Ducks Blog

With good friend and long time teammate Teemu Selanne re-upping with Anaheim for one more season, rumor has it Paul Kariya is seriously considering making his own prodigal return to Anaheim. Kariya, who first played for the Ducks in 1994-95, spent his first 9 NHL season in Anaheim, during 7 of which he served as the team’s captain. In 2004, Kariya promised to bring a Stanley Cup to Anaheim, though he has yet to play a game with Ducks since making the proclamation. At the end of his 9 year tenure in Anaheim, Kariya and former GM Byran Murray allegedly reached a verbal agreement in which Kariya would take a pay cut in order for more high-caliber acquisitions to help the team better chase the Cup. However, during the ensuing off-season, Kariya chose to sign with the Colorado Avalanche, who also signed Selanne, re-uniting the friends and line mates for the first time since 2000-2001. (more…)

Already among the Ducks’ all-time greats, if not NHL greats, right winger Teemu Selanne is set to return to Anaheim for one more season. Selanne, who suffered through multiple injuries last season while still managing to produce 27 goals, was though by many pundits to on his way out of the league. Selanne began his NHL playing days in 1992, originally drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in 1988, and now looks to expand his prolific career into yet another decade. Now 40 years old, Selanne has been surprisingly productive as an elder statesman for the Ducks. Since his second go round with Anaheim began following the 2005-2005 lockout, Selanne has scored 27 goals in 4 of 5 seasons, reaching the 90 point plateau (combined goals and assists) in each of the first two seasons. Though he has played in limited contests over the past 3 seasons, when on the ice, Selanne still provides valuable contributions to the Ducks squad, and even when kept off the ice, his leadership and veteran savvy in the clubhouse is invaluable. (more…)

Contrary to popular belief, the NHL Entry Draft continues well beyond one round each and every June. To be exact, the 1^st round completes only 1/7^th of the total action to be had on draft night, with many current and past NHL stars hearing their name called long after Round 1 has come to a close. In total, the Anaheim Ducks walked away with an 8 man class from the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, only two of which were first round selections. Here’s a look at the Ducks final 6 picks of the night, all of whom hope to make a meaningful impact to the franchise over the course of their budding careers.Round 2Pick 12: Devante Smith-Pelly, Right Wing, Mississauga St. Michael’s (OHL) In his second year with Mississauga St. Michael’s, Smith-Pelly took a major step forward, netting 16 additional goals and 21 additional assists, bringing his year end totals to 29 and 33 respectively, while more than doubling his total point output from 25 in year 1 to 62 in year 2. (more…)

Cam Fowler, Defenseman, Windsor (OHL) By most accounts, the Ducks landed a steal when Cam Fowler was still on the board with the 12^th pick in the first round. In fact, the Ducks didn’t even take the time to interview Fowler at the NHL Draft Combine, assuming he would be long gone by the time their pick came around. Most forecasters predicted Fowler to be among the first 5 players selected on draft night; however, after a number of surprising picks, perhaps none more surprising than the Rangers selection of Moosejaw’s Dylan McIlrath, a fellow defenseman, ahead of Fowler, the Ducks found an unexpected present had fallen into their laps. When a relieved Cam Fowler finally heard his name called after a few more minutes passed than most anticipated, a symbolic moment occurred on stage when retired Ducks defenseman great Scott Niedermayer handed the young fellow his inaugural (though ceremonial) Ducks jersey. (more…)

Emerson Etem was born in Long Beach, CA, so when he finally gets around to getting those “professional athlete” business cards printed up, he might want to be extra specific. It’s not that Long Beach hasn’t produced its share of athletically gifted residents over the past few decades (including tennis legend Billie Jean King, NFL linebacker Willie McGinest and safeties Mark Carrier and Jeff Severson, MLB outfielder Tony Gwynn, Olympic volleyball gold medalist Misty May-Treanor, just to name a few), but all those sports stars upbringings were aided by their warm weather surroundings. Etem, on the other hand, is recent first round selection of the Ducks, Anaheim’s ice hockey team, which may bring joy to thousands of Los Angeles area fans every year, but is rarely composed of any LA-area residents. (more…)