Goring Rejects Offer to Become Duck Coach

The Mighty Ducks have called a news conference for today at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, but team officials refused to say whether it was to introduce Butch Goring as their new coach or someone new had emerged as a replacement for Pierre Page.

Goring said Wednesday afternoon he rejected the Ducks’ offer because it was worth only about $400,000 per season. He was asleep at his summer home near Winnipeg in Canada late Wednesday night, but his wife, Cathy, told a reporter there had been no change in his status.

Andy Murray, a former Canadian national team coach who appeared to be the runner-up in the Ducks’ coaching derby, said he had not spoken to the Ducks and that he believed Craig Hartsburg was the Ducks’ choice.

“I think that’s the direction they’re going,” Murray said.

A late-night call to Hartsburg’s summer home in Canada woke his wife, Peggy, who said they had no plans to be in Anaheim for today’s news conference.

Goring, a player for the Kings in the 1970s and coach and general manager of the Utah Grizzlies of the International Hockey League since 1994, was offered the Duck job Tuesday. But he said he wanted more money than the Ducks were willing to offer and turned them down.

According to Goring, the Duck offer was for about $400,000 per season--or $100,000 less than they paid Page last season. Page was fired June 15.

“To my understanding, it’s over,” said Goring, believed to be the highest-paid coach in the IHL at $250,000 per season.

“They made one offer and there’s been no negotiating. I’m more frustrated and disappointed than anything else.

“I thought the process with the interviews and everything went well until we talked about money, then it came to a halt.”

Wednesday’s events appeared to be another sign of the increasing instability and lack of financial commitment within the Duck organization.

Certainly, it marks another mind-boggling chapter in their ongoing coaching saga.

The Ducks had one of the game’s bright young coaching stars in Ron Wilson, but he was let go May 20, 1997, after leading them to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Last season, Wilson landed a new job and led the Washington Capitals to their first appearance in the Stanley Cup finals.

Page--the man selected to replace Wilson--lasted only 10 months, despite being a longtime friend of General Manager Jack Ferreira.

Hiring Page was a “mistake,” Tavares told a meeting of season-ticket holders Tuesday night at the Pond. Page was retained for the duration of the season only because of his friendship with Ferreira, Tavares said.

Apparently, the search for Page’s replacement continued well into the night.

A team spokesperson said Ferreira, assistant general manager David McNab and other club officials were huddled in a conference room and were unavailable for comment.

Murray figured to be the Ducks’ next logical choice. But Murray, a finalist along with Goring, said he hadn’t spoken to Duck officials since last week. “I don’t even know if I’m the guy they would turn to,” Murray said from his home in Minnesota. “Nobody has told me anything officially. I’ve received no feedback from the Ducks.”

The Ducks’ desire to play hardball with Goring is believed to be the reason behind the collapse of the deal, but Goring’s expectations for a hefty salary also appear to have played a significant role.

Goring earned $250,000 as coach and general manager of the Grizzlies and it’s believed he hoped to be paid more than the $500,000 the Ducks paid Page last season.

Goring said Wednesday the Ducks’ lone offer to him was “about $100,000 less than they paid their last coach.”

According to Goring, who has less than two seasons of NHL coaching experience but has been successful in the minor leagues, the Ducks’ deal was a take-it-or-leave-it offer.

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The Mighty Ducks are expected to announce today they have agreed to a three-year radio deal with XTRA 690, the San Diego-based all-sports station.

The Ducks have been trying to land a deal with XTRA since their inaugural season in 1993-94.

Times staff writer Bill Shaikin contributed to this report