Mighty Ducks Taking a Second Look at Hay

Don Hay, former Phoenix Coyote coach, is scheduled to have his second interview with General Manager Jack Ferreira of the Mighty Ducks today in Anaheim.

Hay, 42, is the second candidate Ferreira has invited for a second interview in his search for a replacement for Ron Wilson, whose contract was not renewed May 20 after four seasons as Duck coach.

“I’m excited about it,” Hay said from his home in Kamloops, Canada.

Ferreira and team President Tony Tavares also interviewed Duck assistant coach Walt Kyle for a second time Tuesday in Anaheim.

“We just talked,” Kyle said. “It was real informal. It was more or less just a conversation about hockey and coaching and our team.”

Steve Kasper, fired by the Boston Bruins at season’s end, received an update from Ferreira by telephone Wednesday. Ferreira interviewed Kasper two weeks ago in Boston, but so far a second meeting has not been scheduled.

“Steve’s No. 1 objective is to be a head coach again,” said Steve Freyer, Kasper’s Worcester, Mass.-based agent. “All he wants is an opportunity to prove himself, and he didn’t really have that in Boston. Two years ago, to win 40 games in Boston was a miracle.”

After going 40-31-11 in 1995-96, the Bruins last season slumped to a league-worst 26-47-9 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in 30 years.

John Muckler, former Buffalo Sabre general manager, said he hasn’t spoken to Ferreira since their initial telephone conversation about two weeks ago.

Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Jose and Washington hired new coaches this past week.

“We’re progressing,” Ferreira said when asked when he expected to fill the Ducks’ coaching vacancy.