‘Heat in Kitchen’ Cooked His Goose

Pierre Page said Tuesday he knows why the Mighty Ducks fired him Monday. It had nothing to do with philosophical differences with General Manager Jack Ferreira and everything to do with Ron Wilson’s success with the Washington Capitals.

“There was a lot of heat in the kitchen,� Page said, breaking his 24-hour silence during a subdued news conference in a Costa Mesa hotel ballroom.

“It was a timing thing. It happened that we had a tough year while the Ron Wilson thing was happening in front of us. Something had to be done to steer the ship in a different direction.

“I don’t believe what Jack said. I told Jack, ‘Philosophical differences? That’s not true. I don’t mind you firing me. We’re friends. Don’t tell me it’s about that.’

“It’s their organization. I buy that. I don’t believe there were philosophical differences.

“We were friends for 18 years, there wasn’t anything we couldn’t have worked out.�

Ferreira said Monday he and Page resolved a number of personnel issues after the Ducks finished their fifth season with a 26-43-13 record, their worst mark for an 82-game season.

Ferreira also said he was all set to bring Page back three weeks ago. But when Page began to question several decisions, Ferreira decided last week to fire him only 13 months after canning Wilson.

Wilson led the Ducks to their first winning season and the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, but his contract was not renewed by Ferreira and team President Tony Tavares, and he was let go May 20, 1997.

Wilson led his new team, the Washington Capitals, to the Stanley Cup finals. They were eliminated Tuesday night by the Detroit Red Wings in Game 4.

Page, who worked with Ferreira in Calgary and Minnesota, was hired last August to replace Wilson. A longtime friend warned Page that he would face difficult challenges in Anaheim.

“Doug Risebrough [the Edmonton Oilers’ vice president of hockey operations] told me, ‘You’re going to have a tough time because you’re going to have to make them forget Ron Wilson,’ � Page said. “I couldn’t believe I was brought in here for only one year. [But] there were high, high expectations. I believe I’m going to bounce back. If the Ducks’ intentions are good, they’ll bounce back.

“I just know Jack’s excuse isn’t the real one. We’ve been friends. We’ll be friends. I said, ‘Jack, I respect your decision. If you don’t want to tell me the real reason, that’s OK.’ �

Three weeks ago, Ferreira fired assistants Don Hay and Walt Kyle. Page’s job evidently was safe at that point. Asked if he knows what happened to change his status, Page said:

“I think Ron Wilson winning another round in the playoffs.�

Page added: “I know the chemistry between Jack and I was really strong. It’s all the factors. It’s Ron Wilson. It’s the ticket holders. It’s the suite holders. It’s the [Ducks’] image. The fans have been really great, but they’re hollering. They want something done.�

Page indicated he might have pushed Ferreira too hard to be aggressive when free agency begins next month. But he also said Ferreira asked him to be pushy.

“Jack said, ‘I’m so afraid we’ll just stick to the status quo,’ � Page said. “I said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll keep pushing.’ �

Ferreira and Tavares on Monday repeated their late-season promise to pursue veteran free agents to bolster their youthful roster. Of particular concern is gaining more experience in perhaps the NHL’s weakest defensive corps.

But Tavares’ vow Monday to increase the team’s payroll by at least $10 million came as a pleasant surprise to Page. Last season’s payroll of about $25 million was among the league’s lowest.

In hindsight, Page said working for Ferreira again might have been a mistake.

“You shouldn’t go back and relive the past,� he said. “In life, you’ve got to go forward. We were successful in Minnesota. Looking back, I thought it was going to work here. It didn’t work.�