Ducks get Hartsburg

Mighty Ducks roster

Hartsburg, 39, was fired as the coach of the Chicago Blackhawks last April after the team failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1969.

He replaces Pierre Page who was fired in June after the Ducks finished 12th in the Western Conference and out of the playoffs.

Hartsburg is the second choice for the Ducks coaching job. GM Ferreira offered the job to Butch Goring who declined to become the lowest paid coach in the NHL.

Ferreira said Hartsburg will make more than the $350,000 a year offered to Goring but refused to give out a specific figure.

"It came down to NHL experience," Ferreira said. "He's been through all phases and can relate well to the players."

Hartsburg inherits a organization in disarray. The Ducks had a horrible season finishing 26-43-13. Since the end of the season the team has hired a new president and now a new coach, but has failed to sign any free agents despite of Ferreira's promises to be "aggressive" in the market.

"It's a fresh start for myself, for the organization and for the players." Hartsburg said, "I come here with no bold promises or statements, I come here with a plan and principals I believe in. I know there's going to be some bumps in the road."

One piece of good news in the Disneyland is that Paul Kariya appears to be healthy for the start of the 1998-99 season. Kariya missed first half of last season to contract dispute and most of the second half after suffering a concussion on a cheap shot by then-Blackhawk Gary Suter.