Welcome to the doldrums of summer and I don't know about you, but I am over this summer heat wave; bring me the fall! While there is still not an inkling of news on the Cutter Gauthier extension front, as Ducks GM Pat Verbeek undoubtedly unlearns his lessons from the summer saga of how not to do contract negotiations, let's take a moment to reflect upon some iconic moments in Ducks lore. If you're a newish fan to Anaheim, consider this a crash course on history you should know. If you're an oldie, like me, think of it as a reflection on how far the Ducks have come and what lies ahead.
Quack, quack, quack
The Anaheim Ducks are unique to all of the major North American sports leagues, in the fact that the genesis for the franchise stemmed from a kid's movie; The Mighty Ducks. The Walt Disney Company seized on the momentum from the success of the movie and got its feet wet in professional sports, by founding an expansion team in the NHL. Bearing the same name and logo of the fictional team, the Mighty Ducks were brought to life in 1993. While the first few years were mired by poor results and being dubbed as a Mickey Mouse franchise, the team endured. And while traces of that origin can still be found today, like the revamped logo, most of the Disney influence has been expunged. However, during the right moment, the nostalgic "Quack, quack, quack" chant can still be heard.
Off the floor, on the board
A moment that has that has become synonymous with the then Mighty Ducks run in the 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs. Gone were the stumbling and bumbling early expansion years, as the franchise made some major headwind into being considered a legitimate hockey team. On the back of otherworldly goaltending from J.S. Giguere, who posted a 1.62 goals against average and a .945 save percentage, and earned the Conn Smythe trophy in the process, the Ducks almost made the storybook ending complete. In Game Six of the Stanley Cup Final though, Ducks captain Paul Kariya (669 franchise points) took a vicious head shot from New Jersey Devils captain, Scott Stevens. Almost everyone, me included, thought the series was over for Kariya. But to the surprise of everyone, Kariya came back onto the ice and scored one of the most iconic goals in franchise history. It's a bittersweet moment encapsulated in time. On the one hand, it's a moment that will live on in the infamy of Ducks lore and is a testament to the strength and perseverance of Kariya. On the the other hand, knowing what we know now about concussions and their long-term effects, Kariya should have never been allowed back on the ice.
The Stanley Cup
Flash forward four years and the plucky Ducks were true contenders. Kariya may have sought success elsewhere, but Teemu Selanne returned back home. After thwarting the Ducks in 2003, Scott Niedermayer joined forces with his brother Rob in Anaheim, in an effort to capture a cup together as brothers. Giguere was still the backstop in net and even though he was not at the level of his Conn Smythe performance, his 1.97 goals against and .922 save percentage, said otherwise. A depth line of rookies featured Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Dustin Penner. The over-the-top acquisition of Chris Pronger for the blue line, made the Ducks a powerhouse that could beat any team and in any fashion. After finally ousting the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Final, the Ducks walked through the Ottawa Senators in the Stanley Cup Final in five games. The Ducks not only won the first cup in franchise history but beat their other Californian rivals to the punch in the process, further dispelling the myth of an unserious franchise.
Comeback on Katella
Second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Ducks were tied 2-2 in their series with the Edmonton Oilers. In the late stages on the third period, Anaheim was down 3-0 and the end result was almost a forgone conclusion. With John Gibson pulled for the extra attacker, Getzlaf notched a goal with under four minutes to go. Almost a minute and half later, Cam Fowler scored to pull the Ducks within a goal. With just fifteen seconds left in regulation, Rikard Rakell buried a backhander that was reviewed for goaltender interference but was ultimately upheld. In double overtime, the 2010s era dynamic duo of Getzlaf and Perry combined for the winner, resulting in one of the most incredible comebacks in Ducks history and becoming a staple in franchise lore.
The Carlsson offer sheet
While we have flashed forward almost a decade since the Ducks were last relevant, in the Stanley Cup contender hierarchy, the Leo Carlsson offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers and the subsequent matching from the Ducks, has set the precedent for what has to happen. Gone are the days of the floundering Ducks under the Dallas Eakins and Greg Cronin years. The Ducks essentially have five years to win a cup with Carlsson and his new contract. Anaheim has historically been averse to such obscene numbers, which is part of the reason why Kariya left the Ducks all those years ago. While the Getzlaf and Perry era agonizingly ultimately fell short, this new wave of Ducks players has the potential to succeed and must do so, in this flashpoint moment of the franchise.
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