The mighty, mighty Ducks

Congratulations to the Anaheim Ducks for winning their first Stanley Cup last night with a decisive 6-2 victory over Ottawa. From the season's earliest days, the Ducks have been one of the elite teams. Now we know why. This team was too good and too deep not to win.

As much as I wanted to see the Buffalo Sabres win the Cup this year, I'll take some satisfaction from Anaheim's win. Having watched Anaheim's young stars Ryan Getzlaf, Dustin Penner and Corey Perry, as well as teammates Kent Huskins and Ryan Shannon, play for the Portland Pirates, the Ducks' farm club in the past, it was easy to make a connection.

It was also nice to see Teemu Selanne win his first Cup. Each year, it seems like one of the league's elder statesmen (isn't that a better phrase that grizzled veteran?) caps a career by taking a lap or two with Lord Stanley's cup.