The 1993-94 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim were founded in 1993 by The Walt Disney Company. The team's original name was chosen from the Disney movie The Mighty Ducks, based on a group of misfit kids who turn their losing youth hockey team into a winning team. Disney subsequently made an animated series called Mighty Ducks, featuring a fictional Mighty Ducks of Anaheim team that consisted of anthropomorphized ducks led by the Mighty Duck Wild Wing. The team was the first tenant of Arrowhead Pond, a brand-new arena in Anaheim located a short distance east of Disneyland and across the Orange Freeway from Angel Stadium. The arena was completed the same year the team was founded.
The Mighty Ducks hired Jack Ferreira as their first general manager, and Pierre Gauthier became his assistant. Gauthier had been a former goalie for Boston University and had considerable scouting experience with the New England Whalers, Calgary Flames and New York Rangers.
While the Mighty Ducks did not qualify for the playoffs in their inaugural season, they were nevertheless reasonably competitive by the standards of the era for a first-year team. Notably, they still managed to finish ahead of their local rivals (and defending conference champions), the Los Angeles Kings.
Offseason Forward Troy Loney was named the franchise's first team captain.
Regular season On October 8, the Mighty Ducks took the ice against the Detroit Red Wings. It was the first regular season game for the Mighty Ducks in franchise history and the first regular season game played at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim. The Ducks finished their inaugural season with 71 points (33–46–5), and set a record, along with the Florida Panthers, for the most wins for an expansion team.
The Mighty Ducks finished last in power-play goals for (54), power-play percentage (14.36%) and most times shut out (9).
Season standings
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 8 || Detroit || 7–2 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 10 || NY Islanders || 4–3 || Anaheim || OT || Tugnutt || 0–2–0 || 0 ||
| 3 || October 13 || Edmonton || 3–4 || Anaheim || || Tugnutt || 1–2–0 || 2 ||
| 4 || October 15 || Boston || 1–1 || Anaheim || OT || Tugnutt || 1–2–1 || 3 ||
| 5 || October 17 || Calgary || 2–2 || Anaheim || OT || Hebert || 1–2–2 || 4 ||
| 6 || October 19 || Anaheim || 4–2 || NY Rangers || || Hebert || 2–2–2 || 6 ||
| 7 || October 20 || Anaheim || 0–4 || New Jersey || || Tugnutt || 2–3–2 || 6 ||
| 8 || October 23 || Anaheim || 1–4 || Montreal || || Hebert || 2–4–2 || 6 ||
| 9 || October 25 || Anaheim || 1–4 || Ottawa || || Tugnutt || 2–5–2 || 6 ||
| 10 || October 28 || Anaheim || 3–4 || San Jose || || Hebert || 2–6–2 || 6 ||
| 11 || October 29 || Washington || 5–2 || Anaheim || || Tugnutt || 2–7–2 || 6 ||
| 12 || October 31 || San Jose || 2–1 || Anaheim || OT || Hebert || 2–8–2 || 6 ||
| 13 || November 3 || Dallas || 4–5 || Anaheim || || Tugnutt || 3–8–2 || 8 ||
| 14 || November 5 || New Jersey || 6–3 || Anaheim || || Tugnutt || 3–9–2 || 8 ||
| 15 || November 7 || Pittsburgh || 5–4 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 3–10–2 || 8 ||
| 16 || November 9 || Dallas || 2–4 || Anaheim(played @ Phoenix) || || Hebert || 4–10–2 || 10 ||
| 17 || November 11 || Anaheim || 4–5 || Calgary || || Hebert || 4–11–2 || 10 ||
| 18 || November 14 || Anaheim || 2–3 || Vancouver || || Shtalenkov || 4–12–2 || 10 ||
| 19 || November 17 || Toronto || 4–3 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 4–13–2 || 10 ||
| 20 || November 19 || Anaheim || 6–3 || Vancouver || || Tugnutt || 5–13–2 || 12 ||
| 21 || November 21 || Anaheim || 4–2 || Edmonton || || Tugnutt || 6–13–2 || 14 ||
| 22 || November 22 || Anaheim || 2–1 || Calgary || || Hebert || 7–13–2 || 16 ||
| 23 || November 24 || Anaheim || 2–1 || Winnipeg || || Tugnutt || 8–13–2 || 18 ||
| 24 || November 26 || San Jose || 4–3 || Anaheim || || Tugnutt || 8–14–2 || 18 ||
| 25 || November 27 || Anaheim || 0–1 || San Jose || || Hebert || 8–15–2 || 18 ||
| 26 || December 1 || Winnipeg || 2–5 || Anaheim || || Tugnutt || 9–15–2 || 20 ||
| 27 || December 2 || Anaheim || 2–3 || Los Angeles || || Hebert || 9–16–2 || 20 ||
| 28 || December 5 || Tampa Bay || 4–2 || Anaheim || || Tugnutt || 9–17–2 || 20 ||
| 29 || December 7 || Florida || 3–2 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 9–18–2 || 20 ||
| 30 || December 12 || St. Louis || 1–2 || Anaheim || OT || Hebert || 10–18–2 || 22 ||
| 31 || December 14 || Anaheim || 2–5 || Detroit || || Tugnutt || 10–19–2 || 22 ||
| 32 || December 15 || Anaheim || 1–0 || Toronto || || Hebert || 11–19–2 || 24 ||
| 33 || December 17 || Anaheim || 3–2 || Dallas || || Hebert || 12–19–2 || 26 ||
| 34 || December 19 || Anaheim || 0–2 || Chicago || || Tugnutt || 12–20–2 || 26 ||
| 35 || December 20 || Anaheim || 7–5 || Winnipeg || || Hebert || 13–20–2 || 28 ||
| 36 || December 22 || Dallas || 3–2 || Anaheim || OT || Tugnutt || 13–21–2 || 28 ||
| 37 || December 26 || Los Angeles || 3–2 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 13–22–2 || 28 ||
| 38 || December 28 || Anaheim || 3–0 || NY Islanders || || Tugnutt || 14–22–2 || 30 ||
| 39 || December 30 || Anaheim || 0–3 || Washington || || Tugnutt || 14–23–2 || 30 ||
| 40 || January 1 || Anaheim || 2–4 || Florida || || Hebert || 14–24–2 || 30 ||
| 41 || January 2 || Anaheim || 4–1 || Tampa Bay(played @ Orlando) || || Tugnutt || 15–24–2 || 32 ||
| 42 || January 6 || Anaheim || 6–2 || Chicago || || Tugnutt || 16–24–2 || 34 ||
| 43 || January 8 || Anaheim || 5–3 || St. Louis || || Hebert || 17–24–2 || 36 ||
| 44 || January 10 || Detroit || 6–4 || Anaheim || || Tugnutt || 17–25–2 || 36 ||
| 45 || January 12 || San Jose || 5–2 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 17–26–2 || 36 ||
| 46 || January 14 || Hartford || 3–6 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 18–26–2 || 38 ||
| 47 || January 16 || Vancouver || 4–3 || Anaheim || || Tugnutt || 18–27–2 || 38 ||
| 48 || January 18 || Anaheim || 3–3 || Toronto || OT || Hebert || 18–27–3 || 39 ||
| 49 || January 19 || Anaheim || 4–4 || Detroit || OT || Hebert || 18–27–4 || 40 ||
| 50 || January 24 || St. Louis || 3–2 || Anaheim || OT || Hebert || 18–28–4 || 40 ||
| 51 || January 26 || Winnipeg || 1–3 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 19–28–4 || 42 ||
| 52 || January 28 || NY Rangers || 2–3 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 20–28–4 || 44 ||
| 53 || January 29 || Anaheim || 1–5 || Los Angeles || || Hebert || 20–29–4 || 44 ||
| 54 || February 2 || Calgary || 4–2 || Anaheim || || Tugnutt || 20–30–4 || 44 ||
| 55 || February 4 || Vancouver || 0–3 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 21–30–4 || 46 ||
| 56 || February 6 || Chicago || 3–2 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 21–31–4 || 46 ||
| 57 || February 11 || Los Angeles || 5–3 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 21–32–4 || 46 ||
| 58 || February 13 || Anaheim || 6–3 || Edmonton || || Tugnutt || 22–32–4 || 48 ||
| 59 || February 16 || Philadelphia || 3–6 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 23–32–4 || 50 ||
| 60 || February 18 || Quebec || 1–0 || Anaheim || || Tugnutt || 23–33–4 || 50 ||
| 61 || February 20 || Anaheim || 1–4 || St. Louis || || Hebert || 23–34–4 || 50 ||
| 62 || February 23 || Anaheim || 2–4 || Buffalo || || Hebert || 23–35–4 || 50 ||
| 63 || February 24 || Anaheim || 2–2 || Pittsburgh || OT || Shtalenkov || 23–35–5 || 51 ||
| 64 || February 26 || Anaheim || 6–3 || Quebec || || Hebert || 24–35–5 || 53 ||
| 65 || March 2 || Montreal || 5–2 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 24–36–5 || 53 ||
| 66 || March 4 || Edmonton || 1–4 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 25–36–5 || 55 ||
| 67 || March 6 || Anaheim || 0–6 || San Jose || || Hebert || 25–37–5 || 55 ||
| 68 || March 8 || Anaheim || 0–3 || Chicago(played @ Phoenix) || || Shtalenkov || 25–38–5 || 55 ||
| 69 || March 9 || Buffalo || 3–0 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 25–39–5 || 55 ||
| 70 || March 11 || Chicago || 3–2 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 25–40–5 || 55 ||
| 71 || March 13 || Ottawa || 1–5 || Anaheim || || Shtalenkov || 26–40–5 || 57 ||
| 72 || March 16 || Los Angeles || 2–5 || Anaheim || || Shtalenkov || 27–40–5 || 59 ||
| 73 || March 22 || Anaheim || 3–4 || Dallas || || Shtalenkov || 27–41–5 || 59 ||
| 74 || March 24 || Anaheim || 3–5 || Boston || || Hebert || 27–42–5 || 59 ||
| 75 || March 26 || Anaheim || 3–2 || Hartford || || Hebert || 28–42–5 || 61 ||
| 76 || March 27 || Anaheim || 3–2 || Philadelphia || OT || Hebert || 29–42–5 || 63 ||
| 77 || March 30 || Anaheim || 5–2 || Los Angeles || || Hebert || 30–42–5 || 65 ||
| 78 || March 31 || Edmonton || 3–2 || Anaheim || OT || Hebert || 30–43–5 || 65 ||
| 79 || April 2 || Toronto || 1–3 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 31–43–5 || 67 ||
| 80 || April 6 || Anaheim || 2–4 || Calgary || || Hebert || 31–44–5 || 67 ||
| 81 || April 8 || Anaheim || 3–1 || Edmonton || || Hebert || 32–44–5 || 69 ||
| 82 || April 9 || Anaheim || 3–1 || Vancouver || || Shtalenkov || 33–44–5 || 71 ||
| 83 || April 11 || Calgary || 3–0 || Anaheim || || Shtalenkov || 33–45–5 || 71 ||
| 84 || April 13 || Vancouver || 2–1 || Anaheim || || Hebert || 33–46–5 || 71 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Skaters Regular season Player 82 21 31 52 2 44 76 23 28 51 4 18 78 18 27 45 8 100 78 16 27 43 3 49 80 14 25 39 -18 40 84 19 18 37 -11 61 74 12 22 34 -5 21 80 8 25 33 0 64 49 11 19 30 -4 12 68 7 20 27 -12 78 73 12 11 23 -8 54 ‡ 55 4 18 22 -8 43 77 9 11 20 20 55 56 5 15 20 8 42 62 13 6 19 -5 88 76 9 9 18 -7 272 32 3 9 12 4 39 36 8 3 11 -7 44 † 22 6 4 10 -5 14 81 1 9 10 7 74 20 5 4 9 -3 10 50 3 5 8 -16 30 13 1 6 7 1 8 77 1 5 6 -6 199 12 0 1 1 -3 7 5 0 1 1 0 6 3 0 0 0 -3 0 3 0 0 0 -1 0 3 0 0 0 -2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 5 Total 229 359 588 — 1,479
Goaltenders Regular season Player 52 49 2,990:33 20 27 3 141 2.83 1,513 .907 2 0 0 2 ‡ 28 26 1,519:41 10 15 1 76 3.00 828 .908 1 0 0 2 10 9 542:30 3 4 1 24 2.65 265 .909 0 0 0 0 Total 5,052:44 33 46 5 241 2.86 2,606 .908 3 0 0 4
† Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Mighty Ducks. Stats reflect time with the Mighty Ducks only. ‡ Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Mighty Ducks only.
Transactions
Trades Date Details To Montreal Canadiens1994 3rd-round pick (#54 overall)To Mighty Ducks of AnaheimTodd EwenPatrik Carnback To Montreal CanadiensRon TugnuttTo Mighty Ducks of AnaheimStephane Lebeau To Quebec Nordiques1995 4th-round pick (#81 overall)To Mighty Ducks of AnaheimJohn Tanner To St. Louis BluesAlexei KasatonovTo Mighty Ducks of AnaheimMaxim Bets1995 6th-round pick (#153 overall)
Free agents Date Player Team Contract Term Myles O'Connor Peter Douris from Boston Bruins Shaun Van Allen from Edmonton Oilers Scott McKay Denny Lambert Jean-Francois Jomphe Allan Bester from Detroit Red Wings Joel Savage Don McSween Mike Maneluk from Hartford Whalers multi-year contract (effective at start of 1994-95 season) John Lilley
Waivers Date Player Team Garry Valk from Vancouver Canucks
Draft picks
Expansion draft # Player Position Drafted from2 Guy Hebert G St. Louis Blues 3 Glenn Healy 1 G New York Islanders 6 Ron Tugnutt G Edmonton Oilers 8 Alexei Kasatonov D New Jersey Devils 9 Sean Hill D Montreal Canadiens 11 Bill Houlder D Buffalo Sabres 14 Bobby Dollas D Detroit Red Wings 16 Randy Ladouceur D Hartford Whalers 17 David Williams D San Jose Sharks 19 Dennis Vial 2 D Tampa Bay Lightning22 Mark Ferner D Ottawa Senators 23 Steven King RW New York Rangers 26 Troy Loney LW Pittsburgh Penguins 28 Stu Grimson LW Chicago Blackhawks 29 Tim Sweeney LW Boston Bruins 31 Terry Yake C Hartford Whalers 34 Jarrod Skalde C New Jersey Devils 36 Bob Corkum C Buffalo Sabres 37 Anatoli Semenov C Vancouver Canucks39 Joe Sacco RW Toronto Maple Leafs42 Lonnie Loach LW Los Angeles Kings 44 Jim Thomson RW Los Angeles Kings 45 Trevor Halverson LW Washington Capitals 47 Robin Bawa RW San Jose Sharks Notes Lost in expansion draft phase two to the Tampa Bay Lightning and then traded to the New York Rangers for a third-round pick in the 1993 NHL entry draft.