Prospal Is Close to Signing

Left wing Vaclav Prospal, the leading scorer for the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, is close to signing with either the Mighty Ducks or the Atlanta Thrashers, his agent said Monday.

Prospal, an unrestricted free agent, has agreed to terms in principle with one of the two teams but has not finalized contract details, said Prospal’s agent, Ritchie Winter, who declined to elaborate.

If Prospal signs with the Ducks, he will become the team’s first attempt at replacing Paul Kariya, who left for the Colorado Avalanche after the Ducks declined to make him a qualifying offer of $10 million for next season. Kariya, the Ducks’ career leader in virtually every scoring category, signed a one-year deal with Colorado for $1.2 million earlier this month.

Prospal, 28, had 22 goals and 57 assists for 79 points last season, two fewer than Kariya had with the Ducks.

Prospal was believed to be seeking a contract worth close to $4 million a year. He made $1.55 million last year and turned down Tampa Bay’s offer of a five-year deal at $2.75 million a year, with incentives that could have increased the deal to $3.25 million a year.

Mighty Duck officials declined to comment.