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Former Ducks Participating In The Return To Play

By Richard Gonzalez

The excitement is in the air for the NHL as teams have been returning to action in exhibition games prior to the official play in and round-robin match-ups. Unfortunately, the Anaheim Ducks (27th) did not make the 24 team cut. To make things even worse, due to the pandemic going on, Ducks fans might not see the Ducks play until Dec. or Jan.

This will be quite a long time before fans get to see their Ducks again but there is going to be some good hockey going on so pass the time and watch. Which team are you going to cheer for? If you have a second team or a team you rooted for prior to the Ducks entering the league then you’re all set. Now, if you don’t have either, then how about root for a former Ducks player? Currently, there are 24 former Ducks that will hit the ice when the official return to play starts. I also included two honorable mentions.

Boston Bruins (3):

Chris Wagner was drafted in the fifth round, 122nd overall, by the Ducks in the 2010 draft. He played in 133 games with the Ducks and scored 24 points (12 goals and 12 assists). On Feb.26, 2018, he was traded to the New York Islanders in exchange for Jason Chimera. He would sign with the Bruins as a free agent.

Photo: James Guillory-USA Today

Nick Ritchie was drafted in the first round, 10th overall, in the 2014 draft by the Ducks. He played in 287 games with the Ducks and scored 109 points (43 goals and 66 assists). On Feb. 24, 2020, he was traded to the Bruins in exchange for Dalton Heinen.

 

Ondrej Kase was drafted in the seventh-round, 205th overall, by the Ducks in the 2014 draft. He played in 198 games with the Ducks and 96 points (43 goals and 53 assists). On Feb. 21, 2020, he was traded to the Bruins in exchange David Backes, Axel Andersson, and a 2020 first-round draft pick.

Photos: NBC

Carolina Hurricanes (1):

Sami Vatanen was drafted in the fourth round, 106th overall, in the 2009 draft by the Ducks. He played in 280 games with the Ducks and scored 126 points (33 goals and 93 assists). On Nov. 30, 2017, Vatanen and a conditional third-round pick were traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Adan Henrique, Joe Blandisi, and 2018 third-round pick. On Feb. 24, 2020, He was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Photo: AP

An honorable mention that never played a game with the Ducks is Jake Gardiner. He was drafted in the first round, 17th overall, in the 2008 draft by the Ducks. In 2011, Anaheim traded Gardiner, along with Joffrey Lupul and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2013, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman François Beauchemin. On September 6, 2019, Gardiner signed a four-year, $16.2 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Columbus Blue Jackets (1):

Devon Shore was drafted second-round, 61st overall, by the Stars in the 2012 draft. On Jan. 14, 2019, the Ducks acquired Shore from the Stars in exchange for Andrew Cogliano. Shore played in 73 games with the Ducks and scored 22 points (nine goals and 13 assists). On Feb. 24, 2020, Shore was traded to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Sonny Milano.

Photo: Adam Cairns/The Columbus Dispatch

Dallas Stars (2):

Andrew Cogliano was drafted in first-round, 25th overall, by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2015 draft. On July 12, 2011, the Ducks sent their 2013 second-round pick in exchange for Cogliano. He played in 584 games with the Ducks and scored 233 points (102 goals and 131 assists). On Jan. 14, 2019, he was traded to the Blue Jackets (see Shore trade above).

Photo: NHL

Corey Perry was selected in the first round, 28th overall, by the Ducks in the 2003 draft. He played in 988 games with Anaheim and scored 776 points (372 goals and 404 assists). He was bought out by the Ducks and signed with the Stars as a free agent on July 1, 2019.

Photo: Jeff Odom, NHL

Nashville Predators (2):

Nick Bonino was selected in the sixth round, 173rd overall, by the San Jose Sharks in the 2007 draft. On March 4, 2009, the Ducks acquired Bonino, Timo Pielmeier and a 2012 fourth-round pick in exchange for Kent Huskins and Travis Moen. Bonino played in 189 games with the Ducks and scored 82 points (33 goals and 49 assists). On June 27, 2014, the Ducks traded Bonino, Luca Sbisa, and 2014 picks 1 and 3 to the Vancouver Canucks for Ryan Kesler and a 2015 third-round pick. He was later traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins then signed as a free agent to the Predators.

Photo: Mike Fant, Nashville Tennessean

Korbinian Holzer was selected in the fourth round, 111th overall, by the Maple Leafs in the 2006 draft. On March 2, 2015, The Ducks acquired Holzer from the Maple Leafs in exchange for Eric Brewer and a 2016 fifth-round pick. He has played in 145 games with the Ducks and scored four goals and 14 assists. On Feb. 24, 2020, he was traded to the Predators in exchange for Matt Irwin and a 2022 sixth-round pick.

Photo: Holzer’s Twitter

Philadelphia Flyers (3):

Derek Grant was selected in the fourth round, 119th overall, by the Ottawa Senators in the 2008 draft. On July 17, 2017, Grant was signed as a free agent by the Ducks. The following year he signed with the Penguins. On Jan. 17, 2019, the Ducks re-acquired him from the Penguins in exchange for Blandisi. He played in 146 games with the Ducks and scored 53 points (28 goals and 25 assists). On Feb. 24, 2020, he was traded to the Flyers in exchange for Kyle Criscuolo and 2020 fourth-round pick.

Photo: NHL

Nate Thompson was selected in the sixth round, 183rd overall, by the Boston Bruins in the 2003 draft. On June 19, 2014, he was acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for picks 4 and 7 in the 2015 draft. He played in 159 games with the Ducks and scored 26 points (nine goals and 17 assists). He was traded a few times and ultimately ended up with the Flyers on Feb. 24, 2020.

Photo: NHL

Andy Welinski was selected in the third round, 83rd overall, by the Ducks in the 2011 draft. He played in 33 games with the Ducks and scored a goal and five assists. On June 1, 2019, Welinski signed with the Flyers as a free agent.

Pittsburgh Penguins (1):

Marcus Pettersson was selected in the second round, 38th overall, by the Ducks in the 2014 draft. He played in 49 games with the Ducks and scored a goal and nine assists. On Dec. 3, 2018, he was traded to the Penguins in exchange for Daniel Sprong.

Photo: Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

An honorable mention that never played a game with the Ducks is Justin Schultz. He was selected in the second round, 43rd overall, by the Ducks in the 2008 draft. He elected to finish his college career and was expected to sign with the Ducks prior to his rights expiring. On July 1, 2012, his rights to the Ducks expired and he signed with the Oilers. Writer’s note: 99.9999% sure Ducks fans won’t rally behind him to win.

St. Louis Blues (1):

David Perron was selected in the first round, 26th overall, by the Blues in the 2007 draft. On Jan. 16, 2016, the Ducks acquired Perron and Adam Clendening in exchange for Carl Hagelin. He played in 28 games with the Ducks and scored 20 points (eight goals and 12 assists). On July 1, 2018, Perron signed with the Blues as a free agent.

Photo: ABC7 News

Tampa Bay Lightning (3):

 

Pat Maroon was selected in the sixth round, 161st overall, by the Flyers in the 2007 draft. On Nov. 21, 2010, the Ducks acquired Maroon and David Laliberte in exchange for Danny Syvret and Rob Bordson. Maroon played in 204 games with the Ducks and scored 79 points (26 goals and 53 assists). On Feb. 29, 2016, he was traded to the Oilers in exchange for Martin Gernat and a 2016 fourth-round pick. He would sign a one-year deal with the Lightning this past off-season.

Photo: Chris O’Meara, AP

Curtis McElhinney was selected in the sixth-round, 176th overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 2002 draft. On March 3, 2010, the Ducks acquired him in exchange for Vesa Toskala. McElhinney played in 31 games with the Ducks going 11-10-3. He had a .899 save percentage, with 3.20 goals-against average. On Feb. 24, 2011, McElhinney was traded to the Lightning in exchange for Dan Ellis. He signed as a free agent with the Lightning.

Photo: Douglas R. Clifford, Tampa Bay Times.

Luke Schenn was selected in the first-round, fifth overall, by the Maple Leafs in the2008 draft. On July 1, 2018, he signed with the Ducks as a free agent. Schenn went scoreless in eight games with the Ducks. On July 17, 2019, the Ducks traded Schenn and a 2020 seventh-round draft pick to the Canucks in exchange for Michael Del Zotto. On July 1, 2019, he signed with the Lightning as a free agent.

Photo: AP

Toronto Maple Leafs (1):

Frederik Andersen was selected in the third round, 87th overall, by the Ducks in the 2010 draft (re-entry). Andersen played in 125 games with the Ducks going 77-26-12. He had a .918 save percentage and a 2.33 goals-against average. On June 20, 2016, Andersen was traded to the Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2016 first-round pick and a 2017 second-round pick.

Photo: Maple Leafs Twitter

Las Vegas Golden Knights (3):

William Karlsson was selected in the second round, 53rd overall, by the Ducks in the 2011 draft. Karlsson played in 18 games with the Ducks scoring two goals and one assist. On March 2, 2015, Karlsson, Rene Bourque, and a 2015 second-round pick were traded to the Blue Jackets in exchange for James Wisniewski and a 2015 third-round pick. The Golden Knights selected him in the expansion draft from the Blue Jackets.

Photo: John Locher, AP

Shea Theodore was selected in the first round, 26th overall, by the Ducks in the 2013 draft. Theodore played in 53 games with the Ducks scoring 17 points (5 goals and 12 assists). On June 21, 2017, Theodore was traded to the Golden Knights as part of the expansion draft considerations.

Photo: John Locher, AP

Brandon Pirri was selected in the second round, 59th overall, by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2009 draft. The Ducks acquired Pirri from the Florida Panthers in exchange for a 2016 sixth-round pick. Pirri played in nine games with the Ducks scoring three goals and two assists. On Oct. 4, 2017, Pirri signed with the Golden Knights.

Photo: NHL

Washington Capitals (2):

Carl Hagelin was selected in the sixth-round, 168th overall, by the New York Rangers in the 2007 draft. On June 27, 2015, the Ducks acquired Hagelin and picks 2 and 6 in the 2015 draft in exchange for Emerson Etem and a 2015 second-round pick. Hagelin played in 43 games with the Ducks and scored 12 points ( four goals and eight assists). On Jan. 16, 2016, the Ducks traded Hagelin to the Penguins in exchange for Perron and Clendening.

Photo: NHL

Daniel Sprong was selected in the second round, 46th overall, by the Penguins in the 2015 draft. On Dec. 3, 2018, the Ducks acquired Sprong in exchange for Pettersson. Sprong played in 55 games with the Ducks and scored 21 points (15 goals and six assists). On Feb. 24, 2020, the Ducks traded Sprong to the Capitals in exchange for Christain Djoos. Note: Sprong has not played a game with the Capitals; therefore, he has no photos in a Capitals’ uniform.

Photo: NHL

Winnipeg Jets (1):

Luca Sbisa was selected in the first round, 19th overall, by the Flyers in the 2008 draft. On June 26, 2009, the Ducks traded Chris Pronger and Ryan Dingle to the Flyers in exchange for Sbisa Lupul, future considerations and first-round drafts picks in 2009 and 2010. Sbisa played in 277 games with the Ducks and scored 49 points (nine goals and 40 assists). On June 27, 2014, Sbisa was part of the Kesler trade (See Bonino for trade details).

Photo: Jerome Miron, USA Today

So which former Ducks player are you cheering for or which would you like to see raise the Stanley Cup?

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