The summer is over, and we’re gearing up for the best season of all, hockey season! However, the season hasn’t even started yet and I’ve already seen a lot of negativity surrounding the Anaheim Ducks. I think it’s time we revisited a very important question.
At the beginning of the summer, Pucks of a Feather was presented with a very interesting question, “Why is everyone so negative about the Anaheim Ducks?” I was given the task of answering this intriguing question. Thus, my quest to bring optimism back to the franchise and the fans began. Out of that, my five reasons to stay positive article was born.
My answer to the question remains the same. The Ducks reputation precedes them. They have been known for so long as the team that plays dirty. No matter how hard they try to right their wrongs of the past, anyone outside of Ducks Nation can’t see them as anything but what they once were.
I understand, who can take a franchise that was owned by Disney seriously? I’ve heard that argument so many times, it’s laughable. Although Disney hasn’t owned the team for thirteen years, I understand the argument. Disney is all about magic, true love, and friendship. Whereas, the Ducks have a reputation for being dirty and too physical. The team’s reputation was basically the exact opposite of their previous owners.
However, the Anaheim Ducks have gone on to prove themselves tenfold. A Stanley Cup, two Western Conference Championships, six Pacific Division titles, twelve playoff appearances, multiple 100+ point seasons, all in the span of 25 years. Yet, despite their success, the Ducks are still pegged as the laughing stalk of the NHL.
Players like Cam Fowler, Rickard Rakell, and Jakob Silfverberg, with their calm, cool, and collected demeanors haven’t been able to vanquish the Ducks reputation. However, we all know how easily a bad reputation can follow someone, even after they’ve rightfully outgrown it.