Ducks sign Randy Carlyle to contract extension

Randy Carlyle thought little of coaches before becoming one.

“As a player,” said Carlyle, who played 17 seasons in the NHL, “I thought a coach was a guy that stood on the side of the boards and drank coffee.”

But he said he learned to love it because it was the closest thing to being a player. And now he will be close to the players a little longer.

On Monday the winningest coach in Ducks history agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2013-14 season. His previous contract was set to expire at the end of this season.

“He’s a good coach,” Ducks General Manager Bob Murray said. “We’re always competitive no matter what kind of team we throw at him. He takes what you give him and he finds a way to win.”

Carlyle was hired in 2005 and has led the Ducks to playoff appearances in five of his six seasons, including, the team’s run to its first Stanley Cup championship in 2007. Carlyle is 266-169-57 as the Ducks’ coach, a winning percentage of .599 in 492 regular-season games.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have a [high] quality of players and management around me,” Carlyle said.

Murray also said 41-year-old Teemu Selanne, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in June, has been “struggling a bit” with his recovery. Murray said he expects to speak with the Finnish right wing soon about whether Selanne will return.

“If he feels like his body is telling him to stop playing, he will stop playing,” said Carlyle, who admitted they’re considering a “Plan B” if Selanne retires.

Selanne recently told a Finnish newspaper he won’t decide whether he’ll return or retire until September at the earliest. Selanne scored 80 points last season, eighth-best in the NHL.

baxter.holmes@latimes.com

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