Anaheim Ducks 25th Anniversary: Best players to wear numbers 34-30
It has been a quarter of a century since the Anaheim Ducks inaugural year. The success of a legacy that has been 25 years in the making is, in large part, due to the men dressed in the sweaters.
It is mind-boggling that we are already celebrating the Anaheim Ducks silver anniversary. For some of you, it may seem like it was only yesterday when the Ducks took the ice at the Pond for the first time.
For others, you may not have been following the Ducks for long. However, no matter how long you’ve been a Ducks fan, we can all reminisce about the past.
Today we will continue our stroll down memory lane by honoring the best Ducks to wear jersey’s 34-30. After you finish up here, check out our previous three articles:
34- Daniel Winnick (2012-2014)
Of the nine players to wear the number 34 for the Anaheim Ducks, Daniel Winnick takes the cake. The Ducks acquired him from their cross-state rivals, the San Jose Sharks, during the 2012 post-season. He was signed to a two year, $1.8M per-year, deal.
During the duration of his two seasons with the Ducks, he scored 12 goals in 124 games. He also added 37 helpers, giving him 49 total points. Although those are not the most impressive stats, it serves as a reminder that a player is more than just his numbers.
Throughout his stint with Anaheim, he aided in improving the Ducks execution on the forecheck.
His willingness to take challenges proved that he was a versatile asset in the line-up. Although his average time on ice decreased slightly in his second season, his game improved. Winnick played to the full extent of his contract but he did not return to the team the following season.
Honorable Mention: James Wisniewski (2008-2010, 2014-2015)
Wisniewski deserves an honorable mention considering he is the only other Duck to have worn the number 34 that accumulated more than 8 points during his tenure with Anaheim. In three seasons with the Ducks, the defenseman totaled 46 points (4g, 42a.)
After not re-signing him after the 2010 season, Bob Murray brought him back during the 2014-15 season. He was acquired as a solution to help the Ducks struggling power play unit as well as add much-needed depth to the blueline.
33- Jakob Silfverberg (2013-Present)
In 2014 Jakob Silfverberg was traded to the Anaheim Ducks from Ottawa in exchange for Bobby Ryan. As hard as it was for the Ducks to trade a point producer such as Bobby Ryan, the trade certainly worked in their favor.
Although Silfverberg has been rumored to be on the Ducks trading block, let’s push that aside for just a moment and look at the success he’s had while on the roster.
Silfverberg is a defensively minded forward, who has also done a lot to improve his offensive game. In the past five seasons, he has played 317 games in Anaheim, netting 83 goals and adding107 assists. The 190 points he has produced serves as further proof that the Ducks got the better end of the deal.
Silfverberg has been an instrumental building block in the success of the Ducks during the past few seasons. As unfortunate as it is that the Ducks may have to move on from the Swedish forward, he has been a valuable asset to the Anaheim Ducks roster.
32- Travis Moen (2005-2009)
Travis Moen played four seasons with the Anaheim Ducks through 2005-2009. During those four seasons, he played 261 games. He produced a total of 45 points during his time with the Ducks (22g, 23a.)
However, what makes Moen stand out as the best player to wear the number 32 is his performance during the 2007 Stanley Cup run. He was an integral part of helping the team bring the Cup to California for the first time. In 21 playoff games, he was responsible for scoring seven goals and adding five helpers.
In their series against Vancouver, Moen scored the game-winning goal in game four. The game had gone into overtime at 2-2. At 2:07 into the extra period, Moen slid the puck into the net. This put the Anaheim Ducks up 3-1 in the series they would eventually go on to win.
Moen also scored two of Anaheim’s goals in game five against Ottawa. This is the game that would go down in history as one of the finest moments in Ducks history. His efforts made it possible for the Ducks to finally win the Stanley Cup.
31- Guy Hebert (1993-2001)
Guy Hebert was essentially the beginning of the franchise. During the 1993 expansion draft, Anaheim selected him to be among the first Mighty Ducks.
In the 441 games he played as a Duck, he had a record of 173-202-52. He maintained a save percentage of .911 and made 11,813 career saves.
Hebert was responsible for many firsts in Anaheim. Although his first game in the net ended in defeat (7-2 against Detroit), He made lots of things possible for the Ducks. He was a powerhouse for the Ducks in the net and set a high bar for his successors
“People remember the effort you put on the ice every night, and I gave it my all every night. Some nights were better than others, but you set a bar for the next guy. I played eight years, and Jiggy came in and had a great career for the Ducks, broke a lot of my records. He’s passed the baton for Jonas and he’s had the helm for the last few years. I think over 20 years, the Ducks have probably had the fewest goalies of any team in the league. Over a 16-year period, two guys played like ninety-something percent of the games for the franchise. That’s a pretty unique thing and I’m proud to be part of the Ducks goaltending history.” -Guy Hebert, Anaheim Ducks Goalie (1993-2001)
Hebert is still part of the organization today. He serves the co-host on Ducks telecasts before, after and between periods of games.
30- Ryan Miller (2017-Present)
The jersey bearing the number 30 has been reserved for many of Anaheim’s back up netminders. Eight players in total have dressed as #30. However, none of them stand out quite as much as the most recent player to wear the number.
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Ryan Miller was acquired from Vancouver by the Anaheim Ducks in 2017. Miler’s impressive fifteen-year resume is what enticed the Ducks to cut him a deal. It’s not every day a team can add a former Vezina Trophy winner (2009-10 while playing for the Buffalo Sabres) to their roster.
During his first year with the Ducks, he proved that he is more than just a statistic. Of course, he puts up great numbers. He ended his first season with the Ducks with a record of 12-6-6. In 28 games, he had an average .92 save percentage.
Numbers aside, Miller not only plays the part as the reliable number two; he acts upon it as well. He takes his role as the backup and veteran presence in the net very seriously. Miller refuses to play like he is just a spare part. He doesn’t let the fact that he is now in the backup role affect his effort.
Next: Former Anaheim Duck, Nick Boynton, Torches NHL
He is a teacher and mentor to a young John Gibson, even though the starting netminder hasn’t been playing the game as long as his teammate. That is an indication of a good player. His humble attitude in his new position is inspiring.