2006-2007 Anaheim Ducks
A brief overview of the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks before we dive into the mechanics of how this team won their first Stanley Cup.
In their 14th season since becoming an expansion team in the NHL, the Anaheim Ducks won their first and only Stanley Cup in 2007. The Ducks beat the Ottawa Senators in a five-game series, clinching the cup with a 4-1 record.
This was one of the most stacked teams to win a cup in NHL history, and that's in large part due to a successful offseason.
In the summer of 2006, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim changed their name to the Anaheim Ducks. With the name change came the infamous logo change. The masked duck logo was replaced with the wordmark "Anaheim Ducks," featuring the duck foot logo. The colors also changed from eggplant to their black and gold colors
The biggest 2006 offseason acquisition for the Ducks was defenseman Chris Pronger. Pronger's contract with the Edmonton Oilers had been extended for one more year due to the 2005 lockout. The Oilers went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2006 but lost to the Carolina Hurricanes. Edmonton traded Pronger to the Ducks in return for Joffrey Lupul, two first-round picks, and a second-round pick.
Pronger joined an already impressive blue line in Anaheim. Captain Scott Neidermayer, Pronger, and François Beauchemin all averaged around 30 minutes of ice time per game. Sean O’Donnell rounded out the top-four creating one of the best blue lines in Stanley Cup history.
But the Ducks' biggest offseason acquisition came the summer prior, in 2005. Scott Niedermayer signed with the Ducks to have the opportunity to play with his brother, Rob, and was named Captain following the signing. Niedermayer's impact was immediate, scoring 60+ points in his first two seasons with the Ducks.
The Ducks' defense was impressive on the blueline and in their shutdown line with Samuel Pahlsson centering Rob Niedermayer and Travis Moen on the third line.
The Ducks also ran a kid line with Corey Perry and Dustin Penner centered by Ryan Getzlaf. Perry scored 17 goals and 44 points in his second NHL season, but he proved to be physical on the forecheck during the playoffs. Getzlaf provided the offense with 25 goals and 58 points in his second season.
While the Ducks' middle-six was impressive with the best shutdown line in the league and a line that boasted two promising young players, their first line featured a legendary Hall of Famer. Teemu Selanne was 36 years old and looking for his first Stanley Cup, and would lead the team in scoring in the 2006 season. Chris Kunitz played on Selanne's opposite wing with Andy MacDonald at center.
Anaheim also had a solid goaltending duo in Ilya Bryzgalov and Jean-Sebastien Giguere. When Giguere needed to miss time due to personal issues at the end of the season, Bryzgalov was able to step in seamlessly.
The Ducks started the season off with a bang, setting a new record by earning at least one point in their first 16 games. This record stood until the Chicago Blackhawks beat it in 2012 with a 24-game point streak.
After the streak, however, the Ducks hit a few rough spots, logging five losing streaks of three or more losses.
GM Brian Burke acquired Brad May in February to add physicality to their fourth line, which already had Todd Marchant and Shawn Thornton. The Ducks' bottom six were mean as hell, but all across their line-up, they had players who could play a physical game.
By the time the Ducks made their way to the postseason, they were a team with an impressive defense, physicality across the lineup, and key pieces in the right role.