Questions Persist Away From Ice

Everything seems clear for the Mighty Ducks -- on the ice.

A disappointing season will be followed by a significantly longer off-season compared with a year ago.

Off the ice, however, things are considerably muddled. The turmoil in the Walt Disney Co., which owns the Ducks, figures to affect the team.

Disney officials have long tried to sell the team, once a cash cow. Those efforts have been hampered by Comcast’s bid to take over Disney, a source familiar with the proceedings said.

Comcast already owns a portion of the Philadelphia Flyers through one of its companies and would be required by the NHL to sell its share of one of the teams. That possibility, and the impending labor dispute, have potential buyers moving slowly, the source said.

If Comcast has to sell, the price might be at a reduced rate.

Three groups are believed to have shown interest in the team, including Joe and Gavin Maloof, who own the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.

“That doesn’t affect us at this point,� Duck General Manager Bryan Murray said. “We just have a responsibility to play hard as a team. That’s what we should be doing.�

Disney Chairman Michael Eisner’s interest in hockey was the driving force behind the company’s getting into the NHL, but his attention has been diverted in recent years. He was visible during the Ducks’ playoff run last spring but has yet to be seen at the Arrowhead Pond this season.

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Scouts for Florida, Tampa Bay and Toronto attended the Ducks’ game Monday against Phoenix. Neither the Ducks nor the Coyotes play those teams the rest of the season. The trade deadline is March 9.

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Duck enforcer Garrett Burnett made a slick move with the puck against the Coyotes on Monday, sidestepping a defender and getting a point-blank shot off. Unfortunately for Burnett, a former roommate, Phoenix goaltender Brian Boucher, made the save.

The two played in the minors for the Philadelphia Phantoms.

“I skated by him later and said, ‘You ... , I would have bought you dinner,’ � Burnett said.

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TONIGHT

vs. Edmonton, 7:30

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- XPRS (1090).

Records -- Ducks 21-25-9-8; Oilers 25-26-10-1.

Record vs. Oilers -- 0-2-0-1.

Update -- The Oilers have won seven consecutive games against the Ducks, three this season. The Ducks sent defenseman Chris Armstrong back to minor league Cincinnati on Tuesday.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.