Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
540. That’s the number of consecutive games that the scrappy Anaheim Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano has played since entering the league in 2007 with the Edmonton Oilers.
21. That’s the number of goals Cogliano scored in the 2013-2014 season, a career-high for the center.
5. That’s the number of game-winning goals Cogliano scored last season, also a career-high.
Throughout Cogliano’s career, however, it has not always been a numbers game. In his rookie season with the Oilers, Cogliano notched 45 points, a career-high for him even today, yet a low among most forwards in the league.
While Cogliano’s point totals may not seem like a lot, the two-way player’s impact can be seen on both sides of the ice. Cogliano has a penchant for success thanks to his speed, a speed so notable it won him the title of Fastest Skater in the 2009 NHL All-Star Skills Competition.
The Ducks, lacking in speed in their 2010-2011 campaign (which saw the club miss the playoffs for just the second time since the 2003-2004 season), decided to trade for the speedy Toronto native in July of 2011 for a second round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
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Ever since that trade, Cogliano has endeared himself to the Ducks faithful, by playing a consistent brand of hockey that all hockey fans can admire.
In fact, Cogliano’s Ironman streak, his playing 540 consecutive NHL contests, ranks as the fourth-longest consecutive games streak in NHL history.
The 5’10” forward may not seem fit for a hockey rink, but once Cogliano steps on the ice, he makes his presence noted.
In the 2013-2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Cogliano notched seven points, assisting on former Ducks forward Nick Bonino‘s game-winning overtime goal to knock the Dallas Stars out of the playoffs, and propel the Ducks into the semifinals.
This year, however, Cogliano’s linemates Saku Koivu (unsigned) and Daniel Winnik (signed by Toronto Maple Leafs) will not be returning to the Ducks, but expect Cogliano to play a pivotal role in special teams and on the defensive end.
At age 27, “Cogs” still has plenty years ahead of him. Ducks fans can only hope that those years will be well-spent with their team.