None of that, however, is at the forefront of what is on the minds of the club’s fans these days. That would be the future of two of Anaheim’s star players, defenseman Scott Niedermayer and right wing Teemu Selanne. Neither Niedermayer nor Selanne, each of whom sat out a lengthy portion of last season while contemplating retirement, has announced whether he will play next season. The Ducks were expecting word from Niedermayer within days and anticipated that Selanne will give them a decision after Niedermayer does. General manager Brian Burke had originally told the two he would like decisions before the entry draft but gave Niedermayer more time because his wife, Lisa, delivered the couple’s fourth child on June 20, the first day of the draft. Selanne, who stands to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, is under no obligation to give the Ducks an answer, but Burke has told Selanne’s agent, Don Baizley, that if the Ducks don’t know Selanne’s plans by the time the NHL free agent market opens July 1, they might go forward in such a manner that would preclude re-signing Selanne. Niedermayer, who has one season and $6.75 million remaining on the four-year contract he signed with the Ducks in 2005, and Burke are scheduled to meet later this week. • While they don’t expect to enjoy the luxury of having him in the position for an extended time, the Ducks on June 20 announced the hiring of former Vancouver Canucks general manager Dave Nonis as senior adviser of hockey operations. Nonis, a close friend of Ducks general manager Brian Burke, signed a one-year contract that allows him to leave at any time to accept a job as general manager of another NHL team. • Al Coates, a former Ducks interim general manager and a senior adviser to current Ducks general manager Brian Burke the past three seasons, accepted an offer June 16 to become director of player personnel for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Coates’ contract with the Ducks was due to expire June 30. Quote To Note: “He’s keeping his options open. I don’t think he will be with us more than a year, if he even makes it through a year. To add that kind of experience, even for a short time, is a great thing. He gets our system. He gets how the backbone of teams is defense. He’ll be a very valuable addition to us.”—Ducks general manager Brian Burke on the hiring of former Vancouver Canucks general manager Dave Nonis as senior adviser of hockey operations. Nonis’ one-year contract gives him the freedom to accept another general manager’s job at any time. Draft Picks Of Note: Jake Gardiner, 6-1, 175, Minnetonka High School. The 17th player selected in the first round, Gardiner is a speedy defenseman who made the switch from forward only a year ago. Bound for the University of Wisconsin, where he is expected to spend at least the next two seasons, Gardiner ranked third in scoring among all Minnesota blue-liners with 43 points, including 16 goals, and was a finalist for the state’s Mr. Hockey award. Nicolas Deschamps, 6-0, 173, Canada. A lightly regarded center at the outset of the season, Deschamps improved his stock steadily while totaling 24 goals and 67 points in 70 games for Chicoutimi of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. While some had Deschamps ticketed as a first-round selection, the Ducks got him with the fifth pick in the second round. Eric O’Dell, 6-0, 174, Canada. After playing junior “A” hockey in Cumberland, Ontario until Christmas, O’Dell jumped to the Ontario Hockey League and put up 32 points, including 14 goals, in 28 games for Sudbury. A center with strong playmaking and puck stills, O’Dell was a second-round pick, 39th overall. Justin Schultz, 6-1, 163, Canada. A defenseman bound for the University of Wisconsin in 2009, Schultz was a second-round pick, 43rd overall. An offensive-oriented blue-liner who played in the junior “A” British Columbia Hockey League last season, Schultz had nine goals and 40 points in 57 games for Westside. Free Agent Focus: While all eyes remain on restricted free agent right wing Corey Perry, whom the Ducks hope to sign to a multi-year contract July 1 or as soon thereafter as possible, the club on June 11 locked up backup goaltender Jonas Hiller to a two-year contract that will pay him $1.3 million annually. With the earlier signing of restricted free agent center Ryan Carter to a three-year deal, the Ducks have accomplished two major objectives. In addition to Perry, who led the Ducks with 29 goals last season, the other key remaining issue is the status of unrestricted free agent right wing Teemu Selanne, who has yet to announce whether he will play next season. Selanne is expected to return to the Ducks if he does not retire.
Anaheim Ducks
With the help of three trades that landed three more picks, the Ducks came away from the draft in Ottawa with 10 new prospects, including Minnesota high school defenseman Jake Gardiner, on their reserve list.
The club also added Dave Nonis to its front office, hiring the former Vancouver Canucks general manager as a senior adviser of hockey operations, while former senior adviser Al Coates took a job as director of player personnel with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Notes, Quotes
Roster Report
