Mighty Duck Staff Is Bracing for Layoffs

A day after it was reported that an offer had been made to buy the Mighty Ducks, interim General Manager Al Coates met with front office staff and said that if there were a lockout, there would also be layoffs.

Howard Baldwin, former Pittsburgh Penguin and Hartford Whaler owner, heads a group that has made an offer for the team, believed to be $50 million.

Reached in Toronto, where he will attend Sunday’s premiere of the movie “Ray” -- he and his wife, Karen, are among the co-producers of the film biography of Ray Charles -- Baldwin said he had no comment on reports of his interest in the Ducks.

However, he said he had faith in the NHL, having been part of it over the last 30-plus years as an owner and club executive.

“My view of the NHL world is that it’s at a pivotal crossroads,” Baldwin said.

“But it will get a new collective bargaining agreement that will allow markets like Anaheim and smaller markets to have an opportunity to succeed.”

The news for Duck employees, however, was far from upbeat.

At a hastily called meeting Friday morning, Coates told front-office employees that once a lockout began, there would be staff evaluations and only some would be retained.

A lockout is expected, because collective bargaining negotiations remain stalled. The current labor agreement expires Wednesday night at 9.

The Ducks laid off six people in May, team officials calling the layoffs a reorganization of the front office. Further staff cuts could begin as soon as Thursday. Duck officials declined to comment.

“I told the staff that in the event of a lockout, we would reevaluate our staffing needs,” Coates said.

“Let’s be honest, I’m the senior vice president and interim general manager, it’s my responsibility to run the business. If there is a lockout, I need to examine all areas of our business, period.”

The Kings have said they have no plans to reduce staff, but other NHL teams have already made significant staff reductions.

Phoenix laid off 16 employees, Carolina 15, Dallas 12 and Nashville 11. Toronto, one of the NHL’s most profitable teams, cut salaries of 25 employees by 33%.

The cutbacks will affect even league employees. In a letter this week to off-ice officials, the NHL said their services would not be needed after Wednesday. At the league office, employees were told this summer to expect widespread layoffs.

Coates’ future remains unsure.

He was hired as the vice president of business operations in 2003 and took over as general manager when Bryan Murray left to coach Ottawa in June. After three months, he still is listed as interim general manager. According to a source familiar with the Duck organization, Disney officials have yet to begin a general manager search.

Meanwhile, Michael Schulman, a spokesman for Henry Samueli, whose company runs the Arrowhead Pond, said that the hope was the Ducks would remain in Anaheim.

Asked whether Samueli’s interest in buying the Ducks had increased, Schulman said, “Not at this time.”

Schulman also said, “We obviously have an interest in having them stay. They are the major tenants in the building. We assumed whoever buys the Ducks, that we would be a partner of some sorts.”

Although he has been linked with groups in Kansas City trying to get an NHL or NBA team, it’s now believed that Baldwin would not move the team if he bought it.

Asked about negotiations, Disney spokeswoman Leslie Goodman said, “We’re going to consider our alternatives. We’re in discussion with several interested parties.”