Once thought a failed experiment, Southern California benefiting from the greater fan interest after Wayne Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, landed a second team as the Disney Corporation was given expansion team to play near Disneyland in Anaheim. However, most hockey purists cringed when they found out they would be named after a hockey-themed kid's movie entitled Mighty Ducks.

The NHL Mighty Ducks first took the ice on October 8th, losing to the Detroit Red Wings 7-2 before a sold-out crowd at the Arrowhead Pond. The expansion Ducks would have a surprisingly strong first season as won an expansion record 19 games on the road while posting a record of 33-46-5.

Along the way, the Mighty Ducks would sweep two games against the eventual Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers, proving how competitive the team could be.