After 2 1/2 Months of No Coach, Ducks Introduce Page Today

The long wait is over for the Mighty Ducks. They will introduce Pierre Page as their new coach today at noon, bringing closure to an often mind-boggling episode in franchise history that began when Ron Wilson was let go May 20.

Page, 49, has been the Ducks’ top choice since he resigned June 18 after two seasons as coach of the Calgary Flames.

After finally ending two months of haggling and settling compensation issues (the Flames got a conditional draft pick from the Ducks) earlier this week, announcement of Page’s hiring was considered a formality.

The Ducks, the last team in the league to fill their coaching vacancy, open camp Sept. 9 at the Pond. Had the compensation not been settled, they could have had to wait until Page became a free agent Oct. 1 before signing him.

Don’t look for dramatic changes in the team’s style of play--at least not right away. But expect more physical defensive pressure in Page’s system, which means the end of the neutral-zone trap as practiced so heartily in the early years by Wilson.

Wilson turned the Ducks into winners in four seasons by relying on a defensive-oriented style that produced turnovers and scoring chances from the trap, roughly akin to a half-court zone press in basketball.

The Ducks have never said precisely why Wilson’s contract was not renewed, but a personality clash with team President Tony Tavares is believed to be among the chief reasons. Wilson was hired in June to coach the Washington Capitals.

Also Friday, the Ducks avoided arbitration with free-agent defenseman Dmitri Mironov and agreed to a one-year contract. Mironov was the league’s sixth-leading scoring defenseman with 13 goals and 52 points last season.