Others Hire, but Ducks Ponder

The Washington Capitals introduced Ron Wilson as their coach Monday. In Phoenix, the Coyotes announced the hiring of Jim Schoenfeld. And in San Jose, Darryl Sutter was named the Sharks’ coach.

The Capitals also hired George McPhee as general manager, and the St. Louis Blues said they have hired Larry Pleau as general manager.

Back at the Pond, there was nothing new to report. The Mighty Ducks apparently aren’t close to hiring Wilson’s replacement.

After Monday’s flurry, only the Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins are still looking to fill coaching vacancies.

Speaking at a news conference at the construction site of the Capitals’ new downtown Washington arena, which is expected to open next winter, Wilson said:

“It’s like the slate is wiped clean here. All those years of bad luck playing in the Capital Centre [in Landover, Md.] are almost over. Then we turn over a new leaf and away we go.”

Wilson, whose contract was not renewed May 20 after four seasons with the Ducks, could just as easily have been speaking about himself.

Neither Schoenfeld nor Sutter was on the Ducks’ preliminary list of candidates, though it’s believed the Ducks had some interest in Sutter, who coached Chicago from 1992-95. He takes over a team that hasn’t had a .500 record in six seasons and finished last in the Pacific Division the last two years.

Schoenfeld, fired last week as the Capitals’ coach, replaces Don Hay, who is still considered the front-runner to become the second coach in Duck history.

Also on Duck General Manager Jack Ferreira’s list of candidates are, in no particular order, Duck assistant Walt Kyle, former Buffalo General Manager John Muckler and former Boston Coach Steve Kasper.

Ferreira also has spoken to former Chicago and Winnipeg Coach Bob Murdoch.

The hottest rumor around the league continues to be that the Ducks are interested in Buffalo Coach Ted Nolan. But that has been flatly denied by Ferreira and Duck President Tony Tavares.

Ferreira was out of town Monday, but will return today.

“Jack doesn’t seem rushed about it,” Tavares said.

Apparently, time is not a factor for Ferreira--again.

In 1993, the Ducks didn’t hire Wilson until a week after the expansion and amateur drafts. They may still be looking for a coach by the June 21 draft in Pittsburgh.

“There’s no deadline,” Ferreira said last week. “It would be OK after the draft. Free agency starts July 1, but I don’t think many guys are going to sign July 2.”

Ferreira hopes to narrow the field and hold second interviews with his top candidates this week or next. Tavares, Assistant General Manager David McNab and top scout Alain Chainey also will sit in and rank the finalists.

“Michael [Eisner, Disney chairman] will want to meet the guy too,” Tavares said.

Eisner will have veto power, but Tavares doesn’t expect him to exercise it.

Ferreira readily concedes the qualities the Ducks are seeking in their next coach are strikingly similar to the ones they had in Wilson.

“I’m taking it person by person, but originally we wanted somebody who was going to grow with the team,” Ferreira said. “Usually, more experienced guys are not interested in expansion teams.”

Wilson, Mike Murphy and Al Sims were the finalists in 1993. Wilson was an assistant with Vancouver for three seasons. Murphy went on to become the Toronto Maple Leaf coach. Sims spent three seasons as Wilson’s top assistant before becoming San Jose coach. He was fired May 9 after only one season with the Sharks.