2004–05 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season

Off-season

General manager Bryan Murray resigned on June 8, 2004, and left to become the new head coach of the Ottawa Senators. Al Coates, Anaheim’s senior vice-president of business operations, was named interim general manager.

Along with the rest of the National Hockey League, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim entered the 2004 offseason with many questions. While most of the NHL was concerned with a possible lockout due to negotiations concerning a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Mighty Ducks had even more issues concerning the future ownership of the franchise and the future of the franchise in Orange County. The owners of the Ducks at the time, the Walt Disney Company was looking to sell the team and people in the community were not all too confident that the team would remain in Anaheim. On September 10, just a month before the 2004–05 season was scheduled to start, it was reported in the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, and the Associated Press that former Hartford Whalers and Pittsburgh Penguins owner Howard Baldwin was interested in purchasing the Mighty Ducks and moving them to Kansas City, Missouri to play in the then-under construction arena now known as Sprint Center. The lockout, however, began just six days later and extended well into what would have been the regular season and eventually causing the cancellation of the season entirely. With the Kansas City rumors circulating and the lockout already harming business at the Arrowhead Pond, Henry Samueli (the owner of Anaheim Arena Management, the operator of the Pond) got into negotiations to purchase the team so the arena would not lose its primary tenant. Samueli eventually bought the team in 2005 and took over day-to-day operations of the club in June 2005.

Regular season

:See the game log below for the entire season schedule.

The season for the Mighty Ducks were scheduled to begin Wednesday, October 13 with a home game against Calgary. Their first road game was to be on Sunday, October 17 against cross-town rival Los Angeles. Their longest homestand was supposed to be from March 2-March 13 (6 home games), and their longest road trip was to be from January 29–February 10 (7 road games). Their final game of the regular season was scheduled on Sunday, April 10 against Columbus at the Arrowhead Pond. During the Lockout all their potential rookies such as Ilya Bryzgalov, Dustin Penner, Kurtis Foster, Shane O'Brien and Chris Kunitz as well as prospect Joffrey Lupul earned valuable playing time with their farm team, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks.

Schedule

While the lockout led to the cancellation of the entire season, the Mighty Ducks had a schedule drawn up in case the season resumed at any time.

|- align="center" | 1 || September 24 || Phoenix Coyotes || 7:30p PDT || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 2 || September 25 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 7:30p PDT || MGM Grand Garden Arena |- align="center" | 3 || September 29 || San Jose Sharks || 7:30p PDT || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 4 || October 2 || @ San Jose Sharks || 7:30p PDT || HP Pavilion at San Jose |- align="center" | 5 || October 3 || Vancouver Canucks || 5:00p PDT || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 6 || October 5 || @ Phoenix Coyotes || 7:00p PDT || Glendale Arena |- align="center" | 7 || October 8 || Los Angeles Kings || 7:30p PDT || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- |- align="center" | 1 || October 13 || Calgary Flames || 7:00p PDT || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 2 || October 15 || San Jose Sharks || 7:30p PDT || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 3 || October 17 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 5:00p PDT || Staples Center |- align="center" | 4 || October 20 || Los Angeles Kings || 7:30p PDT || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 5 || October 23 || @ Nashville Predators || 5:00p PDT || Gaylord Entertainment Center |- align="center" | 6 || October 25 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 4:30p PDT || Joe Louis Arena |- align="center" | 7 || October 26 || @ Minnesota Wild || 5:00p PDT || Xcel Energy Center |- align="center" | 8 || October 28 || @ Chicago Blackhawks || 5:30p PDT || United Center |- align="center" | 9 || October 30 || @ Boston Bruins || 4:00p PDT || FleetCenter |- align="center" | 10 || November 3 || Atlanta Thrashers || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 11 || November 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 12 || November 7 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 7:30p PST || General Motors Place |- align="center" | 13 || November 9 || @ Calgary Flames || 6:00p PST || Pengrowth Saddledome |- align="center" | 14 || November 12 || @ Chicago Blackhawks || 5:30p PST || United Center |- align="center" | 15 || November 13 || @ St. Louis Blues || 5:00p PST || Savvis Center |- align="center" | 16 || November 17 || Florida Panthers || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 17 || November 19 || Detroit Red Wings || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 18 || November 20 || @ Colorado Avalanche || 6:00p PST || Pepsi Center |- align="center" | 19 || November 23 || @ Dallas Stars || 5:30p PST || American Airlines Center |- align="center" | 20 || November 24 || @ Phoenix Coyotes || 6:00p PST || Glendale Arena |- align="center" | 21 || November 26 || Chicago Blackhawks || 1:00p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 22 || November 28 || Dallas Stars || 5:00p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 23 || December 1 || Washington Capitals || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 24 || December 3 || @ Colorado Avalanche || 6:00p PST || Pepsi Center |- align="center" | 25 || December 8 || Carolina Hurricanes || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 26 || December 12 || Edmonton Oilers || 5:00p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 27 || December 14 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 7:30p PST || Staples Center |- align="center" | 28 || December 15 || Nashville Predators || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 29 || December 17 || Colorado Avalanche || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 30 || December 19 || Los Angeles Kings || 5:00p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 31 || December 22 || @ Dallas Stars || 4:30p PST || American Airlines Center |- align="center" | 32 || December 23 || @ Nashville Predators || 5:00p PST || Gaylord Entertainment Center |- align="center" | 33 || December 26 || Phoenix Coyotes || 5:00p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 34 || December 28 || @ Columbus Blue Jackets || 4:00p PST || Nationwide Arena |- align="center" | 35 || December 30 || @ New York Islanders || 4:00p PST || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |- align="center" | 36 || December 31 || @ New Jersey Devils || 4:30p PST || Continental Airlines Arena |- align="center" | 37 || January 3 || @ New York Rangers || 4:00p PST || Madison Square Garden |- align="center" | 38 || January 5 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 39 || January 7 || Philadelphia Flyers || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 40 || January 9 || Los Angeles Kings || 5:00p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 41 || January 11 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 7:30p PST || Staples Center |- align="center" | 42 || January 12 || St. Louis Blues || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 43 || January 14 || Vancouver Canucks || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 44 || January 17 || Columbus Blue Jackets || 1:00p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 45 || January 19 || San Jose Sharks || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 46 || January 23 || @ Calgary Flames || 1:00p PST || Pengrowth Saddledome |- align="center" | 47 || January 24 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 6:00p PST || Rexall Place |- align="center" | 48 || January 26 || Nashville Predators || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 49 || January 29 || @ Minnesota Wild || 10:30a PST || Xcel Energy Center |- align="center" | 50 || January 30 || @ Columbus Blue Jackets || 2:00p PST || Nationwide Arena |- align="center" | 51 || February 1 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 4:30p PST || Joe Louis Arena |- align="center" | 52 || February 3 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 4:00p PST || Wachovia Center |- align="center" | 53 || February 5 || @ Florida Panthers || 4:00p PST || Office Depot Center |- align="center" | 54 || February 7 || @ Dallas Stars || 5:30p PST || American Airlines Center |- align="center" | 55 || February 10 || @ St. Louis Blues || 5:00p PST || Savvis Center |- align="center" | 56 || February 16 || Phoenix Coyotes || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 57 || February 18 || Colorado Avalanche || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 58 || February 20 || Minnesota Wild || 5:00p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 59 || February 23 || @ Phoenix Coyotes || 6:00p PST || Glendale Arena |- align="center" | 60 || February 25 || Dallas Stars || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 61 || February 27 || St. Louis Blues || 5:00p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 62 || March 1 || @ San Jose Sharks || 7:30p PST || HP Pavilion at San Jose |- align="center" | 63 || March 2 || Minnesota Wild || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 64 || March 4 || Buffalo Sabres || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 65 || March 6 || Vancouver Canucks || 5:00p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 66 || March 8 || San Jose Sharks || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 67 || March 11 || New York Rangers || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 68 || March 13 || Chicago Blackhawks || 5:00p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 69 || March 15 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 4:30p PST || Air Canada Centre |- align="center" | 70 || March 17 || @ Ottawa Senators || 4:30p PST || Corel Centre |- align="center" | 71 || March 19 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 4:00p PST || Bell Centre |- align="center" | 72 || March 21 || Detroit Red Wings || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 73 || March 23 || Edmonton Oilers || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 74 || March 24 || @ San Jose Sharks || 7:30p PST || HP Pavilion at San Jose |- align="center" | 75 || March 26 || Dallas Stars || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 76 || March 30 || Phoenix Coyotes || 7:30p PST || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 77 || March 31 || @ Phoenix Coyotes || 6:00p PST || Glendale Arena |- align="center" | 78 || April 3 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 1:00p PDT || Rexall Place |- align="center" | 79 || April 4 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 7:00p PDT || General Motors Place |- align="center" | 80 || April 6 || Calgary Flames || 7:30p PDT || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |- align="center" | 81 || April 9 || @ San Jose Sharks || 2:00p PDT || HP Pavilion at San Jose |- align="center" | 82 || April 10 || Columbus Blue Jackets || 1:00p PDT || Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |-

Transactions

The Mighty Ducks were involved in the following transactions during the 2004 offseason. No transactions were made during the lockout.

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

The Ducks picks at the 2004 NHL entry draft in Raleigh, North Carolina:

Minor league affiliates

• Cincinnati Mighty Ducks

Notes

References

References

1. (June 8, 2004). "Murray named coach of Ottawa Senators".
2. (June 8, 2004). "Ducks name Coates interim GM".
3. (September 10, 2004). "Birds of a feather? Ex-Pens owner after Ducks".
4. "History_Major Announcement".
5. "Anaheim Mighty Ducks 2005 Schedule".
6. (June 18, 2004). "Malec And Pick Acquired For Gerber". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
7. (June 26, 2004). "Kurtis Foster Acquired From Atlanta In Exchange For Defenseman Niclas Havelid". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
8. (August 16, 2004). "Ducks Acquire Pick For Prospal". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
9. (September 1, 2004). "Mighty Ducks Agree To Terms With Center Zenon Konopka On Two-Year Contract". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
10. (July 1, 2004). "2004 free agents". [[ESPN.com]].
11. "Predators Transactions". Nashville Predators.
12. (October 21, 2008). "Canucks recall Wellwood and Krog". Vancouver Canucks.
13. {{hockey-reference. s/schaspe01. Petr Schastlivy, retrieved April 10, 2022
14. (September 8, 2004). "Brian Gornick and Evgueni Nourislamov Sign AHL Contracts with Syracuse". Syracuse Crunch.
15. (September 10, 2004). "WORCESTER ICECATS INK FOUR". Worcester IceCats.
16. (September 28, 2004). "Bylsma joins AHL Ducks as assistant". TheAHL.com.
17. (September 29, 2004). "RiverKings add another Aucoin". Memphis RiverKings.
18. {{hockey-reference. h/hankica01. Casey Hankinson, retrieved April 10, 2022
19. {{eliteprospects. 69539. Nick Smith, retrieved April 10, 2022
20. (June 28, 2004). "McDonald Agrees To Terms On A Two-Year Contract". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
21. (June 30, 2004). "Mighty Ducks Pick Up Carney's Option". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
22. (July 8, 2004). "Ilya Bryzgalov Agrees To Terms". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
23. (July 19, 2004). "Garrett Burnett Agrees To Terms". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
24. (July 12, 2004). "Vishnevski, Ducks Agree To Terms". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
25. (July 16, 2004). "Michael Holmqvist Agrees To Terms". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
26. (July 31, 2004). "Rob Niedermayer Agrees To Terms". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
27. (August 2, 2004). "Kurtis Foster Signed To One-Year Contract". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
28. (August 9, 2004). "Arbitrator Settles On Salei Contract". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
29. (September 8, 2004). "Tim Brent Agrees to Terms". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
30. (September 15, 2004). "Ryan Getzlaf And Corey Perry Agree To Terms". Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
31. "2004 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com.