Happy Halloween Ducks fans. In the spirit of the holiday, your caretaker here at the haunted home of Pucks of a Feather presents you with the all-time list of the scariest players in Anaheim Ducks history. Some of these players beat the opposition with their fists. Some of these players threw the big hits. Some of these players stole equipment from the other team. And some of these players did all of those ghoulish acts, while lighting up the scoreboard.
While your caretaker has tried to make a comprehensive list from all of Ducks history, players from prior to 2003 are mainly based upon reputation, as memories from the early days of the team are not so clear. Skaters must have played at least 100 games for the Ducks and spent at least three years with the team (sorry Kevin Sawyer fans). Players are subjectively ranked upon games played, points, penalty minutes, and franchise impact.
13. Radko Gudas
153 GP, 36 Points, 216 PIM
Gudas, "The Butcher", is the current captain for the Ducks. Known for throwing out an old-school hip check and a having a powerful slap shot, Gudas brings the physicality from the blue line. Coming off of a down year and in need of a new contract after this season, Gudas has looked much better in the first few weeks of the 2025-26 season. Averaging around 15 minutes of time on ice, Gudas has been commonly paired with either the younger Olen Zellweger or Pavel Mintyukov, allowing him to thrive in his more stay-at-home defensive style.
12. Kevin Bieksa
211 GP, 37 Points, 245 PIM
Bieksa, "Juice", was a former Ducks blue liner that was brought to Anaheim in a trade with Bieksa's longtime team, the Vancouver Canucks. Thought to be a missing ingredient by former Ducks GM Bob Murray, Bieksa spent three seasons with the team at the peak of the Ryan Getzlaf/Corey Perry era. Though the Ducks never got past the Western Conference Final, Bieksa's brand of physicality meshed with the lineup. Known for the superman punch, Bieksa would drop willing combatants with a surprising swing. Just ignore the clip of Bieksa knocking down the current captain of the Ducks.
11. Pat Maroon
204 GP, 79 Points, 249 PIM
Maroon, "Big Rig", was a former forward that spent parts of five seasons with the Ducks. Known more for his physical play than his offensive skill, Maroon spent most of his tenure in Anaheim at the bottom of the lineup. However, in the 2015 playoffs, Maroon had arguably the best production in his Ducks career, scoring seven goals with four assists in 16 games. While playing on the top line of the Ducks, Maroon proved that he had more than just grit to his game.
10. Todd Ewen
153 GP, 25 Points, 650 PIM
Ewen, "The Animal", was a former forward that spent three seasons with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The former Stanley Cup Champion (Montreal Canadians), an original Mighty Duck, and the first enforcer on the list, Ewen spent those early franchise years protecting a young Paul Kariya and later, Teemu Selanne. Though his death is mired by the juxtaposition of glorifying fighting and its human consequences, Ewen helped establish the identity of the expansion Ducks.
9. Dave Karpa
245 GP, 50 Points, 788 PIM
Karpa was a former blue liner for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The defensive defenseman averaged nearly 20 minutes of time on ice in four seasons with Anaheim and was instrumental in not only securing the first playoff berth for the Ducks in the 1996-97 season but getting the franchise's first playoff series victory against the Pheonix Coyotes.
8. Vitaly Vishnevski
416 GP, 48 Points, 403 PIM
Vishnevski might seem like an off the board choice, but your caretaker has a soft spot for players from the 2003 cup run. Averaging nearly 17 minutes in time on ice and almost as many penalty minutes as games played, the defenseman had a penchant for delivering big hits, sometimes at the cost of being out of position. Vishnevski was also part of the Mighty Ducks playoff run in 2006 that ended in the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers. Though Vishnevski only played in the NHL for eight seasons, six of those seasons were spent with Ducks.
7. Josh Manson
453 GP, 113 Points, 431 PIM
Another former Ducks blueliner with a knack for delivering a big hit, Manson played eight years with the Ducks and averaged 19:51 of time on ice. Though Manson was never a possession monster, his best Corsi for percentage in Anaheim was 51, he formed a great defensive partnership with Hampus Lindholm, as the two Ducks were regularly deployed against opponent's best lines. Manson's best postseason in Anaheim was in 2017. Though Manson only got on the scoresheet with three assists, he was a factor in helping the Ducks reach the Western Conference Final.
6. Ruslan Salei
594 GP, 105 Points, 735 PIM
Another defenseman from the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim era, Salei spent nine seasons with the team and averaged 21:26 in ice time. However, during the Ducks' fabled 2003 playoff run, Salei's average ice time jumped up to 26:05. Though his stat line from that playoff run seems dismal, two goals and three assists, Salei's big moment came from scoring the overtime winner in game three of the Stanley Cup Final.
5. Chris Pronger
220 GP, 150 Points, 285 PIM
After losing to the Edmonton Oilers in 2006 Western Conference Final, former Ducks GM Brian Burke went after the one key piece that could finally push the team over the metaphorical hump, Pronger.
The first Anaheim Ducks Stanley Cup Champion on the list, Pronger was a former hard-nosed blueliner and a true unicorn; he could hit, he could fight, and he could score. Pronger averaged 26:32 of ice time during the regular season, but during the Ducks' cup run, his average ice time jumped up to 30:11. Skating alongside Scott Niedermayer, the Ducks blue line was near unstoppable and unmatched.
4. George Parros
356 GP, 28 Points, 812
Long before he became the head of the NHL's Department of Player Safety, Parros was an enforcer for the Ducks. The mustachioed forward became a fan favorite by beating opponents with his fists. Even though Parros only averaged 6:06 of ice time, your humble caretaker remembers how the Ducks capitalized on Parros' gruff appearance and bravado, with many a fake mustache worn in the stands during game day. While appearing in only five games during the Ducks' cup run and averaging a meager 3:49 of ice time in that span, Parros left a lasting impact on the franchise.
3. Stu Grimson
231 GP, 13 Points, 583 PIM
No list of scariest players in Ducks history would be complete without "The Grim Reaper". Playing parts of four seasons with the Mighty Ducks, Grimson's stat line speaks for itself; he was the definition of an enforcer. Another original Mighty Duck and an alternate captain, Grimson only averaged 4:09 of ice time but made a definite impact on the early days of the franchise.
2. Corey Perry
988 GP, 776 Points, 1110 PIM
"The Worm" is the quintessential player every fan hates unless he is on your favorite team. In the course of a game, Perry is liable to steal an opponent's stick, score a goal, get in a fight, and secure a win. Perry is the Ducks franchise leader in penalty minutes, ranks second in goals, and third in points. The former Stanely Cup champion and Hart Trophy winner is still kicking around the league chasing that second cup, just don't ask your caretaker which team he plays for now, and just remember the good times.
1. Ryan Getzlaf
1157 GP, 1019 Points, 960 PIM
The former forward and longtime captain of the Ducks, Getzlaf was just impactful as Perry, if not more so just by the nature of playing the center position. While Perry was the sniper, Getzlaf was the playmaker. For being such a big man, Getzlaf could thread the needle with a pass and hit open wingers in prime scoring position. Getzlaf was not afraid to throw down the mitts and set the tone for the team either. Getzlaf is the Ducks franchise leader in games played and points. He also ranks fourth in goals and second in penalty minutes. The former Stanley Cup champion is the scariest player in Ducks history.