Anaheim Ducks 25th Anniversary: Best player to wear jersey numbers 35-44
By Ed Stein
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 35-44. For past jersey numbers clink on their link.
Inconsequential – 43, 41, 38 (Chris Kunitz wore it for 88 games before being waived in December of 2005. He returned to the Ducks successfully wearing number 14.)
44 – Rob Niedermayer (2003-2009)
Rob Niedermayer came to Anaheim in 2003 and was one of the reasons Scott came in. He was more than Scott’s younger brother during his five and a half years with the organization. During the march to the franchise’s first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals, Niedermayer was brought in from Calgary in exchange for Mike Commodore. He scored 10 points in 21 playoffs games that year.
Niedermayer was a dual threat with the ability to hurt the opposition with his gloves on or off. He played 382 games in a Mighty Ducks/ Anaheim Ducks uniform. All totaled, his output with Anaheim was 124 points (56g, 68a), and 311 penalty minutes.
Two of my favorite moments of 2007 championship run are due to him. The first moment was in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-finals. Anaheim and Vancouver were tied in double overtime when Niedermayer leveled Janik Hansen to cause a turnover that set up the winning goal. The other moment came a month later when team Captain Scott, handed the Stanley Cup to Alternate Captain Rob.
Honorable Mention Nate Thompson. Due to injury Thompson only played 159 games over three seasons for the Ducks. His faceoff prowess and determination on the ice put him in consideration.