Manager Bryan Murray whether the team should sign Rucchin to a long-term contract last summer.

“I told Paul that you don’t find a big, skilled player like Rooch very often and we needed to make a commitment to him,” Murray said.

Rucchin, who could have become an unrestricted free agent this summer, signed a four-year $11.8-million contract.

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The Mighty Ducks will still lose money this season, but they have certainly benefited financially from their playoff run. The team is believed to make about $1.5 million each home playoff game.

With three games already and at least one more to go, the Ducks will clear about $6 million, which is close to matching the increase in the team’s payroll this season.

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Jean-Sebastien Giguere began Monday’s game tops among NHL goalies in save percentage (.958) and goals-against average (1.34) during the playoffs.

And, he said, he’ll be even better. “Every day I am learning what it takes to be successful in the playoffs,” Giguere said.

“No matter how this all ends, I am going to be a better player for it.”

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Dallas defenseman Philippe Boucher, a former King, had several ticket requests from friends from his days in Los Angeles.

“It’s always fun coming back here,” said Boucher, whom the Stars signed as a free agent last summer. “I had a good time when I played in California and one of my best friends lives in Orange County.”