2005–06 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season
The 2005–06 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season was the 13th season of operation (12th season of play) for the National Hockey League franchise. This would be the last season the team would be called the "Mighty Ducks of Anaheim". 2005 Off-season. On June 20, the Ducks hired Brian Burke as their executive vice president and general manager. Other key hirings included Bob Murray as the club's senior vice president of hockey operations on July 14 and Randy Carlyle as the head coach on August 1. In the Entry Draft, the Mighty Ducks  chose Bobby Ryan as their first-round pick, second overall. As the previous season had been cancelled, the draft order was set by lottery. The Mighty Ducks, given two balls in the lottery process, were likely to go in the middle of the pack, but instead received the second pick, the first going to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who selected Sidney Crosby. The Mighty Ducks signed many free agents during the summer: Enforcers Todd Fedoruk, Kip Brennan, Travis Moen and Trevor Gillies, Defensemen Joe DiPenta and Scott Niedermayer, a former James Norris Memorial Trophy winner, who signed to play with his  brother, Rob Niedermayer. Two former long-time Mighty Ducks rejoined the organisation, fan favorite Teemu Selanne and Jason Marshall. Rookies Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Johan Hedstrom and Ilya Bryzglaov earned roster spots. Several players were traded due to the new salary cap: Martin Gerber to the Carolina Hurricanes, Niclas Havelid to the Atlanta Thrashers, Vaclav Prospal to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Captain Steve Rucchin to the New York Rangers as Scott Niedermayer was named his replacement as Captain. Regular season. The Ducks finished third in the Pacific Division and sixth overall in the Western Conference to qualify for the  playoffs. Playoffs. The Ducks won a seven-game Conference Quarter-finals (4–3) against the Calgary Flames. The Ducks next took on and defeated the Colorado Avalanche in the Conference Semi-final. The Ducks then advanced to the Conference Final for the second time in franchise history, though they lost the series four games to one to the Edmonton Oilers. Transactions. Trades. Traded Sergej Fedorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets (along with a fifth-round draft pick) in exchange for forward Tyler Wright François Beauchemin on November 15, 2005. Traded Petr Sykora to the New York Rangers in exchange defenceman Maxim  Kondratiev and the return of a fourth-round draft pick on January 9, 2006. Draft picks. The Ducks' picks at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, July 30–31, 2005 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Farm teams. Portland Pirates After 9 Seasons the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks ceased operations as the Portland Pirates became the new AHL affiliate.