DUCKS PLAYERS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT KARIYA'S RETURN
 
Following Wednesday night's 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins,
the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim players, including close friend Teemu
Selanne, were optimistic star winger Paul Kariya, who has yet to
play this season, could return as early as Thursday. Kariya, one
of the best players in the NHL, has been holding out this season
as a Group II free agent. Kariya and agent Don Baizley are said
to be asking for a three-year deal in the neighborhood of $9
million a year, while the Ducks have offered a seven-year, $49
million contract. "I don't know, I hope so," Selanne said of
Kariya's possible return following the loss. "There's been rumors
going around all day long. Obviously, it would be a great thing
to have him back. A couple of weeks ago I thought there was
progress being made but the last 10 days or so he seemed to be
feeling down. It would be the best Christmas present for me and
the team. It would be a huge boost for us right now, the team is
pretty flat. Let's see what happens tomorrow." Last season,
Kariya captured his second consecutive Lady Byng Trophy, honoring
the most gentlemanly player. The 23-year-old Kariya finished
second to Buffalo Sabres Dominik Hasek for the Hart Trophy as the
league's most valuable player last season. He scored 44 goals and
had 99 points. In his last two years, Kariya has a total of 94
goals and 207 points. The Ducks are in desperate need of some
offensive help. They are winless in their last five games (0-4-1)
and have been shut out five times in their last 12 contests.
Anaheim has scored just 70 goals in 32 games this season. Under
Group II free agency, the original team reserves the right to
match any offer sheet its player receives within a seven-day
span. Those who remain holdouts are Detroit's Sergei Fedorov,
Pittsburgh's Petr Nedved and Phoenix's Oleg Tverdovsky, who is
currently playing with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American
Hockey League.
 
--
Deron Treadwell - [log in to unmask]
University of Maine