DUCKS REPORT : Cullen Is Center of Attention

Conventional wisdom suggests the Mighty Ducks would be wise to soon sign or trade for a world-class center to join standout wingers Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne.

Don’t bet on it happening this season, however.

Certainly, Steve Rucchin has handled the center position well enough. But he’s expected to join Marty McInnis and Ted Donato to form a skillful second line.

Matt Cullen, who played with Kariya and Selanne quite a bit at the end of last season, has been promoted to the top line--at least for training camp.

“It’s the opportunity you dream of,” Cullen said. “It’s easy to get nervous playing with those guys. It’s easy to get away from your game when you just concentrate on getting them the puck. You have to keep playing your game.”

Cullen and Selanne worked well together during scrimmages Tuesday and Wednesday, easily the most impressive players on the ice both days.

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Milos Holan, a former Duck defenseman, continues his comeback from leukemia. Holan, 28, is competing for a spot with expansion Atlanta Thrashers.

Holan participated in the Ducks’ training camp last year, his first action since a lifesaving bone-marrow transplant in February 1996, but was cut without getting a chance to play in an exhibition game. His agent, Rich Winter, then blasted Pierre Gauthier, Duck president and general manager.

Holan, in a recent interview with the Hockey News, remained puzzled by the Ducks’ actions.

“I did what everybody else did in training camp and felt very good,” Holan said of his short stay in Anaheim last year. “I didn’t have strength in my legs like before, but I was ready. I didn’t understand [the decision].”

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Guy Hebert, Dominic Roussel and Tom Askey are expected to play in goal for exhibition games Saturday at San Jose and Sunday against Colorado at the Arrowhead Pond.

But Coach Craig Hartsburg wouldn’t say who would start the games or how much each would play.

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Hartsburg spent Thursday afternoon listening to Colin Campbell, the NHL’s senior vice president of hockey operations, conduct a conference call on several rule changes.

The most significant changes for 1999-2000 are four-on-four play during overtime and the elimination of the video goal judge.