Anaheim Ducks 25th Anniversary: Best player to wear numbers 45-64

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ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 2: Kyle Palmieri #51 of the Anaheim Ducks is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Detroit Red Wings in Game Two of the WCQF during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2018 is the 25th anniversary of the Anaheim Ducks first NHL season. We honor 25 years of excellence by counting down the best Anaheim Ducks player to wear each jersey number.

It’s hard to believe that the Anaheim Ducks have been in business for 25 years. Since their inception in 1993, the team had its struggles, but Anaheim has also been to the top of the summit. Pucks of a Feather celebrates the Silver Anniversary along with the team’s fans.

We continue our remembrance of days gone by bringing you the best Anaheim Ducks player to wear each jersey number. Today we cover jersey numbers 45-64. For past jersey numbers clink on their link.

Jersey numbers 65-98

Inconsequential

Players who didn’t wear the number long enough to make a lasting impact:

62 – Pat Maroon (2012-2014), Chris Wagner (2015-2016)

61 – Corey Perry (2006), Troy Terry (2018)

60 – Brendan Mikkelson (2009-2011)

59 – Nick Sorenson (2017)

58 – Ryan O’Marra (2012), Nic Kerdiles (2017-2018)

57 – David Perron (2017)

56 – Petteri Wirtanen (2008)

55 – Garrett Burnett (2004), Brian Salcido (2009), Bryan Allen (2013-2014)

54 – Sean Pronger (1996-1997), Bobby Ryan (2008), Cam Fowler (2011)

53 – Brett Festerling (2009-2011), Shea Theodore (2016-2017)

52 – Peter LeBoutillier (1997-1998), Ryan Carter (2007)

49 – Maxime Macenauer (2012)

ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 27: Brandon McMillan #64 of the Anaheim Ducks races for the puck against Jake Gardiner #51 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the game on November 27, 2011. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) /

64 – Brandon McMillan (2011-2014)

Brandon McMillan played 91 games over parts of three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. The former third-round pick from 2008 bounced between the NHL and the minors during his time in the organization. He was a defensive forward and played on the penalty kill. McMillan scored 26 points in an Anaheim uniform (four on the PK) and racked up 40 penalty minutes

63 – Nick Bonino (2009-12)

The player known as “Bones” started his career with the Anaheim Ducks wearing jersey number 63 in 85 games. His first full year in the NHL was 2011-12. He scored 18 points (5g, 13a) in 2012, then switched to number 13 the following season. Bonino may be better known for going to Vancouver in the deal that brought Ryan Kesler to Anaheim. Since leaving the organization, he has won two Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh.

51 – Kyle Palmieri (2011-2013)

Eight players have worn number 51 for Anaheim. The Ducks are known for assigning higher numbers to young players. Some players choose 51 because they have worn number 15 (ie Ryan Getzlaf) in the past and it’s the same digits, reversed. The best of the eight was Kyle Palmieri. He wore 51 for parts of three seasons, scoring 29 points in 70 games. Palmieri switched to jersey number 21 to start the 2013 season. That’s when his career started to take off.

50 – Antoine Vermette (2016-2018)

Recent followers of the team are very familiar with Antoine Vermette. A twelve year veteran when he signed with the Anaheim Ducks in 2016, Vermette was brought in to add depth down the middle. He did so in 2016-17 scoring 28 points in 72 games playing a bottom six role.

Father time caught up with him the following season. Vermette, despite plenty of opportunities, could only muster 16 points in 62 games. As a result, he saw his playing time go from over 16 minutes per night in November to single digits by March, when he wasn’t a healthy scratch. One thing Vermette did very well was win faceoffs, which did at over a 61% clip during his two seasons with the Ducks

ANAHEIM, CA – MARCH 14: Hampus Lindholm #47 of the Anaheim Ducks controls the puck with help from Corey Perry #10 and Rickard Rakell #67 during the game against the Vancouver Canucks. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) /

48 – Andrew Ebbett (2008-2010)

Andrew Ebbett narrowly wins out over Logan Shaw. Even though Shaw played in more games (97-53), Ebbett had an impressive 2008-09 season that put him over the top. Undersized (5’9”, 174 lbs) and undrafted, the center from the University of Michigan scored 32 points in 48 games with the Anaheim Ducks. A total that included 11 points on the power play. He only played two more games in Anaheim the next season before he was waived and claimed by Chicago.

47 Hampus Lindholm (2014-Present)

Hampus Lindholm was selected sixth overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. The expectations were that the Swedish Junior standout would be a cornerstone of a franchise. He hasn’t disappointed. Rather than rehashing his career, here are some comments from previous articles that are very applicable here:

The former sixth overall draft pick in the 2012 entry draft is the type of player, every GM loves. Lindholm plays a solid two-way game and can be used in a multitude of situations. Always a strong defender, Lindholm stepped up his offensive side in the wake of Vatanen’s mid-season trade to New Jersey. He put up a career-high 13 goals in 69 games. – Anaheim Ducks: Are They Championship Material? – Part Two

Lindholm’s dependability as a player and on ice and leadership off it make him a future Anaheim Ducks team captain. He is a key piece of the team’s future. – Anaheim Ducks Season Grades: Defensemen Part Two

ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 22: Sami Vatanen #45 of the Anaheim Ducks looks on during the second period of a game against the Vegas Golden Knights. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

46 Jean-Francois Jomphe (1996-1998)

At this point, many of you out there are saying “who?” I didn’t even remember him. In the early days of the franchise, Jomphe was a bottom line forward. A career sub-10-minutes per night player, he wound up skating 104 games in an Anaheim sweater.

More from Pucks of a Feather

His best season came in 1996-97 when he scored 21 points (7g, 14a) and amassed 53 penalty minutes in 64 games. Jomphe was traded to Phoenix in 1998 for tough guy Jim McKenzie.

45 – Sami Vatanen (2013-2018)

The Finnish Flash 2.0 was an offensive weapon for the Anaheim Ducks during his four-and-a-half years with the team. A draft steal for Anaheim in 2009, Sami Vatanen was selected in the fourth round, 106th overall. He stayed in Finland for a few years before heading across the Atlantic. Once Vatanen got here he made quick work of the minors, playing a total of 70 games with Norfolk.

An adept puck handler, Vats was particularly dangerous on the power play. Defenders couldn’t play him close because he was too fast. They couldn’t play too far off him either due to his excellent passing ability. All totaled, Vats appeared in 280 games with the Ducks.

He put up 126 points (33g, 93a) in that time with almost half (60) of those coming on the man-advantage. Many fans were sad to see him go last November when he was traded to New Jersey for Adam Henrique.

Next: 15th Anniversary of Paul Kariya as Lazarus: "Off the Floor, "On the Board"

Next up will be jersey numbers 40-44

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