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{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1974)}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Paul Kariya
| image = Paul Kariya 2008.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Kariya with the [[St. Louis Blues]] in 2008
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|10|16}}
| birth_place = [[North Vancouver (city)|North Vancouver, British Columbia]], Canada
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lb = 180
| position = [[Winger (ice hockey)|Left wing]]
| shoots = Left
| played_for = [[Anaheim Ducks|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]]<br />[[Colorado Avalanche]]<br />[[Nashville Predators]]<br />[[St. Louis Blues]]
| ntl_team = CAN
| draft = 4th overall
| draft_year = 1993
| draft_team = [[Anaheim Ducks|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]]
| career_start = 1994
| career_end = 2010
| halloffame = 2017
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Canada]] }}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[ice hockey]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold  | [[Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Salt Lake City]] |  }}
{{MedalSilver  | [[Ice hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics|1994 Lillehammer]] | }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Ice Hockey World Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1994 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1994 Italy]] |  }}
{{MedalSilver | [[1996 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1996 Austria]] | }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|World Junior Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1993 Sweden]] |}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament|Phoenix Cup]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 1991 Japan | }}
}}

'''Paul Tetsuhiko Kariya''' (born October 16, 1974) is a Canadian former professional [[ice hockey]] [[winger (ice hockey)|winger]] who played 15 seasons in the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL). Known as an speedy and intelligent offensive force with exceptional vision, he played in the NHL for the [[Anaheim Ducks|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]], [[Colorado Avalanche]], [[Nashville Predators]], and [[St. Louis Blues]] between 1995 and 2010.

After a two-year career with the [[Penticton Vees (junior A)|Penticton Panthers]], in which he was named [[Canadian Junior A Hockey League|Canadian Junior A]] Player of the Year in 1992, Kariya joined the [[University of Maine]]'s [[Maine Black Bears men's ice hockey|Black Bears men's ice hockey team]]. In his freshman year, he received the [[Hobey Baker Award]], while he and fellow Hobey Baker Award finalist [[Jim Montgomery (ice hockey)|Jim Montgomery]] teamed to lead the Black Bears to the 1993 NCAA title. Selected fourth overall in the [[1993 NHL Entry Draft]] by the Mighty Ducks, he joined the team in [[1994–95 NHL season|1995]] and was named to the [[NHL All-Rookie Team]]. During his nine-year tenure with Anaheim, Kariya formed an effective duo with fellow winger [[Teemu Selänne]] that helped him to three [[NHL All-Star team|NHL first All-Star team]] distinctions, while also finishing as the runner-up for the [[Hart Memorial Trophy]] in 1997. He won back-to-back [[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy|Lady Byng]] trophies in 1996 and 1997 for his skillful play and exemplary sportsmanship. Serving as a captain for seven seasons, he led the Mighty Ducks to the [[2003 Stanley Cup Finals]], where they lost to the [[New Jersey Devils]] in seven games. After a single-season stint with the Avalanche, reuniting with Selänne, who had previously been traded away from Anaheim, Kariya signed with the Predators in August 2005. He played two seasons in Nashville, setting a team record for points scored in a single-season in [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06]] (since broken). Kariya then finished his career playing three seasons with the Blues.

Internationally, Kariya represented [[Hockey Canada|Canada]] on numerous stages and at different levels. He won gold at the [[1993 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1993 World Junior Championships]], his second appearance at the tournament. He made his first appearance at the [[Ice hockey at the Winter Olympics|Winter Olympics in 1994]] as an amateur, winning silver.<ref>{{cite Sports-Reference|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Eight years later, he helped Canada win gold at the [[Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics|Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City]]. In between Olympic appearances, he won gold and silver at the [[1994 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1994]] and [[1996 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1996 World Championships]], respectively.

Throughout his NHL career, Kariya struggled with concussions, which eventually forced his retirement in June 2011 after sitting out the [[2010–11 NHL season|2010–11 season]] because of [[post-concussion syndrome]]. In June 2017, Kariya was voted into the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]]. His number, 9, was retired by the Ducks on October 21, 2018.

==Early life and education==
Kariya was born in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], to parents Sharon and Tetsuhiko (T.K.) Kariya.<ref name="SI1998"/><ref>{{cite news |title=UM Bears' Paul Kariya adds Three-Star Award to honors |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Zh0zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ejgHAAAAIBAJ&pg=1239,179574&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 6, 2011 |date=April 16, 1993 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |author=Mahoney, Larry}}</ref> His father, a [[Japanese Canadians|Japanese-Canadian]] born in a [[World War II]] internment camp at [[Greenwood, British Columbia]], worked as a math teacher.<ref name="SI1998">{{cite magazine |last1=Michael |first1=Farber |title=Two Different Worlds: Superstar Paul Kariya is proud of his heritage but also proud to be an Olympian for Canada, the country that punished his grandparents for being Japanese |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1998/01/26/238047/two-different-worlds-superstar-paul-kariya-is-proud-of-his-heritage-but-also-proud-to-be-an-olympian-for-canada-the-country-that-punished-his-grandparents-for-being-japanese |access-date=November 13, 2017 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=January 26, 1998 |archive-date=November 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113165646/https://www.si.com/vault/1998/01/26/238047/two-different-worlds-superstar-paul-kariya-is-proud-of-his-heritage-but-also-proud-to-be-an-olympian-for-canada-the-country-that-punished-his-grandparents-for-being-japanese |url-status=dead}}</ref> Tetsuhiko died from a [[heart attack]] suffered on December 27, 2002.<ref name="death father">{{cite news |title=Kariya plays despite death of father |url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/12/29/spt_wwwsptyhoc29.html |access-date=July 31, 2011 |date=December 29, 2002 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Enquirer.com}}</ref> Kariya's mother, a [[Scottish Canadians|Scottish-Canadian]], was also a teacher.<ref name=loveable/> Coming from an athletic family, his father played [[rugby football|rugby]] with the [[Canada national rugby union team|Canadian national team]].<ref name="SI1998"/><ref name=answer/> Kariya is one of four siblings who play professional sports. Brothers [[Steve Kariya|Steve]] and [[Martin Kariya|Martin]] are also hockey players. His sister, [[Noriko Kariya|Noriko]], played hockey as well, before turning to [[boxing]].<ref name=fit/>

As a teenager, Kariya worked for a summer in construction.<ref name=outtakes/> At age 16, he left home to play [[junior ice hockey|Junior A hockey]] in [[Penticton]], British Columbia,<ref name=answer/> where he also worked at a clothing store that belonged to the team's coach and general manager.<ref name=outtakes>{{cite news |title=Outtakes with Paul Kariya |url=https://www.espn.com/talent/danpatrick/s/2003/0109/1490025.html |access-date=July 31, 2011 |date=February 7, 2003 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |author=Patrick, Dan}}</ref> Two years later, he enrolled at the [[University of Maine]] to join the school's hockey team and was a [[dean's list]] student.<ref name="end of a kariya">{{cite news |title=End of a Kariya? |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zzszAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pjgHAAAAIBAJ&pg=2615,3167125&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=December 10, 1993 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |author=Warner, Pete}}</ref>

==Playing career==
===Amateur===
Kariya played two seasons of [[junior ice hockey|Junior A]] with the [[Penticton Vees (junior A)|Penticton Panthers]] of the [[British Columbia Hockey League|British Columbia Junior Hockey League]] (BCJHL), beginning in 1990–91. Recording 45 goals and 112 points over 54 games in his first season, he was awarded the Vern Dye and Bruce Allison Memorial Trophies as the Interior Conference's [[most valuable player]] (MVP) and [[Rookie of the Year (award)|rookie of the year]], respectively.{{#tag:ref|Both trophies are awarded to a player from each of the league's two conferences. Greg Hadden of the [[Surrey Eagles#New Westminster Royals|New Westminster Royals]] earned the Vern Dye Memorial Trophy for the Coastal Conference, while [[Jay McNeill]] of the [[Powell River Kings]] earned the Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy for the Coastal Conference.<ref name="bruce allison"/><ref name="vern dye"/>|group=notes}}<ref name="bruce allison">{{cite web |title=Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy |url=http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/custom_page.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&pageID=3709 |access-date=July 3, 2011 |publisher=[[British Columbia Hockey League]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316100108/http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/custom_page.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&pageID=3709 |archive-date=March 16, 2012}}</ref><ref name="vern dye">{{cite web |title=Vern Dye Memorial Trophy |url=http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/custom_page.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&pageID=3708 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |publisher=[[British Columbia Hockey League]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718090322/http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/custom_page.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&pageID=3708 |archive-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> The following season, he improved to 46 goals and 132 points over 40 games and was awarded the Vern Dye Memorial Trophy for a second consecutive year;{{#tag:ref|Jay McNeill won the award for the Coastal Conference.<ref name="vern dye"/>|group=notes}}<ref name="vern dye"/> he was also further distinguished as the [[Canadian Junior A Hockey League|Canadian Junior A]] player of the year.<ref name=answer/>

During his second BCJHL season, in November 1991, he verbally committed to joining the [[Maine Black Bears men's ice hockey|Maine Black Bears]] of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA)'s [[Hockey East]] conference for the 1992–93 campaign.<ref name=commits/> Before deciding to join the [[University of Maine]], Kariya also visited and received offers from [[Boston University]] and [[Harvard University]] for their respective programs,<ref name="ducks tale"/> while entertaining offers from several other NCAA teams. He also turned down [[junior ice hockey#Major junior|major junior]] teams from the [[Western Hockey League]] (WHL).<ref name=commits>{{cite news |title=Kariya commits to UM hockey |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FahJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KQ4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2551,3267887&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 4, 2011 |date=November 12, 1991 |work=Bangor Daily News |author=Mahoney, Larry}}</ref> His WHL rights originally belonged to the [[Victoria Cougars (WHL)|Victoria Cougars]] before they were traded to the [[Tri-City Americans]] in October 1991.{{#tag:ref|Victoria sent Kariya's rights, along with defenceman [[Todd Harris]], to Tri-City in exchange for wingers Fran DeFrenza and David Hebky, as well as defencemen Jeff Fancy and Jamie Burt.<ref name="whl trade"/>|group=notes}}<ref name="whl trade">{{cite news |title=WHL Notebook |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tihRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=D_oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3471,4554322&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 4, 2011 |date=October 30, 1991 |work=Spokane Chronicle}}</ref>

In his first year with the Black Bears, Kariya scored 100 points (25 goals and 75 assists) in 39 games.<ref name="ncaa final"/> He was named Hockey East's Rookie and Player of the Year, becoming the second player to receive both awards in the same year after [[Brian Leetch]] did so with [[Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey|Boston College]] in 1987. Kariya also received Hockey East first All-Star team honours alongside teammates [[Jim Montgomery (ice hockey)|Jim Montgomery]], Chris Imes and [[Mike Dunham]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya sweeps top HE honors |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HIogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GmYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1496,3086403&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=March 13, 1993 |work=Sun Journal |author=Aube, Bob}}</ref> Nationally, Kariya was recognized with the [[Hobey Baker Award]] as the NCAA's top player, becoming the first freshman in history to earn the distinction.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya captures Baker Award |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YuxHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yP8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5252,427839&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 6, 2011 |date=April 3, 1993 |work=Record-Journal |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> During the Black Bears' playoff run, head coach [[Shawn Walsh]] heralded him as one of the top three college players all-time.<ref name=answer>{{cite news |title=College Hockey; Freshman May Be Answer To Maine's Title Question |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/31/sports/college-hockey-freshman-may-be-answer-to-maine-s-title-question.html |access-date=July 6, 2011 |date=March 31, 1993 |work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Wallace, William}}</ref> Kariya's efforts led Maine to a record of 42 wins, one loss and two ties, en route to the [[Lamoriello Trophy]] as the Hockey East's playoff champion and the NCAA title as the country's top college team.<ref name="ncaa final">{{cite news |title=College Hockey; As Maine Goes, So Goes Collegiate Championship |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/04/sports/college-hockey-as-maine-goes-so-goes-collegiate-championship.html |access-date=July 6, 2011 |date=April 4, 1993 |work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Wallace, William}}</ref>

A top [[prospect (sports)|prospect]] heading into the off-season, Kariya was projected to be selected between second and fifth overall in the [[1993 NHL Entry Draft]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya facing career choice |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6xpbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=804NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1559,2944501&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=June 24, 1993 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |author=Mahoney, Larry}}</ref> Kariya went on to be chosen fourth overall by the [[Anaheim Ducks|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]], one of the NHL's two expansion teams. In addition to becoming Anaheim's first-ever draft pick, he also became the second-highest pick from Vancouver (after [[Barry Beck]] was chosen by the [[Colorado Rockies (NHL)|Colorado Rockies]] second overall in [[1977 NHL amateur draft|1977]]).<ref>{{cite news |title=No. 1 Burnaby boy a first for B.C. |url=http://www.royalcityrecord.com/story_print.html?id=5023575&sponsor= |access-date=September 1, 2011 |date=June 29, 2011 |work=[[Royal City Record]] |author=Berridge, Tom |archive-date=March 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325115211/http://www.royalcityrecord.com/story_print.html?id=5023575&sponsor= |url-status=dead}}</ref> Following his draft, Kariya returned to the University of Maine for his sophomore year as [[captain (ice hockey)|team captain]]. He had been voted by his teammates for the role, along with defenceman Chris Imes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Imes, Kariya new UMaine captains |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aB0zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ejgHAAAAIBAJ&pg=4324,1277518&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 6, 2011 |date=April 20, 1993 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |author=Mahoney, Larry}}</ref> However, with Imes joining the [[USA Hockey|United States' national team]] full-time in 1993–94, Kariya returned as the lone captain.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya decides: return to Maine |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=J20zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gjgHAAAAIBAJ&pg=3930,3323333&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=August 13, 1993 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |author=Mahoney, Larry}}</ref> Kariya was also committed to the [[Hockey Canada|Canadian national team]] in preparation for the [[Ice hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics|1994 Winter Olympics]] and left the Black Bears in December 1993.<ref name="end of a kariya"/> Following the Olympics, Kariya chose not to return to Maine, foregoing his remaining college hockey eligibility to turn professional with the Mighty Ducks.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sports People: Hockey; Kariya Decides to Turn Pro |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/11/sports/sports-people-hockey-kariya-decides-to-turn-pro.html |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=March 11, 1994 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He finished the season with seven goals and 41 points over 23 games with the national team, as well as eight goals and 24 points over 12 games with Maine.

Five years after his tenure with the Black Bears, Kariya was inducted into the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame in a ceremony on October 15, 1999.<ref>{{cite news |title=Six to join UM Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g6JJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Wg0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2385,2233793&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=September 7, 1999 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |page=C6}}</ref> Two years later, in July 2001, Kariya's number 9 was retired by the Black Bears.<ref>{{cite news |title=UMaine retires Kariya's number; Star calls college 'most fun' years |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bangor/access/80584305.html?dids=80584305:80584305&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+02%2C+2001&author=Larry+Mahoney%3B+Of+the+NEWS+Staff&pub=Bangor+Daily+News&desc=UMaine+retires+Kariya%27s+number+Star+calls+college+%27most+fun%27+years&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131203851/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bangor/access/80584305.html?dids=80584305:80584305&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+02,+2001&author=Larry+Mahoney;+Of+the+NEWS+Staff&pub=Bangor+Daily+News&desc=UMaine+retires+Kariya's+number+Star+calls+college+'most+fun'+years&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |date=July 2, 2001 |author=Mahoney, Larry |work=[[Bangor Daily News]]}}</ref>

===Mighty Ducks of Anaheim===
====1994–98====
Upon returning from the 1994 Olympics, Kariya began contract negotiations with the Mighty Ducks in hopes of joining the team for the remainder of the [[1993–94 NHL season]].<ref>{{cite news |title=An interview with Paul Kariya |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ee0zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sDgHAAAAIBAJ&pg=6539,3132107&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=March 25, 1994 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]]}}</ref> However, a deal failed to materialize and there was speculation in the media he would instead play in Europe. It was reported Kariya was seeking a [[United States dollar|US$]]12&nbsp;million contract over five years from the Ducks.<ref>{{cite news |title=Plays For Canada |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ar0iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fLUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6198,5300121&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=April 24, 1994 |work=Beaver County Times}}</ref> As both sides continued contract talks leading up to [[training camp]] for the [[1994–95 NHL season|1994–95 season]], Kariya agreed to a three-year, $6.5&nbsp;million deal on August 31, 1994. The majority of the contract consisted of a signing bonus worth $4.775&nbsp;million, while the annual base salary was valued at $575,000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ducks come up |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L8YgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lWoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1851,471807&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=September 2, 1994 |work=Sun Journal |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

Garnering a great degree of attention from the Mighty Ducks' fanbase, Kariya's first public practice at [[Honda Center|Arrowhead Pond]] drew an attendance of 9,000, while 16,000 fans watched his first exhibition game.<ref name=loveable>{{cite news |title=Kariya is one loveable Duck |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OcYgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lWoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3705,4455729&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=July 21, 1994 |work=Sun Journal |author=Dilbeck, Steve}}</ref> Due to the [[1994–95 NHL lockout|NHL lockout]], resulting from a dispute between players and owners, his regular-season debut was delayed until January 1995 and the campaign was shortened to 48 games. During the suspension, Kariya participated in a charity tournament held in [[Hamilton, Ontario]], sponsored by the [[National Hockey League Players' Association]] (NHLPA).<ref>{{cite news |title=Charity games give players some action |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NVBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=w-sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6575,2682908&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=November 11, 1994 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

As NHL play resumed, Kariya made his debut against the [[Edmonton Oilers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Inaugural season solid for Kariya |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6LBJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0w4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5158,2306855&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |date=July 25, 1995 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |author=Mahoney, Larry}}</ref> He later scored his first career NHL goal on January 21, 1995, against [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]] goaltender [[Tim Cheveldae]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya scores 1st goal |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aa5JAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pg4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1949,2170407&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=January 23, 1995 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]]}}</ref> During his rookie season, he played on a line with [[Stéphan Lebeau]] and [[Shaun Van Allen]].<ref name="shooting for top"/> Early in the campaign, Kariya held the scoring lead amongst NHL rookies, but was later overtaken by [[Quebec Nordiques]] centre [[Peter Forsberg]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Nords bounce back again |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M0wpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E2sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3565,1227070&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=April 6, 1995 |work=[[Sun Journal (Lewiston)|Sun Journal]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Playing in 47 games, Kariya finished the season with a team-leading 18 goals and 39 points. Nominated for the [[Calder Memorial Trophy]] as the NHL's rookie of the year,<ref>{{cite news |title=Nominees announced for league awards |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Dr4xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n4wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1630,7075662&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=May 31, 1995 |work=The News |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Kariya lost the award to Forsberg.<ref>{{cite web |title=Peter Forsberg |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=816 |access-date=September 1, 2011 |publisher=[[The Sports Network]]}}</ref> Despite being edged out, Kariya was named to the [[NHL All-Rookie Team]].<ref name=tsn>{{cite web |title=Paul Kariya |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=1258 |access-date=September 1, 2011 |publisher=[[The Sports Network]]}}</ref> His play during his first NHL season earned him comparisons to [[Wayne Gretzky]] for his vision and [[Pavel Bure]] for his speed,<ref name=comparisons>{{cite news |title=Kariya shrugs off comparisons and keeps perspective |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cdsgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G2sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1538,1986493&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=February 9, 2011 |work=[[Sun Journal (Lewiston)|Sun Journal]] |author=Markus, Robert}}</ref> while also earning accolades from Gretzky himself.

During Kariya's second season, he was chosen to play for the Western Conference in the [[46th National Hockey League All-Star Game|1996 All-Star Game]], the only Ducks representative. At the time of his selection, in January 1996, he was ranked 14th in NHL scoring with 51 points (23 goals and 28 assists) over 42 games.<ref>{{cite news |title=No surprise Kariya named All-Star |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0K9JAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rA4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6322,2329839&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 8, 2011 |date=January 10, 1996 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |author=Mahoney, Larry}}</ref> He later replaced the injured Pavel Bure of the [[Vancouver Canucks]] on the West's starting lineup.{{#tag:ref|The starting lineup consists of three forwards, two defencemen and a goalie per team and is decided by a fan vote.|group=notes}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Spotlight shining on Gretzky |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hx5OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=D-0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7017,1784986&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 8, 2011 |date=January 20, 1996 |work=[[The Deseret News]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Kariya scored a goal and an assist for the Western Conference in a 5–4 loss to the [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]].<ref>{{cite web |title=46th NHL All-Star Game |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=28961 |access-date=September 1, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]}}</ref> Less than a month after the All-Star Game, the Mighty Ducks acquired Finnish winger [[Teemu Selänne]] in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets, in a move that was designed to increase team offense.{{#tag:ref|Selänne was acquired from the Jets in exchange for defenceman [[Oleg Tverdovsky]] and centre [[Chad Kilger]].<ref name="teemu trade">{{cite news |title=For Ducks, There's No I in Teemu |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/1996-02-12/sports/17992529_1_kariya-and-selanne-steve-rucchin-teemu-and-paul |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531081402/http://articles.nydailynews.com/1996-02-12/sports/17992529_1_kariya-and-selanne-steve-rucchin-teemu-and-paul |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 31, 2012 |access-date=July 8, 2011 |date=February 12, 1996 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |author=Brown, Frank}}</ref>|group=notes}} Selänne was immediately placed on Kariya's line, and the two wingers formed one of the NHL's most high-scoring duos for several seasons.<ref name="unfamiliar waters">{{cite news |title=Ducks entering unfamiliar waters |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IdkgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HWsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2087,2571967&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 13, 2011 |date=April 16, 1997 |work=[[Sun Journal (Lewiston)|Sun Journal]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="stuck duck">{{cite magazine |title=Stuck Duck |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1024457/index.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130120043830/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1024457/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |access-date=July 28, 2011 |date=December 3, 2001 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |author=Farber, Michael}}</ref> In the last month of the 1995–96 campaign, Kariya achieved the [[List of NHL players with 100-point seasons|100-point single-season mark]] with a goal and three assists in a 5–3 win against the [[San Jose Sharks]] on April 7, 1996.<ref name="playoff hunt">{{cite news |title=Anaheim stays in playoff hunt |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TUdWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6-oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6821,1875055&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=April 8, 1996 |work=[[Eugene Register-Guard]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> A week later, he scored his [[List of NHL players with 50-goal seasons|50th goal of the season]],<ref name=thriving>{{cite news |title=Former UMaine star Kariya thriving on Pond in Anaheim |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vMogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=62oFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1341,356483&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 13, 2011 |date=January 3, 1997 |work=[[Sun Journal (Lewiston)|Sun Journal]]}}</ref> scoring twice in the final game of the campaign, a 5–2 win over Winnipeg.<ref name="50th goal">{{cite news |title=Mighty Ducks 5, Jets 2 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QipUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=V44DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4941,4631191&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=April 15, 1996 |work=The News}}</ref> With seven goals and seven assists over the final seven games of the season, Kariya was named NHL Player of the Month for April.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya lands Player of the Month honor |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qq5JAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sg4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3148,184267&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=April 16, 1996 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]]}}</ref> He finished the season with 50 goals and 58 assists for 108 points, tying him with Selänne for seventh overall in NHL scoring.<ref>{{cite web |title=1995-96 NHL League Leaders |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/top_league.php?lid=nhl1927&sid=1996&leaguenm=NHL |access-date=September 1, 2011 |publisher=Hockeydb.com}}</ref> His three overtime goals set a team record.<ref name="overtime goals record">{{cite web |title=Regular Season - Anaheim Ducks - All Skaters - Single Season Leaders For Team - Overtime Goals |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/careerstats.htm?fetchKey=00002ANASAHAll&sort=overtimeGoals&viewName=careerLeadersSingleSeasonForTeam |access-date=August 2, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]}}</ref> With 20 penalty minutes over 82 games, Kariya won the [[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]] as the NHL's most gentlemanly player and was also named to the season-ending [[NHL All-Star team|NHL first All-Star team]].<ref name=tsn/>

[[Image:Ladybyngtrophy.jpg|thumb|left|Kariya won the [[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]] in 1996 and 1997.]]

Following the 1995–96 season, Ducks captain [[Randy Ladouceur]] retired. Kariya was chosen as the third captain in team history, following Ladouceur and [[Troy Loney]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ducks History - Captains and Coaches |url=http://ducks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=44141 |access-date=September 1, 2011 |publisher=[[Anaheim Ducks]]}}</ref> At age 21, he was the youngest active captain in the NHL and remained so until [[Bryan McCabe]] became captain of the [[New York Islanders]] two years later.<ref>{{cite news |title=Islanders Name McCabe Captain |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/10/sports/islanders-name-mccabe-captain.html |access-date=July 13, 2011 |date=September 10, 1997 |work=[[The New York Times]] |author=El-Bashir, Tarik}}</ref> 

As the ensuing [[1996–97 NHL season|1996–97 season]] began, Kariya was out of the lineup with a pulled abdominal muscle and missed the first 11 games of the season; he returned to the lineup at the end of October 1996. However, two weeks after his return, he was injured again after suffering a [[concussion]] during a game against the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] on November 13, 1996,<ref name="1996 concussion">{{cite news |title=Kariya to miss 2 games |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4dczAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ViEGAAAAIBAJ&pg=5528,1864571&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=November 15, 1996 |work=Lodi News-Sentinel |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> after opposing defenceman [[Mathieu Schneider]] hit Kariya in the head with his elbow. While the play was not penalized during the game, Schneider was suspended by the NHL following the game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Schneider suspended for Kariya hit |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CHReAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3WENAAAAIBAJ&pg=6720,2484324&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=November 13, 1996 |work=Observer-Reporter}}</ref> Kariya missed two games as a result of the hit.<ref name="1996 concussion"/> Later in the season, Kariya was voted in by fans to the West's starting lineup in the [[47th National Hockey League All-Star Game|1997 All-Star Game]]. Joining him on the Western squad were Ducks teammates Selänne and [[Guy Hebert]]. During the game, he scored one goal in an 11–7 loss to the East.<ref>{{cite web |title=47th NHL All-Star Game |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=28964 |access-date=September 1, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]}}</ref> Returning to club play with the Ducks, he scored the fastest goal to start a game in team history, eight seconds into a match against the [[Colorado Avalanche]] on March 9, 1997.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mighty Ducks 2, Avalanche 2 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dOdRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BHADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6333,7707070&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 13, 2011 |date=March 10, 1997 |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]}}</ref> Kariya finished the season with 44 goals and 55 assists, one point short of reaching the 100-point mark for the second consecutive year. Limited to 69 games due to his injuries, he still ranked third in NHL point-scoring, behind Selänne and [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] [[Mario Lemieux]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1996-97 NHL League Leaders |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/top_league.php?lid=nhl1927&sid=1997&leaguenm=NHL |access-date=September 1, 2011 |publisher=Hockeydb.com}}</ref> His +36 [[Plus–minus (sports)|plus-minus]] rating and ten game-winning goals set Ducks records (the latter mark was tied by Selänne twice in [[1997–98 NHL season|1997–98]] and [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07]], then broken by [[Corey Perry]]'s 11 game-winning goals in [[2010–11 NHL season|2010–11]]).<ref name="plus minus record">{{cite web |title=Regular Season - Anaheim Ducks - All Skaters - Single Season Leaders For Team - Plus/Minus |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/careerstats.htm?fetchKey=00002ANASAHAll&sort=plusMinus&viewName=careerLeadersSingleSeasonForTeam |access-date=August 2, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Regular Season - Anaheim Ducks - All Skaters - Single Season Leaders For Team - Game Winning Goals |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/careerstats.htm?fetchKey=00002ANASAHAll&sort=gameWinningGoals&viewName=careerLeadersSingleSeasonForTeam |access-date=August 2, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]}}</ref> Kariya finished as a runner-up to [[Buffalo Sabres]] goaltender [[Dominik Hašek]] for the [[Hart Memorial Trophy]] as the most valuable player in the NHL, and won the [[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]] after recording six penalty minutes during the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=NHL Hands Out Awards |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K5I_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=51UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4653,4031349&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 13, 2011 |date=June 20, 1997 |work=Times-Union |location=Warsaw, Indiana |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In so doing, he became the fourth player in NHL history to win the award in consecutive years after Stan Mikita (1967 and 1968), [[Mike Bossy]] ([[1982–83 NHL season|1983]] and [[1983–84 NHL season|1984]]) and Wayne Gretzky ([[1990–91 NHL season|1991]] and [[1991–92 NHL season|1992]]).<ref>{{cite news |title=Lady Byng Trophy |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gGleAAAAIBAJ&sjid=S2ENAAAAIBAJ&pg=4435,912268&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 13, 2011 |date=June 20, 1997 |work=[[Observer-Reporter]]}}</ref> He was also named to the NHL first All-Star team once more, an honour he shared with Selänne.<ref name=tsn/><ref>{{cite web |title=Teemu Selanne |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=1035 |access-date=September 1, 2011 |publisher=[[The Sports Network]]}}</ref> Playing 11 games in his first NHL playoff season, Kariya had seven goals and 13 points, which ranked first in team scoring.<ref>{{cite news |title=1996-97 Anaheim Mighty Ducks (NHL) |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0002221997.html |access-date=July 13, 2011 |publisher=Hockeydb.com}}</ref>

With his original NHL contract expiring in the off-season, Kariya and the Ducks struggled to agree on a new deal. As a result, Kariya sat out the first 32 games of the [[1997–98 NHL season|1997–98 campaign]]. After making $2.1&nbsp;million the previous season, he was reportedly asking for a three-year deal worth $27&nbsp;million, while the Ducks countered with five-year, $25&nbsp;million and seven-year, $49&nbsp;million contracts. Both sides eventually agreed on a two-year, $14&nbsp;million deal in December 1997. While the initial year of the contract paid Kariya a pro-rated salary of $5.5&nbsp;million (it was also agreed in contract negotiations that Kariya would donate $2&nbsp;million of his first year's salary to [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] charities), the second year of the contract paid him $8.5&nbsp;million, making him the second-highest-paid player in NHL history (behind Mario Lemieux's $11&nbsp;million salary in 1996–97). During his absence from the Ducks, Kariya trained with the Canadian national team in preparation for the [[Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics|1998 Winter Olympics]] in [[Nagano, Nagano|Nagano]], Japan.<ref>{{cite news |title=N.H.L.: Last Night; Kariya's Holdout Is Over |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/12/sports/nhl-last-night-kariya-s-holdout-is-over.html |access-date=July 3, 2011 |date=December 12, 1997 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Due to the contract impasse, he missed an opportunity to play in Japan, as the Mighty Ducks opened the season with a two-game series against the Vancouver Canucks in [[Tokyo]], an effort on the NHL's part to attract attention to the sport ahead of the Olympics.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ducks, Canucks Warm Up Japan for Five-Ring Circus |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-04-sp-39215-story.html |access-date=September 1, 2011 |date=October 4, 1997 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |author=Teaford, Elliott}}</ref> In his first game back, he recorded two goals and two assists. During the second period of the contest, he took a team record seven shots on goal.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Goal Oriented |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1011693/1/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104120940/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1011693/1/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=July 3, 2011 |date=December 22, 1997 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |author=Farber, Michael}}</ref>

With several weeks remaining until the start of the Olympics, Kariya suffered another concussion after receiving a cross-check to the face from [[Chicago Blackhawks]] defenceman [[Gary Suter]] during a game on February 1, 1998. Kariya had scored a goal and was standing still at the side of the Blackhawks' net when Suter hit him. As a result, the Blackhawks defenceman received a four-game suspension from the NHL. There was wide speculation in the media that the incident was an intentional effort to keep Kariya from playing for Canada at the Olympics; Suter and teammate [[Chris Chelios]] were both members of the [[United States men's national ice hockey team|United States' national team]]. In the past, Suter was also accused of intentionally injuring Wayne Gretzky during a game between Canada and the United States in the [[1991 Canada Cup]].<ref name="suter swears">{{cite news |title=Suter Swears Being A Goon Not His Game |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/1998-02-13/sports/18063104_1_suter-cross-check-gary-suter-olympics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527153035/http://articles.nydailynews.com/1998-02-13/sports/18063104_1_suter-cross-check-gary-suter-olympics |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 27, 2012 |access-date=July 3, 2011 |date=February 13, 1998 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |author=Olson, Lisa}}</ref> Canada general manager [[Bobby Clarke]] called the hit a "cheap shot" and publicly echoed the sentiment that Suter wanted to eliminate Kariya from Olympic play. While Kariya was initially expected to recover in time for the Olympics, the injury (his fourth concussion in three years) ultimately sidelined him from the competition, as well as the remaining three months of NHL play.<ref name="cheap shot">{{cite news |title=Costly Cheap Shot Kariya Concussion Draws Ire |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/costly-cheap-shot-kariya-concussion-draws-ire-article-1.795208 |access-date=June 2, 2015 |date=February 13, 1998 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |author=Olson, Lisa}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya still battling concussion |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p6tJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bw4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5703,427941&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |date=March 3, 1998 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Limited to 22 games in 1997–98, Kariya recorded 17 goals and 31 points.

Following Suter's return from suspension, NHL Senior Vice President [[Brian Burke (ice hockey)|Brian Burke]] was reported by Ducks head coach [[Pierre Pagé]] to have said he would have given Suter a longer ban if the extent of Kariya's injuries were immediately known.<ref>{{cite news |title=Suter's back, but headaches are keeping Kariya sidelined |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hKVUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bTsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3369,114592&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=March 1, 1998 |work=[[Beaver County Times]]}}</ref> Later in the season, prior to a game between the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs in April 1998, Suter received a death threat, presumably for his actions against Kariya, forcing the NHL to position added security at the Blackhawks bench for the contest.<ref>{{cite news |title=McKay On Road To Recovery |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/1998-04-17/sports/18070075_1_martin-brodeur-captain-scott-stevens-devils |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603142559/http://articles.nydailynews.com/1998-04-17/sports/18070075_1_martin-brodeur-captain-scott-stevens-devils |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 3, 2012 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=April 17, 1998 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |author=Ross, Sherry}}</ref>

Suffering from [[post-concussion syndrome]], Kariya experienced headaches and a loss of [[short-term memory]]. During his recovery, he was personally encouraged by fellow NHL players [[Eric Lindros]] and [[Pat LaFontaine]], who were also dealing with serious concussions.<ref name=haunted>{{cite news |title=Hockey; Kariya Is Haunted by Next Big Hit |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/06/sports/hockey-kariya-is-haunted-by-next-big-hit.html |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=October 6, 1998 |work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Lapointe, Joe}}</ref> He was not permitted by doctors to begin training until May 1998.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ducks' Kariya working out |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xNc_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=ISEGAAAAIBAJ&pg=1894,704884&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=May 6, 1998 |work=[[Lodi News-Sentinel]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Leading up to the [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99 season]], Kariya told reporters he was ready to play a rougher style to protect himself from the opposition, including "getting [his] stick up" against oncoming players. He also adopted a helmet with increased protection, featuring extra padding and a tighter chin strap.<ref name=haunted/> In a similar effort, the Ducks additionally acquired [[enforcer (ice hockey)|enforcers]] [[Stu Grimson]] and [[Jim McKenzie (ice hockey)|Jim McKenzie]] during the off-season.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Style for Kariya |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/03/sports/hockey-notebook-it-s-the-same-old-style-for-new-devils-coach.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=September 3, 1998 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> During his recovery, Kariya was outspoken regarding the culture of the NHL regarding excessive physicality, as well as the lack of deterrence. In an article from the ''[[Sporting News]]'', he commented, "There's too much of a lack of respect players have for one another ... If the league wants to stop that kind of conduct, it will have to punish players ... Ten-game suspensions ... and more, have to be brought back to help wake up players." He also added, "There probably isn't a player in the league who hasn't had a concussion."<ref name=worry>{{cite news |title=Kariya retires, expresses worry for hockey's future |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/1016980--kariya-retires-expresses-worry-for-hockey-s-future |access-date=September 1, 2011 |date=June 29, 2011 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |author=Starkman, Randy}}</ref>

====1998–2003====
Fully recovered for the start of the 1998–99 season, Kariya returned to NHL play in October 1998. During a 3–2 loss against the Detroit Red Wings in November 1998, he put a team-record 12 shots on goal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Red Wings beat Mighty Ducks to end four-game skid |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1E9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s-sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3886,2351922&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=November 9, 1998 |work=[[Eugene Register-Guard]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Kariya established several other Ducks records in the first half of the campaign, including a 17-game point-scoring streak on home ice that ended on January 15, 1999.<ref>{{cite news |title=N.H.L.: Roundup; Dallas Silences Kariya |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/16/sports/nhl-roundup-dallas-silences-kariya.html |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=January 16, 1999 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> He finished with the second 100-plus point season of his career with 39 goals and a personal best 62 assists. His assists total set a Ducks record that stood for ten years until [[Ryan Getzlaf]] recorded 66 in [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Regular Season - Anaheim Ducks - All Skaters - Single Season Leaders for Team |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/careerstats.htm?fetchKey=00002ANASAHAll&sort=assists&viewName=careerLeadersSingleSeasonForTeam |access-date=August 2, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]}}</ref> He ranked third in point-scoring among NHL scorers, behind Selänne and leader [[Jaromír Jágr]] of the Pittsburgh Penguins, while ranking first in the NHL with 429 shots on goal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya, Ducks working to move up in NHL |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h6JJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Wg0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5161,4067532&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=September 14, 1999 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]]}}</ref> Ranked sixth in the West, the Mighty Ducks drew the Red Wings in the opening round of the [[1999 Stanley Cup playoffs|1999 playoffs]]. In Game 3, Kariya blocked a shot with his skate, breaking his right foot.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya breaks right foot |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CaJJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Sw0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=34874,3852863&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=April 28, 1999 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |agency=Associated Press |page=C9}}</ref> Unavailable for Game 4, the Ducks lost to the Red Wings and were eliminated. Before his injury, Kariya had a goal and four points over three games. Kariya's comeback season following injury was capped off with his third NHL first team All-Star distinction, receiving 47 of the possible 58 first-place votes for the left-wing position from the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.{{#tag:ref|[[Philadelphia Flyers]] left-winger [[John LeClair]] received the remaining nine first-place votes and was named to the second All-Star team.<ref name="1999 yearbook"/>|group=notes}} Kariya was also nominated for the League's [[Bill Masterton Trophy]], awarded for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey; he lost to Tampa Bay Lightning forward [[John Cullen]], who attempted to return to the NHL after missing the previous season with [[non-Hodgkin lymphoma]]. While Selänne finished as second runner-up for the Lady Byng Trophy, Kariya finished sixth in voting.<ref name="1999 yearbook">{{cite book |title=2000 NHL Yearbook |publisher=National Hockey League |year=1999 |location=Toronto |pages=237–238}}</ref>

Having played the final year of his contract, Kariya agreed on a new three-year deal with the Ducks, reported to be worth between $32 and $33&nbsp;million, during the ensuing summer. The contract was signed on June 30, 1999, one day before he was set to become a [[restricted free agent]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Plus: N.H.L. &ndash; Anaheim; Kariy'a New Deal: 3 Years, $32 Million |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/01/sports/plus-nhl-anaheim-kariya-s-new-deal-3-years-32-million.html |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=July 1, 1999 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In the three seasons that ensued, Kariya's offensive production decreased, a period that coincided with the Mighty Ducks failing to qualify for the playoffs each year.

During the [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000 season]], Kariya's younger brother [[Steve Kariya]] began playing for the Vancouver Canucks. On December 8, 1999, the Ducks and Canucks met for a contest, marking the first time the brothers played against each other at any level.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya brothers to battle on the ice |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m6VJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ig0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1616,2163379&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=December 8, 1999 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]]}}</ref> Steve recorded an assist on the Canucks' first goal of the game, before being called for a penalty. On the ensuing Ducks power play, Paul Kariya scored to tie the game at a final score of 2–2.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya brothers skate to tie |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3XQyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tK8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2932,3253348&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=December 9, 1999 |work=[[The Argus-Press]] |author=Feinberg, Doug}}</ref> Later in the season, Kariya was speared by San Jose Sharks defenceman [[Bryan Marchment]] during a game in March 2000. Kariya was not injured on the play, though Marchment received a three-game suspension from the NHL.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marchment suspended |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vHUzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LfIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6906,6978460&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=March 19, 2000 |work=[[The Spokesman-Review]]}}</ref> Kariya finished the season with the third-highest goals total of his career with 42, though his points total dipped to 86. Nevertheless, he ranked fourth in NHL scoring, behind Jaromír Jágr, Pavel Bure, and [[Mark Recchi]]. In the NHL's season-ending awards, Kariya was named to the NHL second All-Star team, having been outvoted for left wing on the First Team by Red Wings forward [[Brendan Shanahan]].{{#tag:ref|While Kariya earned 23 first-place votes in comparison to Shanahan's 22, he finished with less overall voting points. Shanahan had 181 total points (including 21 second-place and eight third-place ballots) to Kariya's 167 (including 13 second-place and 13 third-place ballots).<ref name="2000 yearbook"/>|group=notes}} He also ranked seventh in Lady Byng voting.{{#tag:ref|one first-place, one second-place, seven third-place, five fourth-place and five fifth-place votes.<ref name="2000 yearbook"/>|group=notes}}<ref name="2000 yearbook">{{cite book |title=2001 NHL Yearbook |publisher=National Hockey League |year=2000 |location=Toronto |page=252}}</ref>

During pre-season play in September 2000, Kariya received a one-game suspension after slashing [[Minnesota Wild]] player [[Aaron Gavey]], though he was able to serve the suspension during exhibition play.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ducks' Kariya Gets Time Served |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ducks-kariya-gets-time-served/ |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=October 1, 2000 |publisher=[[CBS News]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Several months into the [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01 season]], Kariya suffered a broken right foot after blocking a shot from Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman [[Pavel Kubina]] during a game in December 2000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Flames' Vernon shuts down Avalanche |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Oes0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=MyEGAAAAIBAJ&pg=1962,6853178&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=December 20, 2000 |work=[[Lodi News-Sentinel]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Missing 15 games, he returned to the lineup in late-January 2001.<ref>{{cite news |title=Senators sizzle in Florida |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/1139806.stm |access-date=July 28, 2011 |date=January 27, 2001 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref> The Ducks struggled as a team while both Kariya and Selänne's performances paled in comparison to previous years. In March 2001, Selänne was traded to the San Jose Sharks, marking the end of his duo with Kariya. Despite his and Kariya's success playing with each other, the Ducks had advanced to the second round of the playoffs just once in their tenure together. While disappointed with the trade, Kariya later commented that with the tandem constituting nearly half of the Ducks' $39&nbsp;million payroll,<ref>{{cite news |title=Ducks' Goose Is Cooked |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2001-02-11/sports/18170170_1_guy-charron-mighty-ducks-lot-of-playoff-experience |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709044047/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2001-02-11/sports/18170170_1_guy-charron-mighty-ducks-lot-of-playoff-experience |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 9, 2012 |access-date=July 28, 2011 |date=February 11, 2001 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |author=Ross, Sherry}}</ref> "If [he] were running the business, [he] would have done something too."<ref name="stuck duck"/> Kariya finished the season with 67 points (33 goals and 34 assists) over 66 games. In addition to losing Selänne via trade, Kariya played the majority of the season without centre Steve Rucchin, who was suffering from post-concussion syndrome.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=29 Anaheim Mighty Ducks |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1023912/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104164841/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1023912/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=July 29, 2011 |date=October 8, 2011 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |author=Beech, Mark}}</ref>

Without Selänne for a full season in [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]], Kariya's points total continued to decrease. During the opening month of the campaign, he went ten consecutive games without a goal.<ref name=topple/> Nevertheless, at mid-season, he was named to his sixth [[52nd National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL All-Star Game]] in January 2002 (although it marked the first time he had been named to the All-Star Game without being voted in as a starter by fans).<ref>{{cite news |title=North American All-Star reserves announced |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TtRPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B1MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6824,1352556&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 29, 2011 |date=January 18, 2002 |work=[[Kingman Daily Miner]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Kariya played on a line with Mario Lemieux and [[Joe Sakic]] (a trio that remained intact two weeks later for the [[Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Winter Olympics]])<ref>{{cite news |title=Olympic reprise for All-Stars |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/stories/2002-02-04-all-stars-olympics.htm |access-date=July 29, 2011 |date=February 4, 2002 |work=[[USA Today]] |author=Allen, Kevin}}</ref> and notched an assist in an 8–5 victory for the North American All-Stars.<ref>{{cite news |title=World rallies for All-Star win |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g5ckAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z6IFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1129,594393&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 29, 2011 |date=February 3, 2002 |work=[[Reading Eagle]]}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, Kariya played in his 500th career NHL game, against the [[Philadelphia Flyers]], a contest in which he recorded a hat-trick to lead his team to a 5–4 win.<ref>{{cite news |title=Paul Kariya notches hat trick in 500th career game |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KlAiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ga0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1261,3058471&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 29, 2011 |date=February 7, 2002 |work=[[The Argus-Press]] |author=Reel, Urula}}</ref> Though he finished with a team-leading 57 points over 82 games, the 2001–02 season marked Kariya's worst statistical year as a Duck and the third-straight year his points total had decreased. The Ducks also suffered as a team, finishing with the third-worst record in the West.<ref>{{cite web |title=2001-2002 Standings |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?season=20012002 |access-date=July 29, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]}}</ref> Losing fan support, the team drew the worst attendance in franchise history at home games during the season.<ref name=topple>{{cite news |title=Selanne, Sharks topple Kariya, Mighty Ducks |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aAFgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ow0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2472,494370&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 29, 2011 |date=November 2, 2001 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> During the season, he was often asked by reporters how long he was willing to remain with the Ducks while the franchise floundered. In the Canadian media, especially, there was a widespread position that Kariya should be moved to a better club.<ref name=patience>{{cite news |title=Patience pays off for Kariya |url=http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/Sports/2003/05/28/97215.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130110142749/http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/Sports/2003/05/28/97215.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 10, 2013 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=May 28, 2003 |publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]] |agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref>

[[File:PaulKariyaDucks.jpg|thumb|right|174px|Kariya during the [[2003 Stanley Cup Finals]].]]
====Run to the Stanley Cup Finals with the Mighty Ducks====
During the off-season, Kariya became a restricted free agent before re-signing with the Ducks to a one-year, $10&nbsp;million contract in July 2002.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya signs one-year deal |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cXohAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A4oFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1375,158513&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 29, 2011 |date=August 1, 2002 |work=[[The Daily Gazette]]}}</ref> Before 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,<ref name=patience/> as well as with the expectation they would play on a line with him.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Oates signs one-year deal with Ducks |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2002/07/01/oates_ducks_ap/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714204037/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2002/07/01/oates_ducks_ap/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2012 |access-date=July 29, 2011 |date=July 1, 2002 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Hockey; Devils Trade Sykora To Ducks For 3 Players |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/07/sports/hockey/07DEVI.html |access-date=July 29, 2011 |date=July 7, 2002 |work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Diamo, Jason}}</ref> Although Oates was injured at the beginning of the season (during which time Kariya played with his usual centre, Rucchin),<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Arnason, Chistov, Frolov move to head of rookie class |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/darren_eliot/news/2002/11/18/eliot_insider/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021121140022/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/darren_eliot/news/2002/11/18/eliot_insider/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 21, 2002 |access-date=July 31, 2011 |date=November 19, 2002 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |author=Eliot, Darren}}</ref> the trio formed the Ducks' top line.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hot streak adds strut to Ducks' waddle |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/columnist/allen/2003-02-20-allen_x.htm |access-date=July 31, 2011 |date=February 20, 2003 |work=[[USA Today]] |author=Allen, Kevin}}</ref> Despite playing under a defensive system implemented by new head coach [[Mike Babcock]],<ref name=patience/> the arrival of Kariya's new linemates coincided with a resurgence in offensive production for him in [[2002–03 NHL season|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.<ref name="death father"/> At mid-season, Kariya was selected as a reserve to his seventh and final [[47th National Hockey League All-Star Game|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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Merits of shootout in season debated |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2003/02/03/Sports/Merits_of_shootout_in.shtml |access-date=July 31, 2011 |date=February 3, 2003 |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |author=Cristodero, Damian}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=2002–2003 - Regular Season - Anaheim Ducks - All Skaters - Summary - Total Points |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20032ANASASAll&sort=points&viewName=summary |access-date=July 29, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]}}</ref> 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 one, resulting in a 2–1 Ducks win.<ref>{{cite news |title=Plus: Pro Hockey; Ducks Clip Red Wings in Triple Overtime |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/11/sports/plus-pro-hockey-ducks-clip-red-wings-in-triple-overtime.html |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=March 11, 2003 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Anaheim went on to sweep the Red Wings in four games; Kariya scored his second goal of the series in the deciding game, a 3–2 overtime win. It marked the second time in NHL history that a team eliminated the defending Stanley Cup champion in four straight games in the first round.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ducks complete upset of champion Red Wings |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iLNeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1C8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4689,394365&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=April 17, 2003 |work=[[Lewiston Morning Tribune]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The Mighty Ducks went on to eliminate the [[Dallas Stars]] and Minnesota Wild in the next two rounds to advance to the [[2003 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]] for the first time in franchise history. During game six of the series against New Jersey, a game in which the Ducks faced elimination, Kariya received a hard open-ice hit from opposing defenceman [[Scott Stevens]]. Lying 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/playoffs2003/story?id=1564873 |title=Kariya shows character in Game 6 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=June 7, 2003 |access-date=November 10, 2008}}</ref> 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 seven; Kariya finished the game with a goal and two assists.<ref name=stevens>{{cite news |title=Kariya toughs out rough Stevens hit |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2003/06/09/Sports/Kariya_toughs_out_rou.shtml |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=July 9, 2003 |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |author=Cristodero, Damian}}</ref> Reactions regarding Stevens' hit were divided following the game. Kariya told reporters that after looking at replays that Stevens had used his elbow,<ref>{{cite news |title=Scott's Hit Sparks Fire In Kariya |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2003-06-08/sports/18231551_1_paul-kariya-anaheim-coach-mike-babcock-mighty-ducks-captain |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606151329/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2003-06-08/sports/18231551_1_paul-kariya-anaheim-coach-mike-babcock-mighty-ducks-captain |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 6, 2012 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=July 8, 2003 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |author=Dellapina, John}}</ref> 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.<ref name=stevens/> Playing the deciding game seven in New Jersey, the Ducks lost the Stanley Cup by a 3–0 score.<ref>{{cite news |title=Devils reclaim Stanley Cup with 3-0 win in Game 7 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/cup/2003-06-09-finals-game7_x.htm |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=June 9, 2003 |work=[[USA Today]] |author=Allen, Kevin}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite news |title=Hockey; Giguere Proves He Can Handle Pressure |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/12/sports/hockey-giguere-proves-he-can-handle-pressure.html?src=pm |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=May 12, 2003 |work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Lapointe, Joe}}</ref> 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 (ice hockey)|Willie Mitchell]] against the Wild and Stevens against the Devils.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=NHL's remaining quartet full of intriguing stories |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/michael_farber/news/2003/05/09/farber_conffinals/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010230424/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/michael_farber/news/2003/05/09/farber_conffinals |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 10, 2008 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=May 9, 2003 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |author=Farber, Michael}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Hockey; Quiet Series By Kariya Deafening for Ducks |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/07/sports/hockey-quiet-series-by-kariya-deafening-for-ducks.html |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=June 7, 2003 |work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Lapointe, Joe}}</ref> He had also played part of the post-season with a [[shoulder separation|separated shoulder]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Country comfort |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/web/COM1052797/2/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104172853/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/web/COM1052797/2/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |date=December 2, 2006 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |author=Cazeneuve, Brian}}</ref>

Game seven of the Final marked Kariya's last game as a Mighty Duck. After nine seasons, he left Anaheim as the team's all-time leader in games played (606), goals (300), assists (369), points (669),<ref>{{cite news |title=Selanne returns to Mighty Ducks |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/9043723/ |access-date=August 4, 2011 |date=August 24, 2005 |publisher=[[NBC Sports]] |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723091247/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/9043723/ |archive-date=July 23, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> short handed goals (16) and shots (2,455). His seven seasons as team captain also set a Ducks record. Kariya's records for games played, goals, assists, and points have since been surpassed by Selänne, who returned to the Ducks in 2005 and remained with the team until his retirement in 2014. Kariya's record for most seasons as the Ducks' captain has been surpassed by [[Ryan Getzlaf]], who was the team's captain from 2010 until his retirement in 2022.

===Colorado Avalanche===
Following the Mighty Ducks' Stanley Cup run, Kariya became an [[unrestricted free agent]] in the off-season. With Kariya requiring a $10&nbsp;million qualifying offer from Anaheim to remain with the team, general manager [[Bryan Murray (ice hockey)|Bryan Murray]] let him go to free agency. Murray went on record saying, "We understand that he is an important player for the franchise... but when you are trying to build a team it's hard to have one player at $10&nbsp;million when your payroll is the mid to low ($40&nbsp;million range)." It was reported that the team had tried negotiating a longer-term deal with a decreased salary, while Murray told the media at the time he would remain in negotiations with Kariya to sign him for less.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mighty Ducks allow Kariya to become free agent |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ducks/2003-06-30-kariya_x.htm |access-date=July 3, 2011 |date=June 30, 2003 |work=[[USA Today]] |author=Allen, Kevin}}</ref> With former linemate Teemu Selänne also entering unrestricted free agency that summer after three years with San Jose (he decided to opt out of his final year, valued at $6.5&nbsp;million), the duo agreed to reunite and sign with the same team. Together, they approached the Colorado Avalanche, having decided the team had the best chance of winning the Stanley Cup. On July 3, 2003, the Avalanche announced the signing of Kariya and Selänne to one-year contracts. For the team to afford both players, Kariya took an $8.8&nbsp;million pay cut from his $10&nbsp;million salary with Anaheim the previous year, marking the highest decrease in compensation for a player in NHL history. At $1.2&nbsp;million, his salary was below the NHL average, ensuring he would have the freedom of unrestricted free agency at the end of the season. Selänne, meanwhile, signed for $5.8&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://proicehockey.about.com/cs/2002freeagents/a/selanne_kariya.htm |title=The Colorado Avalanche get a steal of a deal |publisher=abouthockey.com |date=July 3, 2003 |access-date=June 1, 2010 |archive-date=August 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807172019/http://proicehockey.about.com/cs/2002freeagents/a/selanne_kariya.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> Their deals were partially facilitated by goaltender [[Patrick Roy]]'s retirement, which freed up $8.5&nbsp;million in salary.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hockey; The Avalanche Signs Kariya and Selanne |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/04/sports/hockey-the-avalanche-signs-kariya-and-selanne.html |access-date=July 3, 2011 |date=July 4, 2003 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

Kariya and Selänne joined an already high-powered Avalanche team that included such forwards as Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, [[Milan Hejduk]], and [[Alex Tanguay]]. Despite high expectations for the duo's reunion,<ref>{{cite news |title=Avs turn back the clock with 1-2 punch |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=frei_terry&id=1618458 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=September 13, 2003 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |author=Frei, Terry}}</ref> Kariya and Selänne both struggled in their sole years with Colorado. After beginning the [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04 season]] on a line with Selänne centred by Joe Sakic,<ref name=magic/> Kariya suffered a sprained right wrist in a game against the [[Boston Bruins]] on October 21, 2003.<ref>{{cite news |title=Avalanche lose Kariya indefinitely to wrist injury |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?id=1644439 |access-date=October 22, 2012 |date=October 23, 2003 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> After being sidelined for ten games, he returned in mid-November, but re-injured his wrist in his first contest back. Due to the injury, Kariya missed playing against the Ducks for the first time in a home game on November 18.<ref name=magic>{{cite news |title=Kariya-Selanne magic: 'It'll have to wait' |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=frei_terry&id=1664607 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=November 18, 2003 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |author=Frei, Terry}}</ref> Still recovering a month later, he remained sidelined for a return to Anaheim's Arrowhead Pond on December 20.<ref>{{cite news |title=Colorado (16-8-1) at Anaheim (10-12-5) |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/preview?gid=2003121925&prov=ap |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=December 19, 2003 |publisher=[[Yahoo! Sports]]}}</ref> Kariya's departure from the Ducks drew criticism from his previous team's fans. In anticipation of the Avalanche-Ducks game on December 20, Anaheim fans began a fund that raised over $1,200 to be given to the favourite charity of the Ducks player who scores the game-winning goal against Colorado. The idea was precipitated by reports that Kariya had given Selänne $3,000 for scoring the game-winning goal against the Ducks on November 18 (it is an informal tradition in the NHL for players to offer rewards to teammates who score against former teams).<ref>{{cite news |title=Ducks fan puts bounty on Kariya's new team |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ducks/2003-12-17-anaheim-fans_x.htm |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=December 17, 2003 |work=[[USA Today]] |author=Brehm, Mike}}</ref> Kariya returned to the Avalanche lineup in time for their next game against the Ducks on January 13, 2004, at the [[Pepsi Center]]. He scored one goal in a 3–1 win.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya makes presence felt vs. Ducks |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/games/2004-01-14-ducks-avs_x.htm |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=January 14, 2004 |work=[[USA Today]] |author=Mossman, John}}</ref> Later that month, he played his first game against the Ducks in Anaheim on January 30. Booed every time he touched the puck, and he recorded two assists, as the Avalanche lost 4–3 in overtime.<ref>{{cite news |title=Late scores trim Kariya and Avs |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/games/2004-01-31-avs-ducks_x.htm |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=January 31, 2004 |work=[[USA Today]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Limited by injuries, Kariya scored below his career pace with 11 goals and 36 points over 51 games. Selänne recorded 32 points while playing in 78 games. In the final game of the regular season, Kariya injured his right ankle against the [[Nashville Predators]] on April 4.<ref>{{cite news |title=Roundup: N.H.L.; Avalanche Loses Its Game, and Perhaps Kariya, Too |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/05/sports/roundup-nhl-avalanche-loses-its-game-and-perhaps-kariya-too.html |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=March 5, 2004 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> As a team, Colorado lost their division for the first time in nine years to the Vancouver Canucks. Qualifying for the [[2004 Stanley Cup playoffs|2004 playoffs]] as the fourth seed in the West, they lost in the second round to the Sharks. Kariya returned to the Colorado lineup in time for Game 6 against the Sharks,<ref>{{cite news |title=Avs' Kariya Returns For Game 6 |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/4893980/ |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=May 4, 2004 |publisher=[[NBC Sports]] |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907042808/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/4893980/ |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> recording an assist as the Avalanche were eliminated by a score of 3–1.<ref>{{cite web |title=2003-04 NHL Playoff Results |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/playoffdisplay.php?league=nhl1927&season=2004&leaguenm=NHL |access-date=August 2, 2011 |publisher=Hockeydb.com}}</ref>

===Nashville Predators===
Due to the [[2004–05 NHL lockout|NHL lockout]], Kariya was professionally inactive for the 2004–05 season, using the time to recover from several nagging injuries.<ref name=fit/> He incorrectly predicted that the dispute would last "a year-and-a-half [or] two years,"<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Down with the ship (cont.) |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/michael_farber/02/11/nhl.doom2/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050218005255/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/michael_farber/02/11/nhl.doom2/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 18, 2005 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |date=February 11, 2005 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |author=Farber, Michael}}</ref> as the players and owners agreed on a new [[NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement|collective agreement]] in July 2005. With NHL play set to resume for the [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06 season]], Kariya became an unrestricted free agent in August 2005. Entertaining offers from ten different teams,<ref name=fit/> Kariya signed a two-year, $9&nbsp;million contract with the Nashville Predators on August 5, 2005,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Scoring strike |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/hockey/nhl/08/05/bc.hkn.lgns.predatorskariya.r/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104172815/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/hockey/nhl/08/05/bc.hkn.lgns.predatorskariya.r/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |date=August 5, 2005 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> making him the highest-paid player in team history.<ref name=revived>{{cite news |title=A revived image in Nashville? Kariya, Preds hope so |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2163514 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |date=September 20, 2005 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |author=Burnside, Scott}}</ref> Predators general manager [[David Poile]] heralded the acquisition as "unquestionably the biggest signing in [the] club's history". He ultimately chose the Predators for their style of play emphasizing skating and speed. Following the lockout, the NHL adopted several rule changes meant to benefit fast and skilled players such as Kariya.<ref name=fit>{{cite web |url=http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=438573 |title=Paul Kariya: A perfect fit |publisher=[[Nashville Predators]] |date=August 26, 2005 |access-date=June 1, 2010}}</ref> He was one of many NHL players who had publicly spoken out regarding the NHL's failed attempts in the past to reduce obstruction. During an earlier NHL-sponsored conference call with the media, Kariya criticized NHL rules, stating, "As an offensive player, I'm going through the neutral zone, and I have a player tugging me the whole way. If I don't go down, I'm not going to get a call because they are not going to make the call."<ref>{{cite news |title=NHL embarasses itself once again |url=https://www.espn.com/talent/danpatrick/s/2003/0109/1490025.html |access-date=July 31, 2011 |date=March 2, 2003 |work=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]] |author=Steigerwald, Paul}}</ref> {{failed verification|date=March 2023|reason=This citation seems to have been added with the wrong URL}} Having come off the worst statistical season of his career in 2003–04, Kariya was admittedly looking to have a bounce-back season.<ref name=revived/>

[[Image:PKariya retouched.jpg|thumb|left|Kariya during his tenure with the Predators.]]
During the Predators' training camp in September 2005, Kariya suffered separate ankle and groin injuries that limited his participation in team practices and pre-season games.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya likely to sit out with groin injury |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2167976 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |date=September 21, 2005 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> Recovering in time for the season-opener, he debuted with the Predators on October 5, 2005, at home against the San Jose Sharks. Early in the game, Kariya was routinely cheered by fans when he touched the puck. Trailing 2–1 in the third period, he scored on goaltender [[Evgeni Nabokov]] to tie the game, en route to a 3–2 win.<ref>{{cite news |title=San Jose Sharks 2, Nashville Predators 3 FINAL |url=http://predators.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2005020010 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |date=October 5, 2005 |publisher=[[Nashville Predators]] |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613035403/http://predators.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2005020010 |archive-date=June 13, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In his first season with Nashville, Kariya set team records with 31 goals, 54 assists and 85 points.{{#tag:ref|Kariya co-set the record with [[Steve Sullivan]] that year, surpassing [[Cliff Ronning]]'s 26 goals, achieved in [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000]]. It was later surpassed by [[Jason Arnott]]'s 33 goals in [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09]].<ref name="predators goals record">{{cite web |title=Regular Season - Nashville Predators - All Skaters - Single Season Leaders For Team - Goals |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/careerstats.htm?fetchKey=00002NSHSAHAll&sort=goals&viewName=careerLeadersSingleSeasonForTeam |access-date=August 5, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]. The assists and points records were broken by [[Roman Josi]] in [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22]].}}</ref> Kariya's 54 assists surpassed Ronning's 43 assists, achieved in [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01]],<ref name="predators assists record">{{cite web |title=Regular Season - Nashville Predators - All Skaters - Single Season Leaders For Team - Assists |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/careerstats.htm?fetchKey=00002NSHSAHAll&sort=assists&viewName=careerLeadersSingleSeasonForTeam |access-date=August 5, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]}}</ref> while his 85 points surpassed [[Scott Walker (ice hockey)|Scott Walker]]'s 67 points, achieved in [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04]].<ref name="predators points record">{{cite web |title=Regular Season - Nashville Predators - All Skaters - Single Season Leaders For Team - Points |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/careerstats.htm?fetchKey=00002NSHSAHAll&sort=points&viewName=careerLeadersSingleSeasonForTeam |access-date=August 5, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]}}</ref>|group=notes}}<ref name="predators goals record"/><ref name="predators assists record"/><ref name="predators points record"/> His 14 power play goals also tied defenceman [[Andy Delmore]]'s team record set in 2002–03,<ref name="predators ppg record">{{cite web |title=Regular Season - Nashville Predators - All Skaters - Single Season Leaders For Team - Power Play Goals |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/careerstats.htm?fetchKey=00002NSHSAHAll&sort=powerPlayGoals&viewName=careerLeadersSingleSeasonForTeam |access-date=August 12, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]}}</ref> while his 245 shots came within three of Cliff Ronning's mark set in 1998–99.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regular Season - Nashville Predators - All Skaters - Single Season Leaders For Team - Shots |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/careerstats.htm?fetchKey=00002NSHSAHAll&sort=shots&viewName=careerLeadersSingleSeasonForTeam |access-date=August 12, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]}}</ref> In the playoffs, Kariya had two goals and seven points over five games.

[[File:Paul Kariya.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Kariya with the Predators in 2006.]]
Kariya had 76 points (24 goals and 52 assists)—the second highest total in team history—over 82 games during the [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07 season]] and led the Predators in scoring for a second-straight year.<ref name="predators points record"/> Kariya had two assists during five playoff games. During the off-season, Predators owner [[Craig Leipold]] put the team up for sale; two of the leading candidates to buy the franchise both had plans to relocate the team. With Kariya's contract expiring, he chose not to re-sign with Nashville, citing the team's uncertain future.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nashville to be 'fighting for its life' sans Kariya |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/19493477/ |access-date=August 14, 2011 |date=July 28, 2007 |publisher=[[NBC Sports]] |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908000932/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/19493477/ |archive-date=September 8, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===St. Louis Blues===
On July 1, 2007, Kariya signed a three-year contract worth $18&nbsp;million with the [[St. Louis Blues]]. In a similar fashion to his signing with Nashville, his arrival in St. Louis marked one of the team's first notable free-agent acquisitions in a while (arguably since the team signed Brendan Shanahan in 1991). While the Predators were a team on the rise when he joined them, the Blues had contrastingly missed the playoffs in the previous two seasons.<ref name="blues contract">{{cite news |title=Blues pickup of Kariya brings buzz back to NHL franchise |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/2007-07-03-1383250004_x.htm |access-date=August 14, 2011 |date=July 3, 2007 |work=[[USA Today]] |author=Fallstrom, R.B.}}</ref>

Although Blues winger [[Jay McClement]] had the jersey number 9 upon Kariya's arrival in the off-season, he surrendered it so Kariya could retain his usual number.<ref name="blues contract"/> Assigned as an alternate captain for the team, Kariya rotated the position with [[Keith Tkachuk]], and [[Barret Jackman]] throughout the [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09 season]]. Kariya debuted with the team on October 4, 2007, registering an assist in a 3–2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blues 2, Coyotes 3 Boxscore |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/boxscore.htm?id=2007020014 |access-date=August 15, 2011 |date=October 4, 2007 |publisher=[[St. Louis Blues]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613074805/http://blues.nhl.com/club/boxscore.htm?id=2007020014 |archive-date=June 13, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> After recording six assists in his first four games as a Blue, Kariya scored his first goal with St. Louis on October 17, 2007, in a 3–1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blues 3, Blackhawks 1 |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2007020087 |access-date=August 15, 2011 |date=October 17, 2007 |publisher=[[St. Louis Blues]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615123440/http://blues.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2007020087 |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Two months later, Kariya recorded his tenth career NHL hat-trick against the Dallas Stars on December 29, scoring the Blues' final three goals, including the game-tying marker with ten seconds remaining in regulation. He was stopped in the shootout, however, by [[Mike Smith (ice hockey, born 1982)|Mike Smith]] as the Stars won the game 5–4. With the hat trick, Kariya reached the 900-point mark in his NHL career.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stars 5, Blues 4, SO |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2007020569 |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=December 29, 2007 |publisher=[[St. Louis Blues]] |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615123443/http://blues.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2007020569 |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite a decrease in offensive production, Kariya tied winger [[Brad Boyes]] for the team lead in scoring with 65 points (16 goals and 49 assists) over 82 games. The Blues finished with the second-worst record in the Western Conference with 33 wins and 79 points.<ref>{{cite web |title=2007-2008 Conference Standings |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?season=20072008 |access-date=August 15, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]}}</ref>

A month into [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09 season]], Kariya suffered a hip injury after being hit from behind in a game against the Anaheim Ducks on November 5, 2008, tearing muscle fibers near the top of his left thigh. The injury was initially undisclosed at the time and was erroneously reported as having resulted from a blocked shot. At the time of the injury, he had 15 points (2 goals and 13 assists) over 11 games, tying him for sixth in NHL scoring.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blues star Kariya sidelined |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/2008-11-06-2013632999_x.htm |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=November 6, 2008 |work=[[USA Today]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> After nearly two months of recovery, he began practicing with the Blues, but had a setback in late-December; a subsequent [[MRI]] exam revealed additional hip damage.<ref>{{cite news |title=Surgery may finish Blues' Kariya for season |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=3795358 |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=December 27, 2008 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Undergoing surgery for a torn [[acetabular labrum]] on January 5, 2009, the team listed him as sidelined indefinitely, while Blues president [[John Davidson (ice hockey)|John Davidson]] told reporters he might be back late that season or the next.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blues LW Kariya out indefinitely |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=3814728 |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=January 6, 2009 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The following month, another MRI revealed a torn labrum in the opposite side of his hip, as well, requiring a second surgery.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blues' Kariya has second hip surgery |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=3898123 |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=February 10, 2009 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Despite the loss of Kariya, the Blues made the playoffs for the first time since 2004. With the Blues matching up against the Vancouver Canucks in the first round, Kariya began practicing with the team in hopes of a comeback for the playoffs. He told reporters he felt "stronger than [he had]… since 1999".<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya a no-go for Game 3 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/kariya-a-no-go-for-game-3-1.826373 |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=April 19, 2009 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> The Blues were swept in four games however, before Kariya could return.

Fully recovered by the start of the [[2009–10 NHL season|2009–10 season]], Kariya made his return to the Blues lineup on October 2, 2009, a game played in [[Stockholm]]. He scored two goals in a 4–3 win against the Detroit Red Wings.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya leads Blues' comeback over Red Wings in Stockholm |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=293458 |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=October 2, 2009 |publisher=[[The Sports Network]] |agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref> On March 18, 2010, Kariya scored the 400th goal of his NHL career, against the New York Rangers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/35941543/ns/sports-nhl/ |title=Kariya's 400th goal lifts Blues over Rangers |publisher=[[NBC Sports]] |date=March 18, 2010 |access-date=June 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818145736/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/35941543/ns/sports-nhl/ |archive-date=August 18, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A week later, he recorded the 402nd and final goal of his career, in a 3–1 win against the Los Angeles Kings.<ref>{{cite news |title=Oshie scores winner for Blues in victory over Kings |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=315497 |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=March 26, 2010 |publisher=[[The Sports Network]] |agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref> Kariya played his last NHL game on April 11, 2010, against his former team, the Nashville Predators. With the Blues trailing by one goal in the third period, Kariya helped set up [[David Backes]]' game-tying goal, marking his 25th assist of the season and final point of his career. The Blues went on to lose the game 2–1 in a shootout.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/boxscore.htm?id=2009021219 |title=April 10, 2011 Blues vs. Predators Box Score |publisher=National Hockey League |date=April 10, 2010 |access-date=August 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613074738/http://blues.nhl.com/club/boxscore.htm?id=2009021219 |archive-date=June 13, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On December 27, 2009, Kariya received the sixth and last concussion of his NHL career, an elbow to the head delivered from behind by [[Buffalo Sabres]]' forward [[Patrick Kaleta]]. During what would become Kariya's last season in the NHL, the League began expanding its efforts to eliminate hits to the head with new rules and stiffer penalties. NHL officials also began looking to penalize "blindside hits", defined as a body check against a player from the side, where he cannot see the ensuing player coming. At the time, Kariya called the pending rule changes "long overdue", adding, "[H]av[ing] been through so much with that… It's something that should've been in place years and years ago."<ref>{{cite news |title=Long overdue, NHL set to eliminate hits to the head |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2010-03-19-1441696908_x.htm |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=March 19, 2010 |work=[[USA Today]] |author=Podell, Ira}}</ref>

With his contract expiring in the off-season, Teemu Selänne, who had since returned to the Ducks, was reportedly in talks with team management to sign Kariya.<ref>{{cite news |title=Teemu Selanne comes back to Ducks, lobbies for Paul Kariya |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ducks/2010-08-09-teemu-selanne-re-signs_N.htm |access-date=July 3, 2011 |date=August 9, 2010 |work=[[USA Today]] |author=Allen, Kevin}}</ref> However, on August 27, 2010, on the advice of doctors who refused to clear him to play, Kariya announced he would sit out the [[2010–11 NHL season|2010–11 season]] with post-concussion syndrome. While the symptoms eventually did subside somewhat, the same doctors advised Kariya it was too risky to try to play again, and Kariya announced his retirement from hockey on June 29, 2011, through the NHLPA.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/paul-kariya-announces-retirement-criticizes-nhl-discipline?urn=nhl,wp8267 |title=Paul Kariya announces retirement, criticizes NHL discipline |author=Leahy, Sean |publisher=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |date=June 29, 2011 |access-date=June 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=370372 |title=Kariya announces his retirement after 15 seasons in NHL |publisher=[[The Sports Network]] |date=June 29, 2011 |access-date=June 29, 2011}}</ref> He continued to be outspoken regarding the prevalence of concussions among hockey players; in an interview with the ''Globe and Mail'', he commented, "The thing I worry about is that you'll get a guy who is playing with a concussion, and he gets hit, and he dies at centre ice."<ref name=worry/>

==International career==
In the summer of 1991, Kariya joined the Canadian Under-18 Selects Team at the Phoenix Cup, the inaugural tournament of what would go on to become the [[Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament]]. Kariya led all scorers with ten points in six games while being named to the Tournament All-Star team. Canada won the silver medal, losing out to the Soviet Union.<ref name=commits/><ref name="hockey canada retirement">{{cite news |title=Team Canada Veteran Paul Kariya Retires After 15 NHL Season |url=http://hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/170979/la_id/1/ |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=June 30, 2011 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref>

The following year, he moved up to the [[Canada men's national junior ice hockey team|Canadian under-20 team]] for the [[1992 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1992 World Junior Championships]] in Germany. The youngest player on the team,<ref>{{cite web |title=1992 IIHF World Junior Championships - Roster/Canada |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/60646/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 27, 2011 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref> he recorded a goal and an assist over six games as Canada finished in sixth place. Playing in the tournament a second consecutive year in [[1993 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1993]], Kariya improved to two goals and eight points over seven games, ranking second in team scoring behind [[Martin Lapointe]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1993 IIHF World Junior Championship - Canada Statistics |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/60982/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 28, 2011 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref> Helping Canada to a record of six winsand one loss, they tied [[Sweden men's national junior ice hockey team|Sweden]] for first overall in the standings, but won the gold medal by way of their 5–4 win against them in their second game.<ref>{{cite web |title=1993 IIHF World Junior Championship |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/60980/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 28, 2011 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=1993 IIHF World Junior Championship Team Standings |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/23126/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 28, 2011 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref> The championship marked Kariya's first international gold medal and began a streak of five consecutive gold medals for Canada at the tournament.<ref name="hockey canada retirement"/> He was named to the Tournament All-Star team, alongside Canadian goaltender [[Manny Legace]] and defenceman [[Brent Tully]].<ref>{{cite web |title=IIHF World Junior Championship All-Star teams |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/3572/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 27, 2011 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref> Nearly ten years later, [[The Sports Network|TSN]] held a fan-voted poll on the Internet to select Canada's all-time World Junior team. The poll garnered more than 350,000 votes with Kariya chosen as one of 13 forwards on the team.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shanahan takes inititative to return spark to the game |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/12/19/Sports/Shanahan_takes_initia.shtml |access-date=August 4, 2011 |date=December 19, 2004 |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |author=Jones, Tom}}</ref>

Four months later, in April 1993, Kariya debuted with the [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canadian men's team]] in the [[1993 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|IIHF World Championships]], held in Germany. At 18 years and six months, he became the youngest player in Canadian history to play at the tournament.<ref>{{cite news |title=Patrice Bergeron, Brendan Morrison and Glenn Muray named to Team Canada's roster for 2004 IIHF Men's World Hockey Championship |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/10988/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=March 21, 2004 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref> He scored nine points in eight games as Canada finished in fourth place.

Later that year, in December 1993, Kariya left his college team, the Maine Black Bears, to join the Canadian national team in preparation for the [[Ice hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics|1994 Winter Olympics]] in [[Lillehammer]], [[Norway]]. At the start of the tournament, Canada was seeded seventh overall and was not considered a favourite to do well.<ref name=pumped>{{cite news |title=Paul Kariya is pumped about Team Canada |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php?ci_id=4049&la_id=1 |access-date=August 27, 2011 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref> Playing on a line with [[Chris Kontos]] and [[Petr Nedvěd|Petr Nedved]],<ref name=showdown>{{cite news |title=Hockey: The Showdown with The Next One |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JqgzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jjgHAAAAIBAJ&pg=4025,430878&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=February 17, 1994 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |author=Nadel, Mike}}</ref> Kariya led his team in scoring with three goals and seven points over eight games, helping Canada to a silver medal. Tied with the [[Czech Republic men's national ice hockey team|Czech Republic]] 2–2 in the quarterfinal, Kariya scored the game-winning goal after 16 minutes of overtime play to help the Canadians advance.<ref>{{cite news |title=Winter Olympics; Canada Wins and Chases Elusive Goal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/24/sports/winter-olympics-canada-wins-and-chases-elusive-goal.html |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=February 24, 1994 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In the gold medal game, Kariya scored the first goal as Canada went on to lose 3–2 in a [[shootout (ice hockey)|shootout]] to [[Sweden men's national ice hockey team|Sweden]]. With a chance to tie the shootout after Swedish forward Peter Forsberg scored, Swedish goaltender [[Tommy Salo]] stopped Kariya with a glove save.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sweden Wins on Forsberg's Shot in Shootout |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/olympics1998/history/1994/articles/94-hockfin.htm |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=February 28, 1994 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |author=Howard, Johnette}}</ref>

Two months later, Kariya joined Team Canada for the [[1994 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1994 Men's World Championships]] in [[Italy]]. He was the lone player on the team to have continued on from the Olympics,<ref name="face sweden"/> as well as the youngest,<ref name="ducks tale">{{cite magazine |title=A Duck's Tale |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1006217/1/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104122530/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1006217/1/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=February 13, 1995 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |author=Montville, Leigh}}</ref> while playing on a line with Jason Arnott and Brendan Shanahan.<ref name="shooting for top">{{cite news |title=Kariya shooting for top |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MkwpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E2sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1428,889502&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=April 5, 1995 |work=[[Sun Journal (Lewiston)|Sun Journal]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> During round-robin play, he scored a hat-trick against [[Austria men's national ice hockey team|Austria]] in a 6–1 win.<ref name="wc hat trick"/> In the quarter-final, he added a goal and an assist in a win over the Czech Republic.<ref name="face sweden">{{cite news |title=Kariya, Canada to face Sweden again |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XIUzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nTgHAAAAIBAJ&pg=1487,1469764&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=May 6, 1994 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Canada advanced to the final, where they defeated [[Finland men's national ice hockey team|Finland]] 2–1 to capture the gold medal. It marked the first championship at the tournament for Canada in 33 years.<ref name="hockey canada retirement"/> Kariya finished the tournament with a team-high five goals and 12 points over eight games and received Best Forward<ref>{{cite web |title=IIHF World Men's Championship Directorate Awards and Most Valuable Player |url=http://hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/5051/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 27, 2011 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref> and All-Star team honours on the latter, he was joined by Canadian goaltender [[Bill Ranford]].<ref name="ducks tale"/><ref>{{cite web |title=IIHF World Men's Championship All-Star teams |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/5049/la_id/1.htm |access-date=October 12, 2012 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref> With his success at the 1994 Winter Olympics and World Championships, Wayne Gretzky heralded Kariya as the next NHL superstar.<ref name="wc hat trick">{{cite news |title=Kariya nets hat trick as Canada romps |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8w8gAAAAIBAJ&pg=4056,5816601&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=April 24, 1994 |work=Sun Journal |author=Simpson, Victor}}</ref>

In January 1996, Kariya finished as a runner-up to Wayne Gretzky for the inaugural Jean Beliveau Award, an annual distinction from [[Hockey Canada]] for players who have demonstrated "outstanding playing ability and international experience while maintaining the fundamentals of sportsmanship and fair play". Unlike most annual awards, the distinction did not take into account players' performances in the prior year, but their contributions on a career basis. The initial three nominees were chosen by a selection committee, while the winner was determined by fan vote. [[Randy Gregg (ice hockey)|Randy Gregg]] was the other nominee.<ref>{{cite news |title=Canadian Hockey Launches The Canadian Hockey Awards |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/9846/la_id/2.htm |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=January 8, 1996 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Gretzky, King and Team Canada 1972 honoured with first Canadian Hockey awards |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/9905/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=June 18, 1996 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref>

Following his second NHL season, Kariya was named to Canada's team for the [[1996 IIHF World Championship|1996 World Championships]] in [[Vienna]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kariya off to Worlds in week |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q65JAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sg4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5033,430165&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=April 17, 1996 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |author=Mahoney, Larry}}</ref> During the round-robin, he scored a hat-trick against the [[United States men's national ice hockey team|United States]], helping Canada to a 5–1 win, qualifying them for the quarter-finals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Canada beats U.S. |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mohGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r-kMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3078,6793272&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=April 29, 1996 |work=[[The Daily Gazette]]}}</ref> During their semi-final against [[Russia men's national ice hockey team|Russia]], Kariya scored in the shootout to help Canada to a 3–2 win.<ref>{{cite news |title=Canadians and Czechs Set for Final |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/04/sports/results-plus-021580.html |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=May 4, 1996 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Advancing to the gold medal game, they lost 4–2 to the Czech Republic.<ref>{{cite news |title=Czech Republic wins its first world hockey title |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BadJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BA4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4067,1498670&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=May 6, 1996 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Kariya finished the competition with four goals and seven points over eight games, earning him a spot as Canada's lone representative on the Tournament's first All-Star team.<ref>{{cite news |title=Worlds All-Star teams |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BadJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BA4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3225,1489587&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=May 6, 1996 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]]}}</ref> Over three World Championship appearances, Kariya recorded 28 points (11 goals and 17 assists) over 24 games, which at the time, ranked him at third all-time among Canadian scorers,<ref>{{cite web |title=2004 IIHF World Men's Championship |url=http://hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/9887/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 27, 2011 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref> behind [[Steve Yzerman]]'s 39 points and [[Marcel Dionne]]'s 32.<ref>{{cite news |title=Thornton, Nash and Gagne Leading Canada in Scoring |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/4978/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=May 13, 2005 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref>

Before the World Championships, Canada also named Kariya to their team for the [[1996 World Cup of Hockey|1996 World Cup]], which was held in August and September.<ref>{{cite news |title=Penguins skate into World Cup |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r_FRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DnADAAAAIBAJ&pg=2170,166746&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=April 16, 1996 |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]}}</ref> However, Kariya was kept from competing due to a groin inflammation. During a [[news conference]], he called his withdrawal the "biggest disappointment of [his] hockey career".<ref name="world cup">{{cite news |title=Kariya to Miss World Cup |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/09/sports/kariya-to-miss-world-cup.html |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=August 9, 1996 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The World Cup would have marked his first international appearance in a best-on-best tournament, as the competition did not interfere with the Stanley Cup playoffs as the World Championships did. Kariya was replaced in the lineup by New York Rangers winger [[Adam Graves]].<ref name="world cup"/> Canada went on to finish as runner-up to the United States in the tournament.

In June 1997, Kariya was again nominated for the Jean Beliveau Award, alongside Gregg, but lost to [[Bobby Orr]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Bobby Orr, Glen Sather, Team CAnada'87 win 1997 Canadian Hockey Awards |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/10025/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=June 18, 1997 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref>

Four years after his first Olympic appearance as an amateur, the [[Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics|1998 Winter Olympics]] in Nagano, Japan, were set to become the first Games in which NHL players could compete in ice hockey. While Kariya was involved in a contract dispute with the Mighty Ducks, causing him to miss the start of the 1997–98 NHL season, Hockey Canada contacted Kariya, asking him to provide a training regimen by December 1, 1997, ensuring that he would be physically ready to play in the Olympics, given his inactivity in the NHL. Before agreeing to a contract with the Ducks in December, he joined the Canadian national team in training.<ref>{{cite news |title=N.H.L.: Last Night; Canadian Olympic Team |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/sports/nhl-last-night-canadian-olympic-team.html?src=pm |access-date=September 1, 2011 |date=November 10, 1997 |work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Willes, Ed}}</ref> On November 29, 1997, Canadian General Manager Bobby Clarke announced his roster for the Games, which included Kariya. He was the youngest player named to the team, behind defenceman [[Chris Pronger]], who was born six days earlier.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bob Clarke Names 23-Player Men's Roster For 1998 Winter Olympics |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/10090/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=November 29, 1997 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref> Less than a month to go before the start of the tournament, held in February 1998, however, he suffered a concussion, resulting from an on-ice crosscheck to the head from Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Gary Suter. The hit received much publicity as Suter, a member of the United States' national team, was accused by many in the media, as well as Bobby Clarke, of targeting Kariya specifically in order to sideline him for the Olympics. He again described the missed opportunity as the "biggest disappointment of [his] career," adding that he was looking forward to playing in Japan, having family there.<ref name=pumped/>

Leading up to the next Winter Olympics, Kariya was chosen as one of eight initial players to Canada's roster on March 23, 2001.{{#tag:ref|The IIHF required each country to name a preliminary roster. The remaining fifteen players were announced in mid-December 2001.<ref>{{cite news |title=Canada's Men's Olympic Hockey Team Roster Announced |url=http://hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/10642/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=December 15, 2001 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref>|group=notes}} Playing on the top line with Mario Lemieux, Kariya scored three goals and one assist over six games, tying for fourth in Canadian point-scoring.<ref>{{cite web |title=2002 Winter Olympics (Mens) - Statistics |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/4175/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 28, 2011 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref> He registered his first goal of the tournament in Canada's second game, a 3–2 win against [[Germany men's national ice hockey team|Germany]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Canada 3, Germany 2 |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/4070/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 28, 2011 |date=February 17, 2002 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref> His second came against [[Belarus men's national ice hockey team|Belarus]] in the semi-final, qualifying Canada for the gold medal game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Olympic Semi-Final |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/4073/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 28, 2011 |date=February 22, 2002 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref> Playing the United States in the final, Kariya scored Canada's first goal of the game, tying the score at 1–1 in the first period. Canada went on to win 5–2, capturing their first Olympic gold medal since 1952.<ref>{{cite web |title=Olympic Gold Medal Final |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/4074/la_id/1.htm |access-date=August 28, 2011 |date=February 24, 2002 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref> Canada's roster was later inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame under the team category on March 26, 2009, during a ceremony in Vancouver.<ref>{{cite news |title=2002 Men's and Women's Gold Medal-Winning Olympic Teams Earn Induction Into Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame |url=http://hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/59786/la_id/1/ss_id/63168/ |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=January 22, 2009 |publisher=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref>

Despite Kariya's success with Canada at the 2002 Olympics, he had come off the worst statistical season of his career before the national team's summer development camp in preparation for the [[Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Winter Olympics]]. His omission was singled out by the media; general manager Wayne Gretzky, who selected the camp's participants, explained publicly, "Paul is a great player, but at some point you have to have a cutoff," while also asserting he had spoken to Kariya personally regarding the situation.<ref>{{cite news |title=The usual suspects |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/News/2005/07/01/1113288-sun.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728115217/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/News/2005/07/01/1113288-sun.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |date=July 1, 2005 |work=[[Edmonton Sun]] |author=Jones, Terry}}</ref> After a strong start to the [[2005–06 NHL season]], Kariya was one of 49 forwards chosen in October 2005 to Canada's preliminary list of players to be selected from for the final roster.<ref>{{cite news |title=Crosby tops list for Canadian Olympic squad |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/winter/2005-10-19-canadian-olympic-hockey_x.htm |access-date=August 4, 2011 |date=October 19, 2005 |work=[[USA Today]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> When the team was announced in December 2005, however, he was not chosen.

During his career, Kariya became involved with [[Hockey Canada]] off the ice, as well. In the late 1990s, he joined the organization as a national spokesperson with [[Canada women's national ice hockey team|women's team]] forward [[Jayna Hefford]] for the Initiation Program, promoting a safe and positive experience for children first becoming involved with hockey.<ref name="hockey canada retirement"/>

==Playing style==
[[File:Jeremy Roenick & Paul Kariya.jpg|thumb|Kariya (right) stated that [[Jeremy Roenick]] (left) was one of the players he patterned his game after.]] 
Kariya was known for his skilled and entertaining style of play. An offensive player, he was a fast skater with strong puck-handling and passing abilities. Before and early in his NHL career, Kariya drew comparisons to Wayne Gretzky.<ref name=loveable/><ref>{{cite news |title=Ferreira wants Kariya for run |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u2IgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=52UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1536,247648&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=March 1, 1994 |work=Sun Journal |author=Weaver, Mike}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Hockey may face changes |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CVsxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UaIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1306,152281&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 7, 2011 |date=March 1, 1994 |work=Reading Eagle}}</ref> During the 1994 Winter Olympics, American Head Coach [[Tim Taylor (ice hockey coach)|Tim Taylor]] likened his skating and playmaking ability to Gretzky's, while Kariya's linemate, Chris Kontos, described his on-ice vision as "Gretzky-like." Canadian head coach [[Tom Renney]] heralded him as "think[ing] and play[ing] at a better speed than anybody else," adding that his teammates "are usually a half-step behind him".<ref name=showdown/> His speed made him particularly adept in international competition, as games were played on a larger ice surface in comparison to the NHL.<ref name=pumped/> Following his first NHL goal against Winnipeg, Jets head coach [[John Paddock]] told reporters, "[L]ike with Gretzky the puck seems to following him around... It looks like he's cherry picking, but he's not. That's just great instinct."<ref name=comparisons/> Kariya himself cited Gretzky, as well as Brett Hull, [[Jeremy Roenick]] and Pavel Bure, as players he liked patterning his game after.<ref name=comparisons/> Kariya was also recognized for his "hockey sense" and the cerebral aspect of his game,<ref name=thriving/> which included analyzing the game at a high level.<ref name=studies/> His first NHL coach, Ron Wilson, also once described Kariya as "the hardest-working athlete [he's] ever been associated with".<ref>{{cite news |title=While Ducks struggle, Kariya stays positive |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9qVJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sw0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1555,195214&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 29, 2011 |date=January 16, 2002 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |author=Peters, Ken}}</ref>

While recognized primarily as a playmaker leading up to his NHL career, Kariya was forced into shooting more as the Mighty Ducks lacked scorers in his first two seasons with the team. During his third NHL season, he commented, "If Teemu [Selänne] had been here right off the bat, then maybe I wouldn't have focused so much on shooting." Kariya was able to put many shots on goal due to his quick release.<ref name=thriving/> In 1998–99, he led the NHL with 429 shots on goal, which at the time was the second-highest recorded total in NHL history.<ref name=studies>{{cite news |title=Kariya elevates his play by applying his studies |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_mY1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=hm8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1972,5318306&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=October 28, 1999 |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |page=B1, B8}}</ref> Nonetheless maintaining his passing ability, Kariya was particularly adept at making plays from deep in the offensive zone and beside the opposing team's net.<ref>{{cite news |title=Paul Kariya showing off MVP form |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rKVJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lw0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2040,1262094&dq=paul+kariya&hl=en |access-date=July 27, 2011 |date=January 20, 1999 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |author=Thorne, Gary}}</ref>

==Personal life==
During his rookie NHL season, Kariya lived in the Anaheim area with a family that was close friends with Mighty Ducks head coach, [[Ron Wilson (ice hockey, born 1955)|Ron Wilson]].<ref name="ducks tale"/> Following his departure from the Ducks in 2003, he maintained a summer home in [[Orange County, California]]. With a background in competitive swimming as a child, he became an avid surfer in the area.<ref>{{cite news |title=How they spent their summer vacations |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/archives/article843981.ece |access-date=August 14, 2011 |date=September 15, 2006 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |author=Duhatschek, Eric}}</ref>

Kariya still resides in California with his longtime girlfriend, Valerie, near another former Ducks player, [[Scott Niedermayer]]. Kariya has maintained a close friendship with Teemu Selänne,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/kariya-529681-ducks-game.html |title=Whicker: Kariya leaves hole in the Ducks' scrapbook |author=Whicker, Mark |work=Orange County Register |date=October 5, 2013 |access-date=May 17, 2014}}</ref> and even attended Selänne's final regular season game at the Honda Center in 2014. Despite Kariya having only once attended the arena following his retirement, Selänne made sure to invite his old teammate as "he has meant so much to me, all my best years and the chemistry I’ve had with him." Selänne even went so far as to jokingly "threaten" to tie him up and toss him in his trunk of his car, then drive him to the stadium himself if Kariya refused. Paul Kariya was shown on the Jumbotron during the third period, which led to a loud ovation from the home crowd.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/ana-vs-col/2014/04/13/2013021229 |title=Selanne honored as Ducks win regular-season finale |date=April 14, 2014 |publisher=National Hockey League |first=Curtis |last=Zupke |access-date=May 17, 2014}}</ref>

As captain of the Mighty Ducks, Kariya made a cameo appearance in [[Disney]]'s ''[[D3: The Mighty Ducks]]'' movie, which was released in October 1996.<ref name=outtakes/>

Kariya and Selanne were honoured by the Anaheim Ducks during a home game against the Florida Panthers shortly after Kariya and Selanne were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Players on the ice during warmups wore either Paul Kariya Mighty Ducks jerseys or Anaheim Ducks Selanne jerseys.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Ducks honoured Selanne and Kariya by wearing their vintage Mighty Ducks jerseys during warm-ups |url=https://www.bardown.com/the-ducks-honoured-selanne-and-kariya-by-wearing-their-vintage-mighty-ducks-jerseys-during-warm-ups-1.920052 |website=bardown.com |access-date=June 11, 2018 |date=November 20, 2017}}</ref> Ducks team owner Henry Samueli brought up that Selanne's jersey retirement banner “looked lonely in the rafters” and told Kariya “they may have to do something about that in the future”.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stephens |first1=Eric |title=HHOF inductees Paul Kariya, Teemu Selanne enjoy spotlight once more at Honda Center |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/11/19/hhof-inductees-paul-kariya-teemu-selanne-enjoy-spotlight-once-more-at-honda-center-2/ |access-date=June 11, 2018 |publisher=Orange County Register |date=November 19, 2017}}</ref>

The Anaheim Ducks retired his number on October 21, 2018, at a ceremony attended by Selanne and Scott Niedermayer.

In 2018, he was the subject of "Surfacing", a documentary feature on [[The Sports Network|TSN]]. The segment's creators, Matt Dunn, Michael Farber, Brent Blanchard, and David Midgley, received a [[Canadian Screen Award]] nomination for Best Sports Feature Segment at the [[7th Canadian Screen Awards]].<ref>[https://www.academy.ca/2019/matt-dunn-michael-farber-brent-blanchard-david-midgley/ "Matt Dunn, Michael Farber, Brent Blanchard, David Midgley: 2019 Best Sports Feature Segment"]. [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television]], February 7, 2019.</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan="3"  style="background:#ffffff;" |  
! rowspan="99" style="background:#ffffff;" |  
! colspan="5"                              | [[Regular season]]
! rowspan="99" style="background:#ffffff;" |  
! colspan="5"                              | [[Playoffs]]
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! [[Season (sports)|Season]]
! Team
! League
! GP
! [[Goal (ice hockey)|G]]
! [[Assist (ice hockey)|A]]
! [[Point (ice hockey)|Pts]]
! [[Penalty (ice hockey)|PIM]]
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
|-
| 1990–91
| [[Penticton Vees (junior A)|Penticton Panthers]]
| [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]]
| 54
| 46
| 66
| 112
| 8
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 1991–92
| Penticton Panthers
| BCHL
| 41
| 45
| 87
| 132
| 16
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- 
| [[1992–93 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1992–93]]
|[[Maine Black Bears men's ice hockey|Maine Black Bears]]
|[[Hockey East|HE]]
|39
|25
|75
|100
|12
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[1993–94 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1993–94]]
|Maine Black Bears
|HE
|12
|8
|16
|24
|4
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- 
|[[1994–95 NHL season|1994–95]]
|[[Anaheim Ducks|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]]
|[[National Hockey League|NHL]]
|47
|18
|21
|39
|4
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
|[[1995–96 NHL season|1995–96]]
|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
|NHL
|82
|50
|58
|108
|20
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- 
|[[1996–97 NHL season|1996–97]]
|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
|NHL
|69
|44
|55
|99
|6
|11
|7
|6
|13
|4
|-style="background:#f0f0f0;"
|[[1997–98 NHL season|1997–98]]
|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
|NHL
|22
|17
|14
|31
|23
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
|[[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99]]
|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
|NHL
|82
|39
|62
|101
|40
|3
|1
|3
|4
|0
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
|[[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–00]]
|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
|NHL
|74
|42
|44
|86
|24
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- 
|[[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01]]
|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
|NHL
|66
|33
|34
|67
|20
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
|[[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]]
|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
|NHL
|82
|32
|25
|57
|28
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- 
|[[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03]]
|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
|NHL
|82
|25
|56
|81
|48
|21
|6
|6
|12
|6
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
|[[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04]]
|[[Colorado Avalanche]]
|NHL
|51
|11
|25
|36
|22
|1
|0
|1
|1
|0
|- 
|[[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06]]
|[[Nashville Predators]]
|NHL
|82
|31
|54
|85
|40
|5
|2
|5
|7
|0
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
|[[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07]]
|Nashville Predators
|NHL
|82
|24
|52
|76
|36
|5
|0
|2
|2
|2
|- 
|[[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08]]
|[[St. Louis Blues]]
|NHL
|82
|16
|49
|65
|50
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
|[[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09]]
|St. Louis Blues
|NHL
|11
|2
|13
|15
|2
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- 
|[[2009–10 NHL season|2009–10]]
|St. Louis Blues
|NHL
|75
|18
|25
|43
|36
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan="3" | NHL totals
!989
!402
!587
!989
!399
!46
!16
!23
!39
!12
|}

===International===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year
! Team
! Event
! Result
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | 
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
|-  
| 1991
| [[Canada men's national under-18 ice hockey team|Canada]]
| [[Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament|PC]]
| {{silver2}}
| 5 || 4 || 8 || 12 || 2
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1992 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1992]]
| [[Canada men's national junior ice hockey team|Canada]]
| [[Ice Hockey World Junior Championships|WJC]]
| 6th
| 6
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 2
|-  
| [[1993 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1993]]
| Canada 
| WJC
| {{gold1}}
| 7
| 2
| 6
| 8
| 2
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1993 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1993]]
| [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canada]]
| [[Ice Hockey World Championships|WC]]
| 4th
| 8
| 2
| 7
| 9
| 0
|-  
| [[Ice hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics|1994]]
| Canada
| [[Ice hockey at the Olympic Games|OG]]
| {{silver2}}
| 8
| 3
| 4
| 7
| 2
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1994 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1994]]
| Canada
| WC
| {{gold1}}
| 8
| 5
| 7
| 12
| 2
|-  
| [[1996 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1996]]
| Canada
| WC
| {{silver2}}
| 8
| 4
| 3
| 7
| 2
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics|2002]]
| Canada
| OG
| {{gold1}}
| 6
| 3
| 1
| 4
| 0
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan=4 | Junior totals
! 18
! 7
! 15
! 22
! 6
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan=4 | Senior totals
! 38
! 17
! 22
! 39
! 6
|}

==Awards and honours==
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Award
! Year
|-
! colspan="2" | BCHL <small>(Interior Conference)</small>
|-
| Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy <small>(rookie of the year)</small> || 1991
|-
| Bob Fenton Trophy <small>(most sportsmanlike player)</small> || 1991, 1992
|-
| Vern Dye Memorial Trophy <small>(most valuable player)</small> || 1991, 1992
|-
| Canadian Junior A Player of the Year || 1992
|-
! colspan="2" | Hockey East
|-
| All-[[Hockey East]] [[List of All-Hockey East Teams#Rookie Team|Rookie Team]] || 1993
|-
| [[List of All-Hockey East Teams#First Team|First Team]] || 1993
|-
| Rookie of the Year || 1993
|-
| Player of the Year || 1993
|-
| [[Lamoriello Trophy]] <small>(league championship; with Maine Black Bears)</small> || 1993
|-
! colspan="2" | [[NCAA Division I men's ice hockey|NCAA]]
|-
| [[Hobey Baker Award]] || 1993
|-
| [[List of NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament champions|National Champion]] <small>(with Maine Black Bears)</small> || [[1993 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament|1993]]
|-
| [[American Hockey Coaches Association|AHCA]] [[List of Division I AHCA All-American Teams|East First-Team All-American]] || 1993
|-
| [[List of NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey All-Tournament Teams|All-Tournament Team]]
| [[1993 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament|1993]]<ref name = ncaa>{{cite news |title=NCAA Frozen Four Records |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/frozen_4/2009/f4recs.pdf |publisher=NCAA.org |access-date=June 19, 2013}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="2" | [[National Hockey League|NHL]]
|-
| [[NHL All-Rookie Team|All-Rookie Team]] || [[1994–95 NHL season|1995]]
|-
| [[NHL All-Star team|First All-Star team]] || 1996, 1997, [[1998–99 NHL season|1999]]
|-
| Second All-Star team || [[1999–2000 NHL season|2000]], [[2002–03 NHL season|2003]]
|-
| [[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]] || [[1995–96 NHL season|1996]], [[1996–97 NHL season|1997]]
|-
| [[National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL All-Star Game]] || [[46th National Hockey League All-Star Game|1996]], [[47th National Hockey League All-Star Game|1997]], [[49th National Hockey League All-Star Game|1999]], [[50th National Hockey League All-Star Game|2000]], [[51st National Hockey League All-Star Game|2001]], [[52nd National Hockey League All-Star Game|2002]], [[53rd National Hockey League All-Star Game|2003]]
|-
| Skills Competition Puck Control Champion || 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
|- 
| [[Anaheim Ducks#Retired numbers|Anaheim Ducks #9 jersey]] retired || 2018
|-
! colspan="2" | [[International Ice Hockey Federation|International]]
|-
| [[List of IIHF World Under 20 Championship media All-Star teams|World Junior Championship All-Star team]] || 1993
|-
| [[Ice Hockey World Championships|World Championship]] All-Star team || [[1994 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1994]], [[1996 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1996]]
|-
|[[Hockey Hall of Fame]]
|2017<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/21390048/nhl-odd-couple-teemu-selanne-paul-kariya-honored-hockey-hall-fame-induction | title=Selanne-Kariya one odd but potent pairing | date=November 12, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hhof.com/induction_archives/ind17Kariya.shtml | title=Hockey Hall of Fame - 2017 Induction Celebration - Paul Kariya }}</ref>

|}

==Records==
*Last NCAA Division I player to score 100 points in a single season - 12th overall<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_icehockey_rb/2018/D1.pdf |title=NCAA 2017-2018 Men's Ice Hockey Record Book |website=NCAA.org |access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref>
*Anaheim Ducks record; most overtime goals, single season – 3 in [[1995–96 NHL season|1995–96]]<ref name="overtime goals record" />
*Anaheim Ducks record; highest plus-minus, single season – +36 in [[1996–97 NHL season|1996–97]]<ref name="plus minus record"/>
*Anaheim Ducks record; most shots, single season – 429 in [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99]]<ref name="shots record">{{cite web |title=Regular Season - Anaheim Ducks - All Skaters - Single Season Leaders For Team - Shots |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/careerstats.htm?fetchKey=00002ANASAHAll&sort=shots&viewName=careerLeadersSingleSeasonForTeam |access-date=August 2, 2011 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]]}}</ref>
*Most Puck Control Relay wins at [[NHL All-Star Game SuperSkills Competition|NHL SkillsCompetition]] – 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002<ref name="puck control">{{cite web |title=NHL Superskills Results |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/allstar/history-skills.htm |access-date=August 15, 2011 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=notes}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Ice hockey stats}}
* {{Team Canada|paul-kariya}}
* {{Olympics.com|org_archive=20190830184328}}
* {{Olympedia}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box | before = [[Scott Pellerin]]| title = [[List of Hockey East Player of the Year|Hockey East Player of the Year]]| years = [[1992–93 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1992–93]]| after = [[Dwayne Roloson]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Craig Darby]]<br />[[Ian Moran]]| title = [[List of Hockey East Rookie of the Year|Hockey East Rookie of the Year]]| years = [[1992–93 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1992–93]]| after = Greg Bullock}}
{{succession box | before = Mike Boback| title = [[List of Hockey East Scoring Champion|Hockey East Scoring Champion]]|years = [[1992–93 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1992–93]]| after = Greg Bullock}}
{{succession box | before = [[Denny Felsner]] | title = [[List of NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Scoring Champion|NCAA Ice Hockey Scoring Champion]] | years = [[1992–93 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1992–93]]| after = [[Dean Fedorchuk]], [[Tavis MacMillan]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Scott Pellerin]] | title = Winner of the [[Hobey Baker Award]] | years = [[1992–93 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1992–93]] | after = [[Chris Marinucci]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Ron Francis]] | title = Winner of the [[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy|Lady Byng Trophy]] | years = [[1995–96 NHL season|1996]], [[1996–97 NHL season|1997]]| after = [[Ron Francis]]}}
{{s-sport}}
{{succession box | before = None | title = [[List of Anaheim Ducks draft picks|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim first round draft pick]] | years = [[1993 NHL Entry Draft|1993]] | after = [[Oleg Tverdovsky]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Randy Ladouceur]] | title = [[Anaheim Ducks#Team captains|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim captain]]| years = [[1996–97 NHL season|1996]]–[[2002–03 NHL season|2003]] <br /><small>[[Teemu Selänne|Teemu Selanne]], [[1997–98 NHL season|1998]]</small> {{tooltip|(note)|Selänne served as captain during the latter half of the 1997–98 season. Kariya was injured and out of the line-up}} | after = [[Steve Rucchin]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Maine Black Bears men's ice hockey navbox}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kariya, Paul}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Anaheim Ducks draft picks]]
[[Category:AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States]]
[[Category:Canadian ice hockey left wingers]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:Canadian sportspeople of Japanese descent]]
[[Category:Colorado Avalanche players]]
[[Category:Hobey Baker Award winners]]
[[Category:Hockey Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Ice hockey people from North Vancouver]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 1994 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Maine Black Bears men's ice hockey players]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1994 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Mighty Ducks of Anaheim players]]
[[Category:Nashville Predators players]]
[[Category:National Hockey League All-Stars]]
[[Category:NHL first-round draft picks]]
[[Category:NCAA men's ice hockey national champions]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Canada]]
[[Category:Olympic ice hockey players for Canada]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in ice hockey]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Canada]]
[[Category:Penticton Panthers players]]
[[Category:St. Louis Blues players]]