Anaheim Ducks: Pucks of a Feather Awards— Best Moment of 2018-19

The Anaheim Ducks had several noteworthy moments this season, but they all pale in comparison to Paul Kariya’s jersey retirement.

There are many moments we want to forget from the Anaheim Ducks 25th Anniversary. However, there are also moments we don’t ever want to forget. Although 2018-19 failed to meet our expectations on the ice doesn’t mean it didn’t meet our expectations off the ice.

Best Moment of 2018-19— Honorable Mentions

Bob Murray’s First Game as Head Coach (6% of the vote): Bob Murray‘s first game behind the benchmarked the end of an era. Randy Carlyle had finally been fired and the Anaheim Ducks were truly ready to make the changes necessary to bring them back to their winning ways.

Having never coached an NHL game in his entire career, becoming the new bench boss was bound to be a challenge for our sweater vest loving General Manager. However, on February 13, 2019, he coached the Anaheim Ducks to their first win since January 19, 2019.

While Randy Carlyle was not the only problem, if there was any doubt that he had a big hand in compromising the integrity of the team, Bob Murray’s presence behind the bench eradicated it. As the interim head coach, GMBM would end the season 14-11-1.

More from Ducks News

• Who could the Anaheim Ducks consider presenting offer sheets to?
• Is Pierre-Luc Dubois on the cards for the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks?
• Making the case for the Anaheim Ducks to trade with the Edmonton Oilers
• Anaheim Ducks might benefit tremendously by trading John Gibson
• How close are the Anaheim Ducks to becoming contenders again?

Scott Niedermayer’s Jersey Retirement (10% of the vote): Scott Niedermayer is often labeled as one of the best defenseman and captains in Anaheim Ducks history. Captaining the Ducks to their first Stanley Cup win in 2007, it seemed only fitting that he would be the third jersey to be retired in the history of the franchise.

There was a lot of controversial opinions surrounding the retirement of Niedermayer’s jersey. The fanbase was a house divided. Half of us thought he deserved it, and the other half was skeptical due to his short tenure with the team. Nevertheless, once it hung beside Teemu Selanne‘s #8 and Paul Kariya’s #9 it fit perfectly as if it has always belonged there.

Firing Randy Carlyle (38% of the vote): A moment no one thought would happen during the regular season, but when it did, we rejoiced together. It is of the opinion of many fans that Carlyle shouldn’t have been brought back in the first place, but we cannot go back and change the past. We can only move forward.

Carlyle was responsible for coaching the Ducks to their 2007 Stanely Cup win, yes. However, his style of coaching had outgrown the always evolving sport of hockey. It was clear that he was unwilling to move away from the dump and chase, physical style of hockey that had won him a cup over a decade earlier. He was unwilling to be accountable and take responsibility for his part in helping tank the 2018-19 season, and for that, Bob Murray had to finally cut the cord.

Best Moment of 2018-19— Paul Kariya’s Jersey Retirement (46% of the vote)

Paul Kariya is a player you come across once in a lifetime. He became the very cornerstone on which the Anaheim Ducks built their success, and his career was, unfortunately, ended too soon. Teemu Selanne definitely deserved to have his jersey retired first, but it would not be right if Paul Kariya did not follow.

After he left on his quest for the Cup with the Colorado Avalanche, it took Ducks Nation quite a while to forgive him. Nevertheless, we came around to the idea, and once again, Kariya became a favorite in the eyes of the fans. However, what seemed almost like bitterness towards the sport of hockey on Kariya’s part seemed to hinder the process of retiring his jersey.

When it was announced that 2018-19 would finally be the year Paul Kariya’s jersey joined Teemu Selanne’s in the rafters, we all prepared for it as if it was its own holiday. Two greats would be memorialized forever in the rafters of Honda Center.

For many Anaheim Ducks fans, PK9 is the reason we fell in love with hockey, and when the moment finally came on October 21, 2018, we laughed, we cried, and we rejoiced as 9 was lifted to the skies. Now, every time we step foot inside Honda Center, we will be reminded of the impact Paul Kariya had on the Anaheim Duck and the generations to come will be inspired by the legacy he left behind.

Stay tuned as we announce the winners for our other awards. Thank you for getting involved in the voting process and helping us determine each player who is deserving of winning each award in the Pucks of a Feather Awards “ceremony.”