List of Ducks Buyers Narrows

The Walt Disney Co. has whittled the list of potential buyers for the Mighty Ducks to two, a source familiar with the negotiations said Thursday.

Among the bidders is H and S Ventures, which handles investments for Henry Samueli, whose company, Anaheim Arena Management, runs the Arrowhead Pond. The other bidder has so far remained unidentified, but the source said it was not a group led by Howard Baldwin, former owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Disney officials are believed to have canceled a scheduled meeting with Baldwin two weeks ago.

A spokesman for Samueli did not respond to telephone calls. Baldwin was unavailable for comment.

The sale price is expected to range from $55 million to $65 million. Baldwin -- or anyone else -- might receive consideration by making a new bid in the high end of that range, but the bidding process is believed to be nearing an end.

Samueli’s original bid was said to be between $50 million and $60 million.

Both potential buyers on Disney’s list are expected to keep the team in Anaheim, the source said.

Disney officials did not respond to a telephone call.

The sale probably will not be postponed because of cancellation of the NHL season after labor differences could not be settled. Potential buyers are expected to see that as a commitment to financial restraint when play resumes and the guarantee of a system linking player salaries to league revenue.