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Mighty Expansion Draft

By Richard Gonzalez

The NHL will have an expansion draft for the Las Vegas Golden Knights on June 21st, 2017. The last expansion draft was in 2000, which introduced the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets. Let us take a trip 7 years prior to the 2000 draft and look at the 1993 expansion draft. 

The 1993 expansion draft was held on June 24th, 1993, in Quebec City, Quebec Canada. This expansion draft included the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and the Florida Panthers. All 24 previous teams were allowed to protect 9 wingers, 5 defensemen, and 1 goalie. All first-year professionals and second-year professionals on the reserve list were exempt from the draft.

The Ducks and the Panthers would select 13 forwards, 8 defensemen, and 3 goalies. The Panthers would get the first pick. Each team will select goalies first, then defensemen, and lastly forwards. 

There was a Phase 2 of the expansion draft and was held on June 25th, 1993. Phase 2 would allow the three previous expansion teams (San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, and Tampa Bay Lightning) to select players from the Ducks and Panthers. Both teams were allowed to protect 10 forwards, 5 defensemen, and 1 goalie. Only two players were unprotected and drafted from the Ducks. 

I’m going break down each Ducks’ expansion draft picks in the order they were selected, their stats, who we lost in phase 2, and where those players are now. 

NOTE: I couldn’t find any credible information on a few players. Therefore, no additional information was provided.

With the 2nd overall pick in the NHL expansion draft, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks select…

Goalies:

2nd overall: Guy Hebert

Hebert was drafted from the St. Louis Blues and spent 8 years with the Ducks. Hebert was the last original Mighty Ducks on the roster until he was claimed off waivers by the New York Rangers in 2001. Hebert played 441 games with a record of 173 wins, 202 losses, and 52 ties.  He recorded the Ducks first road win in franchise history on October 19th, 1993, against the New York Rangers. Also, he recorded the first shutout in franchise history on December 15th, 1993, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He currently is a Fox Sports analyst for the Ducks.  

3rd overall: Glenn Healy

Healy was drafted by the New York Islanders. He never played a game with the Ducks as he was left unprotected in phase two of the expansion draft. The Lightning would draft Healy. The move wasn’t over for Healy as he was traded to the Rangers that same day. He was working in broadcasting for Hockey Night in Canada until he was let go in June 2016.

6th overall: Ron Tugnutt

Tugnutt was draft by the Edmonton Oilers and spent 1 year in Anaheim. He played in 28 games with a record of 10 wins, 15 losses, and 1 tie. On October 13th, 1993, the Ducks earned their first win and franchise history against the Oilers with Tugnutt in net. He currently is the President, Governor and head coach for Kemptville 73’s of the Central Canada Hockey League.

Defensemen:

8th overall: Alexei Kasatonov

Kasatonov was drafted by the New Jersey Devils and spent 1 year in Anaheim. He played in 55 games scoring 22 points (4 goals and 8 assists). Kasatonov was selected to represent the Ducks in the NHL All-Star game. Failing to make the playoffs, the Ducks traded him to the Blues for Maxim Bets and a draft pick. Kasatonov is currently the Vice President and General Manager of CKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. 

9th overall: Sean Hill

Hill was drafted from the Montreal Canadians and spent 1 year in Anaheim. He played in 68 games scoring 27 points (7 goals and 20 assists). He was traded to Senators for a third-round draft pick. Last known for Hill that he was a serving as a spokesmen for Verbero in 2015. Hill will infamously be remembered throughout the league for being the first player to be suspended for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy. Regardless if he knowingly took or didn’t know, Hill will always be remembered by Ducks fans for scoring the first goal in Franchise history in a 7-2 loss against the Detroit Redwings. 

11th overall: Bill Houlder

Houlder was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres and spent 1 year with Anaheim. He played in 80 games scoring 39 points (14 goals and 25 assists). He was traded to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Jason Marshall. He retired from the Nashville Predators after the 2002/2003 season. I couldn’t find much more information regarding what he is doing now other than he is still alive. 

14th overall: Bobby Dollas

Dollas was drafted from the Redwings and spent 5 years in Anaheim. He played in 305 games scoring 89 points (28 goals and 61 assists). In 1998, Dollas was traded to the Oilers for Drew Bannister. He is currently working as an analyst for TSN 690 Montreal Canadians and per his twitter page @bobbydollas1, his “life is good.”

16th overall: Randy Ladouceur

Ladouceur was drafted from the Hartford Whalers and spent the last 3 years of his NHL career with Anaheim. He played in 188 games scoring 20 points (4 goals and 16 assists). He currently is an assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche’s AHL team, the San Antonio Rampage.

17th overall: David Williams 

Williams was drafted from the San Jose Sharks and spent 2 years in Anaheim. He played in 77 games scoring 24 points (7 goals and 17 assists). He currently resides in Boston and works for Oracle as an Application Sales Executive.

19th overall: Dennis Vial

Vial was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning but never played a game in Anaheim as he was the second player left unprotected. Vial was re-drafted, from the Ducks, by the Senators in the phase 2 draft. He retired from professional hockey in 2005. On January 2017, he recently skated alongside former Ducks’ defensemen Joe DiPenta for Windsor’s hockey heritage fundraiser.

22nd overall: Mark Ferner

Ferner was drafted from the Senators and spent 2 years in Anaheim. He played 64 games scoring 9 points (3 goals and 6 assists). Ferner, along with Stu Grimson and a 6th round pick, were traded to the Redwings for Mike Sillinger and Jason York. Ferner is the Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the Viper’s hockey club of the British Columbia Hockey League.

Forwards:

23rd overall: Steven King 

King was drafted by the New York Rangers and spent 2 years in Anaheim. King played in 43 games scoring 13 points (10 goals and 3 assists).  King spent his last professional season with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL in 2000 before retiring. King is currently the Executive Director of the Sports Foundation at Brown University. 

26th overall: Troy Loney

Lonely was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins and spent 1 year in Anaheim. He played in 62 games scoring 19 points (13 goals and 6 assists) and served as the Ducks’ first captain in franchise history. Loney was traded to the New York Islanders for Tom Kurvers. Loney is currently part owner of the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States hockey league.

28th overall: Stu Grimson

Grimson aka the “The Grim Reaper” was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks and spent 4 years in Anaheim. He played 231 games scoring 13 points (5 goals and 8 assists) and 583 penalty minutes. He was traded from the Ducks to the Redwings in 1996 and re-acquired by the Ducks from Carolina in 2000. He signed with the Predators as a free agent in 2001 but sustained a career-ending concussion he got while playing a game vs the Ducks. He retired on June 1st, 2002. Grimson is currently working as Fox Sports South analyst for the Predators.

29th overall: Tim Sweeney 

Sweeney was drafted by the Boston Bruins and spent 2 years in Anaheim. Sweeney played 91 games scoring 45 points (17 goals and 28 points). Sweeney signed with the Rangers as an unrestricted free agent and retired in 1998. Sweeney is currently involved with the Boston Bruins Alumni. They host charity hockey games and player appearances as guest speakers. 

31st overall: Terry Yake 

Yake was drafted from the Hartford Whalers and spent 1 year in Anaheim. He played in 82 games scoring 52 points (21 goals and 31 assists). He was the Ducks leading scorer in their inaugural season and scored the first hat trick in franchise history on October 19th, 1993, vs the Rangers. On October 28th, 1994,  Yake was traded to the Leafs for David Sacco. Yake is currently running a meat distribution business in St. Louis.  

34th overall: Jarrod Skalde

Skalde was drafted by the New Jersey Devils and spent 1 year in Anaheim. He played in 20 games scoring 9 points (5 goals and 4 assists). Skalde was traded to the Calgary Flames for Bobby Marshall. He is currently the head coach of the Guelph Storm of the Ontario hockey league. 

36th overall: Bob Corkum

Corkum was drafted from the Buffalo Sabres and spent 3 years in Anaheim. He played 168 games scoring 82 points (38 goals and 44 assists). Corkum was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Chris Henderger and a 7th round pick. He is currently an assistant coach for the New York Islander: however, rumors have been reported that the Islanders are going to ” walk away” from Corrum. 

37th overall: Anatoli Semenov

Semenov was drafted from the Vancouver Canucks and spent 3 years in Anaheim. He played in 76 games scoring 47 points (15 goals and 32 assists). On March 8th, 1999, Semenov was traded to the Flyers for Milos Holan. He was re-acquired by Anaheim for Brian Wesenberg on March 19th, 1996. Semenov is currently is involved in hockey rinks in Russia and owns a rink in Anaheim. Just a hint it’s not Anaheim Ice. 

39th overall: Joe Sacco 

Sacco was drafted from the Toronto Maple Leafs and spent 5 years in Anaheim. He played 333 games scoring 130 points (62 goals and 68 assists). Sacco, along with J.J Daigneault and Mark Jansens, were traded to the Rangers for Travis Green, Tony Tuzzolino, and Doug Houda. Sacco is currently an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins. 

42nd overall: Lonnie Loach 

Loach was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings and spent 1 year in Anaheim. He only played 3 games and didn’t didn’t record a point. This was the last games he played in the NHL. He retired from professional hockey in 2003 and became head coach of the River Otters of the United Hockey League the season after. After 70 games and a terrible record, Loach was fired as head coach. In 2005/2006, Loach came out of retirement and played 21 games for the Otters. Loach was the first player to have his number (33) retired by the Otters.

44th overall: Jim Thomson

Thomson was also drafted by the Kings and spent one year in Anaheim. He played 6 last games in the NHL without recording a single point. He currently a motivation speaker and Hockey Director of Everest Academy.

45th overall: Trevor Halverson

Halverson was drafted by the Washington Capitals but didn’t play one game with the Ducks. He was in the minors until 1998 when he signed with the Capitals as a free agent. However, he sustained a career ending concussion which forced him to retire after playing 17 games with the Capitals. I didn’t find acredibleble facts regarding his current status other than he is alive. 

47th overall: Robin Bawa

Bawa was drafted by the San Jose Sharks and spent 1 year in Anaheim. He played in 12 games earning 1 assist. He was released from the Ducks and played 5 more NHL games with the Senators. He played in the International Hockey League before he retired. Bawa was the first player of Punjabi descent to play in the NHL and in Ducks’ franchise history. Bawa is currently running his family trucking business and helps coach his son’s hockey team.

I appreciate each and every player who was part of the Mighty Ducks. 

2017 Expansion Draft

Rumors are going around that the Ducks and Knights have a deal in place which will protect Sami Vatanen and Josh Manson. It appears we will have to wait until the draft for further announcement. If the Ducks don’t give up too much or have a package deal in place that would keep both listed players then we are lucky. 

Final Thought

I originally wanted to look back to the most important expansion draft, for me, since I’m a Ducks fan and learn more about the players the Ducks drafted. I was curious to see what happened after the Ducks drafted each player and their life after hockey. I really learned a lot about our original players. It was fun and I hope you enjoy the read. Let’s keep our fingers crossed this offseason and keep the faith in Bob Murray to better our team. 

Is it October Yet? 

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June 19th 2017


Filed under: Ducks News

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