Guide Note
Formerly named the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, the Anaheim Ducks play in the Pacific Division of the NHL's Western Conference. In their 14th season in the NHL, the Ducks won their first Stanley Cup Championship in 2007.
Fast Facts
- 2007 Stanley Cup Champions
- Inaugural Season: 1993
- Finals appearances: 2
- Stanley Cups: 1
- Home: Honda Center in Anaheim
- July 2007: Acquired Mathieu Schneider and Todd Bertuzzi through free agency
The Disney Team
The team was originally founded in 1993 by The Walt Disney Company following the popular film of the same name The Mighty Ducks. They filled their roster through the NHL Draft and an expansion draft, picking up players such as Paul Kariya and Stu Grimson. It was not until the 1997 season that they made their first playoff appearance, losing to the eventual champions, the Detroit Red Wings in the second round. The Ducks reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 2003, losing to the New Jersey Devils in seven games.
New Owner, New Name
Following the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Disney put the team up for sale. Broadcom founder Henry Samueli and his wife purchased the team for a reported $75 million. Starting in the 2006-07 regular season, Samueli renamed the team the Anaheim Ducks, officially making the end of the "Disney Era."
Stanley comes to California
Fresh off the name change, the Ducks returned to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007. Led by veterans such as Teemu Selanne, Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger and Jean-Sebastien Giguere, the Ducks won the Stanley Cup championship, bringing the Cup to California for the first time.
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