Teemu Selanne - Articles - Zimbio

Anaheim Ducks Announce Collective First Star of the Week

Mon, 4 Nov 2008 04:34:05 GMT

posted by JudyAsman

By Judy Asman

ANAHEIM, Calif.—For the first time since instituting the award in 1981-1982, the National Hockey League named three players, collectively, as First Star of the Week. Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf and right wings Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne earned the honor for the period ending on Nov. 2.

Over a four-game stretch that started on Oct. 27 in Columbus and ended on Sunday, Nov. 2 against Calgary, Getzlaf (10 points) and Perry and Salanne (each with nine points), held the top three posts in league scoring for the week. The trio’s combined 10-18=28 points came with a +7 rating.

The 23-year old Getzlaf scored 2-8=10 points with a +4 rating in four games. His five-assist (0-5=5) night on Oct. 29 vs. Detroit set career highs and tied club records for both points and assists, according to the Anaheim Ducks organization. The Detroit game marked the 11th five-point game in club history—Perry recorded the 12th on Oct. 31 vs. Vancouver—and the third five-assist game in club history.

The 216-pound, 6′ 4″ center from Saskatchewan not only became the fourth player ever to record a five-point game in a Ducks uniform (Perry is now the fifth), but he is now the second NHL player in the past 11 seasons to assist on all five of his team’s winning goals in overtime (5-4). The last player to do this was Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Alexandre Picard on Feb. 1, 2007 in their 6-5 post-regulation loss to the New Jersey Devils. The last player before Getzlaf to assist on all five goals to help his team win in overtime was the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Doug Gilmour in their 5-3 victory over the Calgary Flames on Jan. 22, 1997.

Perry, 23, is also enjoying career highs with his seven-game assist streak (3-11=14), just one game away of tying Scott Niedermermayer’s franchise record. Perry also leads the team in scoring and is tied for third in the league with 3-12=15 points in 13 games.

The 38-year old Selanne scored six of the Ducks’ seven power play goals during the seven-day span, currently leading the NHL in the category. The Helsinki, Finland native also collected his 700th point as a Duck in the same contest and moved into a tie with Guy Lafleur for 20th on the all-time goals list (560).

Bob Murray replaces Brian Burke as general manager of Anaheim Ducks (Canadian Press via Yahoo! News)

Wed, 13 Nov 2008 02:07:00 GMT

posted by zimbee

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Brian Burke turned down a contract extension to remain general manager of the Ducks on Wednesday, citing the need to spend more time with his family and the strong state of the team he helped turn into a Stanley Cup champion as reasons for leaving.

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Tags: Anaheim Ducks, Sports

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Selanne signs, to play immediately

Sat, 28 Sep 2008 20:00:29 GMT

posted by zimbee

Right wing Teemu Selanne is scheduled to be in the Ducks’ lineup for Sunday’s 5 p.m. exhibition game against the Vancouver Canucks at Honda Center after signing a two-year, .25 million contract earlier in the day.

Two years? Perhaps next summer, unlike the past two, we won’t have to endure persistent and ridiculous Internet rumors that Selanne is headed to play in Montreal, Dallas, Sweden, Russia, Timbuktu or wherever else.

“This is the only place I wanted to play,” Selanne said in a statement released by the Ducks. “We have great owners, great fans and a chance to win again. This team is hungry and ready to go.”

Selanne’s commitment to the Ducks, displayed countless times since the club first acquired him from the former Winnipeg Jets in 1996, has never been more clear. He could have signed long ago, for far more money, with any number of NHL teams, not to mention one in Russia that offered him million for one year, tax free, but Selanne’s heart and home are in Orange County.

The Ducks should thank their lucky stars for just the latest “hometown discount” given by Selanne, who received a no-trade clause in the deal.

“We’re happy to have Teemu back and thank him for his patience as we sorted out our salary-cap situation,” Ducks general manager Brian Burke said. “Teemu is a true Duck. His loyalty to this franchise and community is unquestioned.”

At 38, the blazing speed of the Finnish Flash has been glaringly evident through the opening week of training camp. He reported with his teammates Sept. 19 carrying only a professional tryout contract in his pocket, risking potential injury with no personal insurance policy because he wanted to be in camp from the beginning, the better to prepare both he and the Ducks for a potentially promising and yet critical season.

Selanne’s incredible hands might not be quite what they once were, but they’re still better than 99 percent of other players in the NHL. They were good enough to produce 40 goals in 2005-06, another 48 in 2006-07 and 12 more in just 26 games last season, after Selanne followed defenseman Scott Niedermayer in returning from a lengthy sabbatical while contemplating retirement.

And lest anyone forget, Selanne’s overtime strike in Game 5 of the 2007 Western Conference finals against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena, a goal probably no other Ducks player could have scored, propelled the team to a Stanley Cup championship that otherwise might never have occurred.

With support from former Ducks center Andy McDonald, Selanne pounced on a turnover by Detroit defenseman Andreas Lilja and beat Red Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek from close range, after Niedermayer had scored an equally huge goal — tying the game on the power play in the final minute of the third period.

The two-year deal, largely a result of Selanne’s desire to make one final Olympic appearance for Finland in the 2010 Games in Vancouver, certainly carries some risk for the Ducks because age eventually catches up with everyone. Still, with the contract structured such that Selanne will earn a .25 million salary this season and million next, that prospect is relatively small. If Selanne were to retire after this season, however, the Ducks would still be on the hook for his .625 million salary-cap hit in 2009-10.

The signing of Selanne once again pushes the Ducks above the NHL’s .7 million salary ceiling for this season, by about .225 million, after the club had worked so hard to get beneath the cap by shedding defenseman Mathieu Schneider’s .625 million hit in a Friday trade with the Atlanta Thrashers.

The Ducks’ current salary-cap projection includes having rookie winger Bobby Ryan on the NHL roster, which isn’t a given, but appears more likely than not. Were the Ducks to assign Ryan to their American League affiliate, the Iowa Chops, the Ducks would slide more than 0,000 beneath the cap with that move alone.

More likely, with 14 forwards and seven defensemen on one-way contracts, the Ducks will trade at least one more player away before their Oct. 9 regular-season opener on the road against the San Jose Sharks. The Ducks could also place a veteran on waivers and, were he to go unclaimed by other teams, send that player to Iowa in order to affect salary-cap relief.

In any event, we’re all going to have the pleasure of more nights watching Selanne in a Ducks uniform, and that treat should not be taken lightly. Selanne’s famous No. 8 will someday be the first to rise to the Honda Center rafters. Even if it means buying a ticket, I plan to be in the building that night to salute the greatest player in franchise history.

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Tags: Anaheim Ducks, Sports

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Ducks finally sign Selanne

Sat, 28 Sep 2008 23:42:00 GMT

posted by zanstorm
A 2-year deal. It's reported to be worth $5.25 over the 2-year span. Cheap.

"We're happy to have Teemu back and thank him for his patience as we sorted out our salary cap situation," Ducks executive vice-president/general manager Brian Burke said in a release. "Teemu is a true Duck. His loyalty to this franchise and community is unquestioned."

It will be a huge boost for the Ducks to have both Scott Niedermayer and Selanne for a full season rather than the bullsh*t they pulled last season. Does this mean Chris Kunitz's stats are going to elevate?
Selanne is rumored to play tonight against the Canucks.

T Tags: Ducks+sign+Teemu+Selanne 2+years

MY PICK: Selanne in Anaheim wil be a flop

Sun, 29 Sep 2008 22:40:00 GMT

posted by gokennygo

Teemu Selanne signed a two-year, $5.25 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks and scored a pair of power-play goals against the Vancouver Canucks in his preseason debut Sunday night.

My Pick is that the 38-year-old Finn who sat out training camp last season and the first four months of the regular season while contemplating retirement will be a Flop this year.
BUT...
The 10-time All-Star, the franchise leader in goals, points and game-winning goals, has 552 goals during his 16 NHL seasons, will be returnig to the Ducks....I Hope they didn't ship out Schneider to make Room for Selanne.