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Anaheim Ducks 25th Anniversary: The Evolution of Paul Kariya

By Ciara Durant

12 Dec 1997: Portrait of the back of Paul Kariya #9 of the Mighty Ducks during the Ducks 6-4 win over the Washington Capitals at The Pond in Anaheim, California.
12 Dec 1997: Portrait of the back of Paul Kariya #9 of the Mighty Ducks during the Ducks 6-4 win over the Washington Capitals at The Pond in Anaheim, California. /
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QUEBEC CITY, QC – JUNE 26: Paul Kariya tries on his hat and jersey after being drafted 4th overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft as he stands on stage with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on June 26, 1993, at the Quebec Coliseum in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)
QUEBEC CITY, QC – JUNE 26: Paul Kariya tries on his hat and jersey after being drafted 4th overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft as he stands on stage with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on June 26, 1993, at the Quebec Coliseum in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images) /

The 1993 NHL Entry Draft

Since its inception in 1963, the NHL Entry Draft has been the dream of many young hockey players.  Paul Kariya was no exception to this. The bright-eyed,18-year-old, Victoria, British Columbia native sat among a sea of expectant players waiting for their names to be called, hoping he would hear his own name during one of the first few selections.

Kariya was, from the get-go, considered to be one of the top five prospects of the 1993 draft. He had just finished a phenomenal 39 game, 100 point season, in his first year with the University of Maine.

The young, dynamic, offensive forward was often compared to “The Great One” himself, Wayne Gretzky. Kariya was pegged early on as one of the best playmakers of his draft year. With a high hockey IQ and explosive speed, his creativity on the ice had no parallel. He had a keen sense for the open man on the ice; his 75 assists in his first year with the Black Bears was more than enough proof.

Alexandre Daigle, Chris Pronger, and Chris Gratton were the first three players chosen. When it came time for the fourth selection to be made, the Florida Panthers, who had previously won the coin toss, elected to choose fifth in order to have the first selection in the next draft. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim would select fourth overall, and they had their eyes set on one player, Paul Kariya.

The Mighty Ducks staff took one last look at the draft roster before Pierre Gauthier took his place at the podium. Without hesitation, and a grin a mile wide, he announced that the very first draft pick of the Mighty Ducks franchise history was Paul Kariya from the University of Maine.

An ecstatic Paul Kariya made his way to the stage, clad in his striped dress shirt and polka dot tie, and was the first draft pick in franchise history to put on the nostalgic eggplant and jade Mighty Ducks home jersey. With fervency in his eyes, he smiled for his first official photo as a Mighty Duck. Unbeknownst to everyone, he would go on to inspire a nation. Ducks Nation.

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