Saku Koivu says he chose Ducks over other teams’ offers

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Some Ducks notes while waiting through the Kings’ silence on the state of their pursuit of Ilya Kovalchuk:

Center Saku Koivu, who tested the free-agent market but decided to stay in Anaheim and agreed to a two-year, $5-million contract Thursday afternoon, said by phone from Finland Friday that he got ‘some’ offers from other teams but nothing good enough to persuade him to move. He wouldn’t identify the teams that had contacted him.

‘The package and everything that Anaheim had to offer was by far the best,’ said Koivu, who struggled during the first half of the season but hit his stride later to finish with 19 goals and 52 points in 71 games.

‘Financially, it wasn’t the best offer, but for us, it was the best fit.’

He also said he had spoken at least once a day during the last week or so with fellow Finn Teemu Selanne and said Selanne ‘was happy’ to hear Koivu had re-signed with the Ducks. As for Selanne’s NHL future, Koivu said he had little certainty but a lot of hope that Selanne, who turns 40 on Saturday, will return for at least one more season.

Koivu said that the Ducks’ signing of another Finn, defenseman Toni Lydman, couldn’t hurt. ‘I hope it has a positive effect and we’ll see him back,’ Koivu said. ‘All I know is if we get Teemu back it’s going to make the team stronger.’

The Ducks’ first-round picks in last weekend’s NHL entry draft, Long Beach native Emerson Etem and promising defenseman Cam Fowler, are scheduled to participate in the team’s prospect summer conditioning camp starting Monday at Anaheim Ice.

A total of 31 prospects are due to take part in on-ice and off-ice workouts. The three open scrimmages, to be held on Tuesday, Thursday and July 10 at 6 p.m., are open to the public.

Here’s a list of the prospects scheduled to attend the conditioning camp:
Player Position How Acquired

Bonino, Nick C From San Jose

Bordson, Rob LW Signed as free agent

Brittain, Josh RW 2008 Entry Draft

Clark, Mat D 2009 Entry Draft

Cousineau, Marco G 2008 Entry Draft

Da Costa, Stephane C Free agent

Deschamps, Nicolas C 2008 Entry Draft

Etem, Emerson RW 2010 Entry Draft

Fowler, Cam D 2010 Entry Draft

Gardiner, Jake D 2008 Entry Draft

Heed, Tim D 2010 Entry Draft

Hegarty, Ryan D 2008 Entry Draft

Holland, Peter C 2009 Entry Draft

Lebler, Brian RW Signed as free agent

Lind, Kevin D 2010 Entry Draft

Macenauer, Maxime C 2007 Entry Draft

McCue, Matt LW Signed as free agent

McMillan, Brandon C 2008 Entry Draft

Mitera, Mark D 2006 Entry Draft

Newton, Jake D Signed as free agent

Palmieri, Kyle RW 2009 Entry Draft

Perlini, Brett RW 2010 Entry Draft

Pielmeier, Timo G From San Jose

Schultz, Justin D 2008 Entry Draft

Sexton, Dan RW Signed as free agent

Sharp, MacGregor C Signed as free agent

Smith-Pelly, Devante RW 2010 Entry Draft

Stephens, Evan D Free agent

Vaive, Justin LW 2007 Entry Draft

Valentine, Scott D 2009 Entry Draft

Wagner, Chris RW 2010 Entry Draft

-- Helene Elliott