the last time the ducks won the stanley cup was 2007.
the last time the ducks won the stanley cup was 2007.
when was the last time the ducks won the stanley cup?
2007
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Na
during the off-season, kariya became a restricted free agent before re-signing with the ducks to a one-year, $10 million contract in july 2002. prior to the signing, the ducks made two key acquisitions, signing playmaking centre adam oates to a one-year deal and trading for winger petr sýkora from the new jersey devils. both acquisitions were made with kariya's input, as well as with the expectation they would play on a line with him. although oates was injured at the beginning of the season (during which time kariya played with his usual centre, rucchin), the trio formed the ducks' top line. despite playing under a defensive system implemented by new head coach mike babcock, the arrival of kariya's new linemates coincided with a resurgence in offensive production for him in 2002–03. however, several months into the campaign, his father died of a heart attack. the ducks gave kariya the option to sit out the following game against the vancouver canucks, which he played nonetheless on december 28, 2002. he recorded an assist in a 7–3 loss. at mid-season, kariya was selected as a reserve to his seventh and final nhl all-star game, held in february 2003. he scored the deciding shootout goal for the western conference, as his team beat the east 6–5. while his 25 goals marked the lowest total of his career since his 22-game 1997–98 season, his 56 assists approached a personal best. with 81 points over 82 games, he led the ducks in scoring for the fifth time. his efforts helped the mighty ducks to the seventh seed in the west, marking the team's return to the playoffs for the first time in four years. matching up against the second-seeded red wings in the first round, kariya opened the playoffs with a triple-overtime winner in game 1, resulting in a 2–1 ducks win. anaheim went on to sweep the red wings in four games; kariya scored his second goal of the series in the deciding contest, a 3–2 overtime win. it marked the second time in nhl history a team eliminated the defending stanley cup champion in four-straight games in the first round. the mighty ducks went on to eliminate the dallas stars and minnesota wild in the next two rounds to advance to the stanley cup finals for the first time in franchise history. during game 6 of the series against new jersey, a contest in which the ducks faced elimination, kariya received a hard open-ice hit from opposing defenceman scott stevens. laying motionless on the ice for several minutes, he needed to be helped to the dressing room. many felt kariya's equipment changes following his first concussion may have saved him from being rendered unconscious from the stevens hit. four-and-a-half minutes of playing time later, he returned to the game. following his return, he scored on a slapshot while skating down the wing to give the ducks a 4–1 lead. anaheim went on to win the game 5–2 to force a game 7; kariya finished the contest with a goal and two assists. reactions regarding stevens' hit were divided following the game. kariya told reporters that after looking at replays that stevens had used his elbow, while ducks head coach mike babcock described it as a late hit. however, the play was not penalized during the game, and stevens received no subsequent disciplinary measures from the nhl. playing the deciding game 7 in new jersey, the ducks lost the stanley cup by a 3–0 score. over 21 games, kariya finished third on the team in playoff scoring (behind adam oates and petr sýkora), scoring six goals and 12 points. much of anaheim's success was predicated on goaltender jean-sébastien giguère's performance, who was awarded the conn smythe trophy as playoff mvp. kariya, meanwhile, was often singled out for his lack of consistent impact throughout the playoffs. as the highest-profile player on the ducks, he drew matchups against opposing teams top defencemen during the post-season, such as willie mitchell against the wild and stevens against the devils. he had also played part of the post-season with a separated shoulder.
paul kariya