The topic of strange birds must also include goalie Clint Malarchuk. Teammates named him "Mallard" because of in-game impressions of Donald Duck. "He quacks between periods. Actually quacks," marveled defenseman Gary Galley to Sports Illustrated. Forward Greg Adams' take? "Clint Malarchuk is the mayor of Pluto."
The planets never fully aligned for Malarchuk in Washington. He did win 24 games, including four shutouts, in 1987-88, his only full season in D.C. But he faltered in the playoffs, and was dealt away the following season.