Niclas Havelid

The Mighty Ducks Thursday signed defenseman Niclas Havelid, their third-round pick in this year's draft, to a one-year contract with an option for a second year. Havelid, 26, has played for Sweden's national team and was one of the top defensemen in the Swedish League. "He has the skill level to play in the National Hockey League," Duck General Manager Pierre Gauthier said. "There is always an adaptation period with European players, especially older ones.

The Mighty Ducks began mandated payroll reduction before Saturday's NHL draft, trading defenseman Niclas Havelid to the Atlanta Thrashers for Kurtis Foster, a little-known defenseman. Officials from Walt Disney Co., which owns the team, desire a $12-million payroll cut and the Ducks have already committed $33 million to 13 players for next season. Something had to give, or rather someone had to be given away.

Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere and defenseman Niclas Havelid made their season debuts Sunday. Both would have been better off to wait another game. Giguere, who missed training camp with a groin injury, played well, stopping 27 of 30 shots, and deserved a better fate than a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Havelid, who has been out since Jan.

Paul Kariya's first game at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim since he left the Mighty Ducks as a free agent last summer was the perfect occasion for fans to vent 51 games' worth of frustration. Fans booed the Colorado Avalanche's team bus when it pulled into the parking lot Friday. They booed Kariya when he skated toward the bench during warmups. They booed Kariya and Teemu Selanne each time either winger touched the puck during the game.

Coach Craig Hartsburg would like to get defenseman Niclas Havelid into a game soon. Trouble is, Hartsburg doesn't know which defenseman to take out of the lineup. "I think our defense is playing pretty good right now," Hartsburg said. "It's hard to make a change. . . . Niclas has to be ready when his chance comes." Havelid hasn't played an NHL game since suffering a broken right middle finger Jan. 15 against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh has a slightly torn muscle in his right shoulder that may require surgery, a Duck spokesman said. Ozolinsh was examined by Dr. Ronald Glousman on Monday and will decide whether to undergo surgery, which will keep him out at least 12 weeks, or opt for rehabilitating the shoulder, which will keep him out of the lineup an indefinite period of time, in the next few days. He will consult with Glousman and Duck trainer Chris Phillips before making his decision.

* 1998-99 RECORD: 35-34-13. * LAST SEASON: Third in the Pacific Division, sixth in Western Conference (swept in the first round of the playoffs by Detroit). * WHO'S NEW: Forward Ted Donato (trade), defensemen Niclas Havelid (draft) and Oleg Tverdovsky (trade). * WHO'S GONE: Defensemen Mike Crowley (not re-signed) and Jamie Pushor (expansion draft), center Travis Green (trade) and left wing Tomas Sandstrom (not re-signed).

Mighty Duck defenseman Niclas Havelid was dusted off and taken down from the shelf Friday night. With Vitaly Vishnevski serving a two-game suspension for elbowing, Havelid was forced into the lineup for only the second time in 19 games. His play, though, looked anything but rusty. Havelid was teamed with veteran Keith Carney and played 22 minutes 23 seconds in a 1-1 tie with the Chicago Blackhawks. Only Oleg Tverdovsky played more among Duck defensemen.

He's not the fastest defenseman on the Mighty Duck roster. Nor is he the biggest or most experienced player on the blue line. But Niclas Havelid has been their best defenseman for the last three weeks, according to Coach Craig Hartsburg. The Ducks hoped Havelid would bolster their defense, which is why they took a chance on the 26-year-old Swede when they picked him in the third round of last summer's draft.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere was a road warrior again Monday, the persona he carried through the Stanley Cup playoffs. This was the guy who stood defiant in Detroit last spring. The one who endured long overtimes in Dallas. The goaltender who completely dominated in Minnesota. Now, three months into the regular season, Giguere has another road victory, one that he earned. Giguere's 31-save performance pushed the Ducks to a 2-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in front of an announced 17,662 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere was a road warrior again Monday, the persona he carried through the Stanley Cup playoffs. This was the guy who stood defiant in Detroit last spring. The one who endured long overtimes in Dallas. The goaltender who completely dominated in Minnesota. Now, three months into the regular season, Giguere has another road victory, one that he earned. Giguere's 31-save performance pushed the Ducks to a 2-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in front of an announced 17,662 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh has a slightly torn muscle in his right shoulder that may require surgery, a Duck spokesman said. Ozolinsh was examined by Dr. Ronald Glousman on Monday and will decide whether to undergo surgery, which will keep him out at least 12 weeks, or opt for rehabilitating the shoulder, which will keep him out of the lineup an indefinite period of time, in the next few days. He will consult with Glousman and Duck trainer Chris Phillips before making his decision.

Mighty Duck defenseman Niclas Havelid was dusted off and taken down from the shelf Friday night. With Vitaly Vishnevski serving a two-game suspension for elbowing, Havelid was forced into the lineup for only the second time in 19 games. His play, though, looked anything but rusty. Havelid was teamed with veteran Keith Carney and played 22 minutes 23 seconds in a 1-1 tie with the Chicago Blackhawks. Only Oleg Tverdovsky played more among Duck defensemen.

Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere and defenseman Niclas Havelid made their season debuts Sunday. Both would have been better off to wait another game. Giguere, who missed training camp with a groin injury, played well, stopping 27 of 30 shots, and deserved a better fate than a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Havelid, who has been out since Jan.

It cannot accurately be reported that the Ducks simply threw their hands in disgust after stinking up the Arrowhead Pond last season. They did not flee to the nearest golf course or fishing hole to curse their fate while working on nothing more significant than an off-season tan. The Ducks got mad and then tried to do something about their ninth-place finish in the NHL's Western Conference.

Coach Craig Hartsburg would like to get defenseman Niclas Havelid into a game soon. Trouble is, Hartsburg doesn't know which defenseman to take out of the lineup. "I think our defense is playing pretty good right now," Hartsburg said. "It's hard to make a change. . . . Niclas has to be ready when his chance comes." Havelid hasn't played an NHL game since suffering a broken right middle finger Jan. 15 against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Paul Kariya's first game at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim since he left the Mighty Ducks as a free agent last summer was the perfect occasion for fans to vent 51 games' worth of frustration. Fans booed the Colorado Avalanche's team bus when it pulled into the parking lot Friday. They booed Kariya when he skated toward the bench during warmups. They booed Kariya and Teemu Selanne each time either winger touched the puck during the game.

The Mighty Ducks began mandated payroll reduction before Saturday's NHL draft, trading defenseman Niclas Havelid to the Atlanta Thrashers for Kurtis Foster, a little-known defenseman. Officials from Walt Disney Co., which owns the team, desire a $12-million payroll cut and the Ducks have already committed $33 million to 13 players for next season. Something had to give, or rather someone had to be given away.

He's not the fastest defenseman on the Mighty Duck roster. Nor is he the biggest or most experienced player on the blue line. But Niclas Havelid has been their best defenseman for the last three weeks, according to Coach Craig Hartsburg. The Ducks hoped Havelid would bolster their defense, which is why they took a chance on the 26-year-old Swede when they picked him in the third round of last summer's draft.

Mighty Duck defenseman Ruslan Salei has been in Niclas Havelid's skates. Coming to America--North America, that is--from Europe to play hockey requires a huge adjustment, or so it is said. "The biggest adjustment I had to make was answering that question," Salei said, smiling. "People asked me that 100 times. I still don't know how to adjust to it." So it goes with European players, who have had to prove their worth in the NHL.