Carlyle to Have New Perspective

The opening of an NHL season is nothing new for Randy Carlyle, but this one will be different for him because of his role as a rookie head coach of the Mighty Ducks, who play at Chicago tonight against the Blackhawks.

Excuse him if he doesn’t feel the moment is anything special.

“When you’ve played 1,055 games in the league, you don’t look at it the way as if you hadn’t been a player in the league,” Carlyle said Tuesday. “I don’t think there’s any surprises. But there’s always a nervousness and an energy you want to bring to the hockey club.”

Carlyle spent 17 seasons in the league as a gritty defenseman and several more years as a coach and general manager in the minor leagues. He also has three years of experience as an NHL assistant.

While this job is the realization of a coaching goal, Carlyle wasn’t about to reflect on reaching this point in his career.

“Those things kind of go by the wayside once you get into training camp and the exhibitions,” he said. “We’re all looking forward to playing games.”

The locker room was an upbeat place Tuesday as players eagerly awaited the first regular-season NHL game in 18 months. One of them was 35-year-old forward Teemu Selanne, who underwent knee surgery during the lockout.

“I have a really good feeling about this team,” Selanne said. “You never know how it’s going to work out. But I have a good feeling.”

The Ducks seem to think the same, especially after making headlines with the free-agent signings of Selanne and All-Star defenseman Scott Niedermayer, who was appointed captain Monday. Trying to capitalize on the optimism, the team is inviting fans to the Arrowhead Pond to watch tonight’s game.

Selanne said it is important to get off to a good start because of all the organizational changes. Carlyle concurred.

“You only have one chance to make a first impression,” the coach said.

-- Eric Stephens

New York Ranger defenseman Dale Purinton was suspended 10 games without pay by the league for gouging the eye of Boston’s Colton Orr during an exhibition Saturday.

Purinton will lose $26,658 and won’t be able to play until Oct. 27 against the New York Islanders.

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Minnesota claimed center Randy Robitaille off waivers from Nashville.... Columbus claimed defenseman Andy Delmore off waivers from Detroit.... Washington picked up goaltender Brent Johnson after he was waived by Vancouver.