History of the Anaheim Ducks facts for kids
The history of the Anaheim Ducks began when the team joined the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1993. They were first known as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. This team was created in 1993, at the same time as the Florida Panthers. The Walt Disney Company owned the Ducks at first. They named the team after their popular movie, The Mighty Ducks. Since they started, the team has played at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. This arena is close to both Disneyland and Angel Stadium.
The Mighty Ducks had a tough start in their first two seasons. But they got much better with star player Paul Kariya. He led the team to their first two Stanley Cup playoffs in 1997 and 1999. Kariya played amazingly well with Teemu Selanne. Later, the team had fantastic goaltending from Jean-Sebastien Giguere. This helped them make a surprising run to their first Stanley Cup Finals in 2003. They lost to the New Jersey Devils in seven exciting games. In 2005, Disney sold the team to Henry and Susan Samueli. The team's name changed to the Anaheim Ducks before the 2006–07 season. That year, the Ducks won the Stanley Cup in five games against the Ottawa Senators.
The Disney Era: 1993–2004
The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim were started in 1993 by The Walt Disney Company. The NHL gave Disney the right to create a team in December 1992. They also approved a team for Miami, which became the Florida Panthers. Disney paid $50 million to join the league. Half of that money went to the Los Angeles Kings. This was because the Ducks would share the Southern California hockey market.
On March 1, 1993, the team got its name at the new Anaheim Arena. The name was inspired by the 1992 Disney movie The Mighty Ducks. That movie was about a group of kids who turned their losing youth hockey team into a winning one. Disney President Michael Eisner said the movie's success showed there was interest in a hockey team. Because of the name, the arena was called "The Pond." Disney also made a cartoon series called Mighty Ducks. It featured cartoon ducks as a hockey team.
Tony Tavares became the team president. Jack Ferreira, who helped create the San Jose Sharks, became the general manager. The Ducks chose Ron Wilson as their first head coach. The Ducks and the Florida Panthers picked players in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft and the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. In the expansion draft, they focused on defense. Goaltenders Guy Hebert and Glenn Healy were among the first players picked. In the entry draft, the Ducks picked Paul Kariya as the fourth overall player. Kariya started playing in 1994 and became the team's biggest star for many years.
The team's first game was on October 8, 1993, at home against the Detroit Red Wings. The Ducks lost 7–2. Two games later, on October 13, 1993, the Ducks won their first game ever. They beat the Edmonton Oilers 4–3 at home. The team won 14 of their first 38 games. This included four road wins in a row in November. They also had their first shutout win on December 15, 1993. They beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 1–0.
Led by captain Troy Loney, the Ducks were in eighth place in the Western Conference by February 1994. But their chances of making the Stanley Cup playoffs ended with a 6–0 loss to the San Jose Sharks. The Ducks finished the season with 33 wins, 46 losses, and 5 ties. This was a record for wins by an expansion team. The Florida Panthers also achieved this record. The Ducks sold out 27 of their 41 home games. Their merchandise sales became number one among NHL teams. This was helped by their presence in Disney's theme parks and Disney Stores.
The 1994–95 NHL lockout meant the Ducks did not play until January 20, 1995. This shorter season was when Paul Kariya first played. He scored 18 goals and 21 assists in 47 games. The Ducks had another decent season, with 16 wins, 27 losses, and 5 ties. The 1995–96 season was a big year for Kariya. He was chosen to play in the 1996 NHL All-Star Game. He was the only Ducks player chosen.
Finding Success on the Ice
On February 7, 1996, the Mighty Ducks made a huge trade with the Winnipeg Jets. They traded Chad Kilger, Oleg Tverdovsky, and a draft pick for Marc Chouinard, another draft pick, and star player Teemu Selanne. After the trade, Ducks player Steve Rucchin said, "Paul [Kariya] had a lot of pressure on him... Now that we have Teemu, everyone can't just focus on Paul." These three players—Kariya, Rucchin, and Selanne—became one of the best lines in hockey. Even with this trade, the team missed the playoffs.
During the 1996–97 season, Kariya became the team captain. He led the Ducks to their first post-season appearance. They had their first winning record of 36 wins, 33 losses, and 13 ties. This was good enough for home ice advantage in the first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Coyotes. Selanne finished second in the NHL with 109 points, which is still a team record. Kariya finished third with 99 points. The Ducks won the first two home games but then lost the next three. Game 6 went into overtime, and Kariya scored to tie the series. The Mighty Ducks won Game 7 at home to win their first playoff series. However, Anaheim was swept by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round. Even though they lost in four games, three of those games went into overtime.
The 1997–98 season was tough for the Mighty Ducks. They finished with a disappointing 26 wins, 43 losses, and 13 ties. Kariya was injured, and Selanne was the only strong scorer. Despite the team's struggles, Selanne tied for first in the NHL with 52 goals, which is still a team record.
The 1998–99 season was much better. Kariya was healthy again, and the team was strong. Selanne won the first-ever Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy for scoring the most goals in the NHL (47). Kariya finished third in the NHL with 62 assists. Selanne was second in the NHL with 107 points, and Kariya was third with 101 points. But the Mighty Ducks were again swept by the Red Wings in the playoffs.
The Mighty Ducks struggled again during the 1999–2000 season. They finished in last place in their division. They missed the playoffs by four points. Kariya finished fourth in the NHL with 42 goals. Selanne was seventh in assists with 52. After this season, the Mighty Ducks made a trade that helped them greatly later. They traded a draft pick to the Calgary Flames for goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere.
The 2000–01 season saw Anaheim finish last in their division. On March 5, 2001, fan-favorite Teemu Selanne was traded to the San Jose Sharks. The Ducks got Jeff Friesen, Steve Shields, and a draft pick in return.
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During the 2001–02 season, the Mighty Ducks again finished last in their division. In the off-season, the team signed free agent Adam Oates. They also traded Jeff Friesen and Oleg Tverdovsky to the New Jersey Devils. In return, they got Petr Sykora, Mike Commodore, and Jean-Francois Damphousse. This trade later became very important for both teams.
2002–03 Season: A Trip to the Finals
The 2002–03 season was very different for Anaheim. With new head coach Mike Babcock, the Mighty Ducks became one of the best teams in the second half of the season. They finished with 40 wins, 27 losses, 9 ties, and 6 overtime losses. At the NHL trade deadline, the team traded Jean-Francois Damphousse and Mike Commodore for Rob Niedermayer. They also got Steve Thomas from the Chicago Blackhawks.
After missing the playoffs for three years, Anaheim made it to the 2003 playoffs. For the third time, they faced the defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings. This time, Anaheim surprised everyone by sweeping Detroit in the series. Steve Rucchin scored the winning goal in overtime of Game 4. The Ducks then beat the top-seeded Dallas Stars in six games. Game 1 was the fourth-longest game in NHL history, with the Ducks winning in the fifth overtime period. In the Conference Finals, the Ducks quickly defeated the Minnesota Wild. They allowed only one goal in the entire series. This earned them their first Western Conference championship and a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals. Jean-Sebastien Giguere became a star in Southern California with his amazing play. He had a shutout streak of 217 minutes and 54 seconds in the Western Conference Finals.
The 2003 Stanley Cup Finals against the New Jersey Devils was a battle between two great goalies: Martin Brodeur for New Jersey and Giguere for Anaheim. It was also special because two brothers, Rob Niedermayer for the Ducks and Scott Niedermayer for the Devils, were playing against each other. A very memorable moment happened in Game 6 in Anaheim. Kariya was hit hard by New Jersey captain Scott Stevens. Kariya was knocked out and went to the locker room. But 11 minutes later, Kariya returned and scored a goal. This helped the Ducks tie the series with a 5–2 win. Even though they tied the series, Anaheim could not win their surprising run. They lost a tough Game 7 to the Devils, 3–0. Every game in the series was won by the home team.
For his great play in the playoffs, Giguere won the Conn Smythe Trophy. This award is for the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs. He was only the fifth player, and fourth goalie, to win the trophy while on the losing team. Giguere had 15 wins and 6 losses. He won all 7 games that went into overtime. He also had a 1.62 goals against average (GAA) and a .945 save percentage. He set an NHL record with a 168-minute, 27-second shutout streak in overtime.
At the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, the Ducks traded to get two first-round draft picks. With these picks, the team chose Ryan Getzlaf 19th overall and Corey Perry 28th overall. These two players would become very important for the team.
2003–04 Season: A Tough Year
During the off-season, the Mighty Ducks faced a big challenge. Their captain, Paul Kariya, decided to sign with the Colorado Avalanche. Kariya joined Teemu Selanne, who had also signed with Colorado. Both wanted to try and win the Stanley Cup. However, the Mighty Ducks signed star free agents Sergei Fedorov and Vaclav Prospal. Despite these new players and high hopes, the 2003–04 was a big disappointment. The Ducks failed to make the playoffs.
The Samueli Era: 2004–Present
In the summer of 2004, Disney tried to sell the team. In 2005, Broadcom Corporation co-founder Henry Samueli and his wife Susan bought the Mighty Ducks from Disney for $75 million. The Samuelis promised to keep the team in Anaheim.
Brian Burke, who was a general manager for the Vancouver Canucks, became the Ducks' general manager on June 20, 2005. On August 1, 2005, former star defenseman Randy Carlyle was hired as the team's seventh coach. Burke knew Carlyle's coaching skills well. Carlyle replaced Mike Babcock, who later coached the Detroit Red Wings.
The NHL held the 2005 NHL Entry Draft after a season-long lockout. This draft was called the "Sidney Crosby Draft." The Ducks got the second overall pick. They used it to choose American forward Bobby Ryan. Also in 2005, Anaheim brought back fan favorite Teemu Selanne. He had a great season, scoring 40 goals. The team also signed defenseman Scott Niedermayer, who was the older brother of Ducks forward Rob Niedermayer.
The 2005–06 season saw the Ducks trade away some big-name players for younger ones. These included former first-round picks Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Joffrey Lupul. The Ducks had a rough start but improved greatly. They became one of the best teams in the NHL and earned a playoff spot. In the playoffs, the Ducks beat the Calgary Flames in seven games. They then swept the Colorado Avalanche. Backup goalie Ilya Bryzgalov played incredibly well. The Mighty Ducks then faced the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final. They lost the series in five games. Selanne won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy at the end of the season for his dedication to hockey.
On January 26, 2006, the team announced a name change to the Anaheim Ducks. This change took effect in the 2006–07 season. They also changed their logo and team colors. Many fans asked the Samuelis to keep Wild Wing as the mascot. This was because of the team's recent success and to keep a link to the past. Along with the new name, their home arena, the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, was renamed Honda Center.
2006–07: The Stanley Cup Arrives
On July 3, 2006, the Ducks traded Joffrey Lupul and other players to the Edmonton Oilers. In return, they got star defenseman Chris Pronger. Pronger had asked to be traded from the Oilers.
With stars Pronger and Scott Niedermayer on defense, many thought the Ducks would win the 2007 Stanley Cup. They started the 2006–07 season very strong. On November 9, 2006, the Ducks beat the Vancouver Canucks 6–0. This made their record 12 wins, 0 losses, and 4 overtime losses. This set an NHL record for being undefeated in regulation for the first 16 games of the season. They were then shut out by Calgary in the next game, ending their streak.
On January 16, 2007, the Ducks played their 1,000th regular season game. On March 11, the Ducks reached their 1,000th point in franchise history. On April 7, the Ducks won their first Pacific Division title. They finished the season with 110 points, their first 100-point season. This was the fourth-best record in the NHL. Selanne finished third in the NHL with 48 goals.
In the 2007 Western Conference Quarterfinals, the Ducks beat the Minnesota Wild four games to one. The team then faced the Vancouver Canucks in the Semifinals. After splitting the first two games, the Ducks won Game 3 and Game 4. Game 5 also went to double overtime. Scott Niedermayer scored to win the series four games to one.
In their third Western Conference Final, they faced Detroit for the fourth time in the playoffs. The Ducks lost Game 1. But they won Game 2 in overtime. Game 3 was a tough loss for the Ducks. Chris Pronger was suspended for Game 4. Without Pronger, the Ducks stepped up and won Game 4. Game 5 in Detroit was a close defensive game. Scott Niedermayer tied the game with less than a minute left. In overtime, Teemu Selanne scored the winning goal. In Game 6, the Ducks won 4–3 to earn their second Western Conference championship.
The 2007 Stanley Cup Finals featured the Ducks against the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa was in the Finals for the first time. The Ducks won Game 1 and Game 2 at home. Game 3 saw the Ducks lose 5–3. Chris Pronger was suspended again for Game 4. In Game 4, Dustin Penner scored the winning goal for a 3–2 victory. On June 6, the Ducks defeated the Senators 6–2 at Honda Center. They claimed their first-ever Stanley Cup. Scott Niedermayer won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. After their championship, the Ducks became the first team from California to win the Stanley Cup. They were also the first West Coast team since the 1925 Victoria Cougars.
2007–08 Season: Defending the Cup
After winning the Stanley Cup, Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne were unsure if they would return. General manager Brian Burke signed two veteran players, Mathieu Schneider and Todd Bertuzzi. This was in case Niedermayer and Selanne retired. The Oilers signed Dustin Penner to a contract. Burke chose not to match the offer. The Ducks received draft picks as compensation.
The Ducks began their Cup defense in London, United Kingdom, against the Los Angeles Kings. Niedermayer and Selanne were still deciding about retirement. The Ducks split the series. On October 10, the Ducks raised their championship banners. It was a tough start for the Ducks. Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov was placed on waivers and claimed by the Phoenix Coyotes.
Scott Niedermayer announced his return on December 5. On December 14, Burke traded Andy McDonald to the St. Louis Blues for Doug Weight and other players. This was to make room for Niedermayer's salary. Niedermayer returned to the lineup on December 16. The team improved and got back into playoff contention. For the 2008 NHL All-Star Game, Ryan Getzlaf and Chris Pronger were chosen. Corey Perry and Scott Niedermayer were also named as replacements. This set a Ducks record with four players at the All-Star Game.
On January 28, 2008, Teemu Selanne decided not to retire. He signed a one-year contract with Anaheim. The Ducks won nine of their first ten games with Selanne back. At the trade deadline, the Ducks acquired defensemen Marc-Andre Bergeron and Jean-Sebastien Aubin. Chris Pronger was suspended for eight games late in the season. The Ducks finished fourth in the Western Conference. They faced the Dallas Stars in the playoffs. The Stars won the series in six games, ending the Ducks' chance to win another Cup.
2008–09 Season: More Playoff Success
The Ducks had a longer off-season. General manager Brian Burke resigned and joined the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bob Murray took over as general manager. Young forward Bobby Ryan was called up to the team. The Ducks continued to play better. Three Ducks players, Ryan Getzlaf, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, and Scott Niedermayer, were named starters for the NHL All-Star Game.
As the NHL trade deadline neared, the Ducks made some changes. They traded Chris Kunitz to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Ryan Whitney. General manager Bob Murray said the team needed a "good puck moving defenseman." The team also traded Brendan Morrison and Samuel Pahlsson. They acquired Erik Christensen and James Wisniewski.
With the main players still there, a new defense, and a new top line of Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf, and Corey Perry, the Ducks pushed to make the playoffs. They had a strong finish, winning 10 of their last 13 games. They finished with 42 wins, 33 losses, and 7 overtime losses. This placed them second in their division and eighth in the West. They faced the Presidents' Trophy-winning San Jose Sharks. Ryan Getzlaf broke the team record for most assists in a year with 66. Bobby Ryan led all NHL rookies with 31 goals and 57 points.
The Ducks surprised the Sharks by winning the first two games in San Jose. Jonas Hiller took over as starting goalie and got his first NHL playoff shutout. The Ducks won Game 4 easily. They won Game 6 to win the series four games to two. The Ducks became only the fourth team to beat the Presidents' Trophy winner in the first round. In the next round, the Ducks faced the Detroit Red Wings again. Game 2 went into triple overtime, with Todd Marchant scoring the winning goal. The Ducks won Game 3. But Detroit won Game 4 and Game 5. The Ducks won Game 6 to tie the series. In Game 7, Detroit won 4–3, ending the Ducks' season.
2009–10 Season: New Look
Scott Niedermayer signed a one-year contract extension. Teemu Selanne also planned to play his last year. The Ducks traded Chris Pronger to the Philadelphia Flyers. They got Joffery Lupul, defenseman Luca Sbisa, and draft picks. On July 8, the Ducks signed former Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu. The Ducks had another slow start. Before the trade deadline, the Ducks traded Giguere to the Toronto Maple Leafs. They got Jason Blake and Vesa Toskala. The Ducks also traded Ryan Whitney for defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky. They acquired defenseman Aaron Ward and goalie Curtis McElhinney.
The Ducks dealt with many injuries. They played better in the second half of the season. But they struggled after the Olympic break. For the first time since the lockout, the Ducks missed the playoffs. Scott Niedermayer announced his retirement in June. He decided to stay with the Ducks as a team consultant. The Ducks re-signed Saku Koivu for two years. They also signed free agent defenseman Toni Lydman and Andy Sutton. They drafted defenseman Cam Fowler. Bobby Ryan signed a five-year contract.
2010–2018: Ups and Downs
The 2010–11 season started slowly for the Ducks. But they found their rhythm and finished strong. Corey Perry and Jonas Hiller represented the Ducks at the All-Star Game. Corey Perry had an amazing season with 50 goals and 98 points. He won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy. He was the first Duck to win the Hart Trophy. However, Hiller was injured at the All-Star Game and missed the rest of the season. The Ducks lost in the first round of the 2011 playoffs to the Nashville Predators.
Before the 2011–12 season, the team was sad about the loss of former Mighty Duck Ruslan Salei. He died in a plane crash. The team wore a black patch with his jersey number, 24. The Ducks started the season with games in Europe. They lost to the Buffalo Sabres in Helsinki but beat the New York Rangers in Stockholm. After a slow start, the Ducks replaced head coach Randy Carlyle with Bruce Boudreau. The Ducks could not recover from their bad start and missed the playoffs.
The 2012–13 season was shorter due to a lockout. When play began, the Ducks started strong. They swept a two-game road trip in Canada. They finished the season with 30 wins, 12 losses, and 6 overtime losses. They won their second Pacific Division title. In the playoffs, they lost to the Detroit Red Wings in seven games.
Entering the 2013–14 season, Teemu Selanne announced it would be his final NHL season. The Ducks traded Bobby Ryan to the Ottawa Senators for Jakob Silfverberg, Stefan Noesen, and a draft pick. This season marked the team's 20th anniversary. The Ducks also acquired center Mathieu Perreault and brought back Dustin Penner.
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The 2013–14 season was a record-setting one for the Ducks. They had a franchise-record ten consecutive wins in December. At one point, they won 18 of 19 games. They also set a franchise record for goals scored in a game (9). The Ducks finished the regular season with a franchise-best 54 wins, 20 losses, and 8 overtime losses. They finished one point behind the Boston Bruins for the best record in the league. The Ducks won their second straight Pacific Division title. Anaheim faced the Dallas Stars in the playoffs and won in six games. This was their first playoff series win since 2009. In the next round, the Ducks faced their rivals, the Los Angeles Kings, for the first time in the playoffs. The Ducks lost the series in seven games.
General manager Bob Murray won the NHL General Manager of the Year Award. Ryan Getzlaf was nominated for the Hart Trophy.
On June 27, 2014, the Ducks acquired center Ryan Kesler from the Vancouver Canucks. In the following season, they won their third straight Pacific Division title. They finished as the top team in the West. In the 2015 playoffs, they swept the Winnipeg Jets in the first round. In Round 2, they beat the Calgary Flames in five games. This set up a Western Conference Final against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Ducks took a three games to two series lead. But they lost the final two games, including Game 7 at home. This was the third straight season the Ducks lost a Game 7 at home after leading the series.
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On July 15, 2015, the Ducks signed Ryan Kesler to a six-year contract. They also traded for Carl Hagelin and Kevin Bieksa. They added veterans Shawn Horcoff, Chris Stewart, and Mike Santorelli. Many thought the Ducks would win the Stanley Cup in the 2015–16 NHL season. However, they had a slow start. The team improved later, thanks to goalie John Gibson. On March 6, 2016, the Ducks set a franchise record with an 11-game winning streak. They clinched a playoff spot. But in the first round of the playoffs, they lost in seven games to the Nashville Predators. This led to head coach Bruce Boudreau being fired. On June 14, 2016, the Ducks re-hired former head coach Randy Carlyle.
On May 10, 2017, the Ducks ended their Game 7 losing streak. They defeated the Edmonton Oilers, winning the series 4–3. They advanced to the Western Conference finals. They lost to the Nashville Predators in Game 6. In the following season, the Ducks did not win the Pacific Division. They made the playoffs but were swept by the San Jose Sharks in the First Round.
2018–Present: Recent Years
In 2019, the Ducks fired Carlyle. Bob Murray became interim general manager. The Ducks missed the playoffs. On June 17, 2019, the team named Dallas Eakins as their 10th head coach.
On November 9, 2021, Bob Murray was put on leave. He later resigned. Pat Verbeek was named general manager on February 3, 2022. In 2023, Eakins left as head coach. The team hired Greg Cronin as the next coach.
