Anaheim Ducks 25th Anniversary: Best Players To Wear Numbers 10-6
Twenty-five years of rich history lay behind the Anaheim Ducks, and as the celebrations commence, we are looking forward to many more years of hockey in Orange County. The celebration at Pucks of a Feather continues as we honor 25 years of excellence with our countdown of the best players to wear each jersey number.
There is an air of nostalgia that encompasses this incredible achievement of making it to the silver anniversary. A lot of hard work and devotion has been put into making the organization what it is today. We have seen trials over the years that have served as our stepping stones towards victory, and our triumphs have paved the way to glory. Although we are no longer branded as the Mighty Ducks, Anaheim has never lost the spark that ignited their fire.
As the years have passed by, the Anaheim Ducks franchise has seen many legends be born. By the same token, many current players are making their rise to stardom, in that, someday they may be showcased among the greats. The perseverance and dedication of both the past and present Ducks will serve as the templet to mold players to come.
Whether you have been a part of Ducks Nation since their inaugural season in 1993, or your journey with the Ducks has just begun, there is no better time than now to look back on the most renowned players in franchise history. Today, as we continue our celebration, we honor the best Ducks to wear numbers 10-6.
10- Corey Perry (2005-Present)
Corey Perry is a player everyone either loves or loves to hate. Despite all of the backlash he has received during the off-season, there is no denying that he has been partially responsible for the success of the Anaheim Ducks over the past thirteen years.
He may not be the spring chicken he once was, nor may he be the fastest skater, but he still knows how to play a great game of hockey. Before we take the stance of judging Perry based on performance as of late, let what I am about to say serve as a guide to remind you why Corey Perry is, and will always be, the best Ducks player to wear the number 10.
After a devastating defeat in the Stanley Cup Finals and losing one of their star players, Paul Kariya, to Colorado, the Anaheim Ducks struck gold in the 2003 Entry Draft. With two first-round draft picks to aid them, they used their 28th overall selection on a young forward from the OHL’s London Knights. Corey Perry made his NHL debut with the Anaheim Ducks just two seasons later in 2005-06.
During his 13 seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, he has made 11 playoff appearances. Perry was an integral piece of the puzzle when the Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup in 2007. He scored six goals and contributed nine helpers in 21 games.
During Game 5 against the Ottawa Senators, Corey Perry scored the very last goal of the game, giving the Anaheim Ducks a four-goal advantage over the Senators. Although his goal did not make or break the results of the game, it made the 6-2 victory that much sweeter.
After Perry’s record-breaking 2010-11 season, he was awarded the Hart (MVP) and the Maurice Richard (Most Goals) Trophy. Although being the leading goal scorer of the league during any season is a great feat, winning the Hart Trophy and being viewed as the most valuable player of your team is an even bigger honor. Perry’s contributions to the team have served as proof, year after year, that he is a huge asset to the Ducks.
Due to his outstanding performance throughout the years, he is the Anaheim Ducks highest paid player. His current contract earns him $8,625,000 per-season. Although that is a lot of money tied up into one veteran player, it is an indisputable fact that Corey Perry has earned it.
9 – Paul Kariya (1994-2003)
During the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, the Anaheim Ducks announced that they had selected Vancouver, British Columbia native, Paul Kariya, as their first draft pick in franchise history. Kariya made his NHL debut one season later with the Mighty Ducks in 1994-95. He was the first Duck to ever don the number nine on his sweater. It seems only fitting that he takes the title as the Ducks best player in franchise history to wear the number nine.
Paul Kariya quickly made his mark on the Ducks roster as a leading point producer. Kariya was one of the Mighty Ducks greatest instruments on the ice for many years. He acquired a total of 669 points over the 606 games he played during his nine seasons with Anaheim. Alongside teammate Teemu Selanne, the pair was a force to be reckoned with.
After the 1995-96 season, when captain Randy Ladouceur announced his retirement, Paul Kariya was the obvious choice to fill the vacant captaincy. His impressive 108 points (50g, 58a) during his sophomore season proved that he was a productive component for the Mighty Ducks out on the ice.
His service as an alternate captain alongside Ladoucer in 1995-96 also gave him the upper hand. Kariya had hands-on experience with what is needed to lead a team on the ice and, most importantly, off the ice. He served as the Mighty Ducks on ice leader for seven seasons. This is the second longest occupancy of a Ducks captain, behind Ryan Getzlaf.
Another one of Kariya’s notable achievements in his early years with the Ducks was being awarded the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for two consecutive seasons, 1995-96 and 1996-97. The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy was awarded to him because as the NHL player who best exemplified the qualities of a “player adjusted to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”
The End of the Kariya Dynasty
As hard as he tried, Paul Kariya never had the opportunity to taste the victory that is associated with winning the Stanley Cup. However, he came so close during the 2002-03 season. During that season, Kariya led Anaheim in points, with 81 total. His contributions to the team resulted in the Ducks finishing second in the Pacific Division and advancing to the playoffs.
It was during this cup run, in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals against New Jersey, that Kariya’s infamous “off the floor, on the board” incident took place. After taking an awful hit from New Jersey defenseman Scott Stevens, Kariya lay motionless on the ice for several seconds.
It was a moment of sheer terror for many. However, it quickly turned into monumental victory. After being cleared to return to the game, the great number nine came back and scored a goal. His goal put the Ducks up 4-1 and sent the series to Game 7. Regrettably, the Ducks would lose and Paul Kariya, unbeknownst to everyone, would suit up in his last game as a Ducks player.
Although there are a lot of mixed emotions directed at Kariya due to his impromptu singing with the Colorado Avalanche after the 2003 cup run, we must not forget everything he did that would serve to positively impact the franchise.
Paul Kariya was recognized for all of his achievements and inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017. His contributions as a Duck are soon to be remembered throughout the ages as well. Kariya’s jersey is set to be the second to hang in the rafters, alongside Teemu Selanne, when the Anaheim Ducks retire number nine on October 21, 2018.
8- Teemu Selanne (1996-2001 and 2005-2014)
Hanging in the rafters of the Honda Center sits a single jersey bearing the number eight. In spite of the fact that it stands alone, at least for now, it is a steadfast homage to an Anaheim Ducks legend. Although there are three other players who have donned the number eight on their sweaters, they all pale in comparison to the Finnish Flash himself, Teemu Selanne.
On February 6, 1996, the Anaheim Ducks traded a third-round draft selection, left wing Chad Kilger, and defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Teemu Selanne, Marc Chouinard, and a fourth-round draft pick. Unknown to the organization at the time, acquiring Selanne would go on to be one of the smartest moves in franchise history. Selanne single-handedly revitalized the organization after the “magic” that encompassed the Disney franchise began to wear off.
The Legacy of the Finnish Flash
During his fifteen season residency in Anaheim, Teemu set records that no other Duck has been able to touch. He currently holds records as the franchise’s all-time goal and point leader, having scored 457 goals and obtaining 988 points in 966 games. During the 1996-97 season, Selanne set a franchise record for the most points in one season, with 109, and has held it ever since.
The next year, he scored 52 goals, an all-time high for any Anaheim player. Since Teemu’s phenomenal 1997-98 season, there has not been a Duck who has been able to break his 52 goal record. He was then awarded the Maurice Richards trophy the following season, in 1998-99, for leading the NHL in goals scored.
During the 2005-06 season, Selanne was awarded the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy for exemplifying the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication. It is a fitting award for a player who changed the course of an entire franchise.
Teemu’s greatest accomplishment was winning the Stanley Cup with the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks. Although Ryan Getzlaf led the Ducks in goals and points during their playoff run, Teemu led the team, at the age of 36, by leaps and bounds throughout the regular season.
Selanne hung up his skates at the age of 43 when the 2013-14 season ended. The tides had changed and the torch has been passed to younger, faster, and more productive players. However, the legacy of the Finnish Flash will not be forgotten anytime soon. Selanne was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017 along with teammate Paul Kariya.
The Anaheim Ducks honored him that same season by retiring his jersey. Now, as long as the Ducks remain a franchise, the number eight will hang in the rafters as a reminder to both players and fans alike of the legend that took the Anaheim Ducks and the hockey world by storm.
7- Andrew Cogliano (2011-Present)
Andrew Cogliano indisputably takes the title of the best Anaheim Duck to wear the number seven. The Anaheim Ducks acquired Cogliano in 2011 after trading their 2013 second-round draft pick to the Edmonton Oilers.
Since his acquisition, “Cogs” has played seven seasons with Anaheim. Over the entirety of those seven seasons, he has scored 222 points (100g, 122a). Out of the 100 goals he has scored as a Ducks player, 16 have been short-handed goals.
He has consistently been one of the top five active short-handed goal scorers in the NHL, since joining the team. His ability to score short-handed goals more easily than other players has made him a wonderful asset to the Ducks PK (penalty kill) unit. His intensity on the forecheck has also given him the upper hand in shaking up the opposing team.
Cogliano is best known for his “iron man” streak. At 830 consecutive games played, he had the fourth-longest streak in NHL history. Another few seasons of consistent gameplay and he could have easily surpassed Doug Jarvis, who holds the current record at 964.
Unfortunately, his streak ended prematurely after an illegal hit on Adrian Kempe of the LA Kings resulted in a two-game suspension.