Teemu Selanne has shelved his retirement plans and rejoined the
Anaheim Ducks on a one-year deal on Monday, adding another key
player to the team roster as they bid to defend their Stanley Cup
title.
Selanne, who had 48 goals and 94 points in 82 games last season in
helping Anaheim to its maiden championship, becomes the second
member of the Stanley Cup-winning team to rejoin the Ducks in a
little over a month.
All-Star defenseman Scott Niedermayer, winner of the Conn Smythe
trophy as the Stanley Cup MVP, returned to the Ducks in
mid-December after also scrapping retirement plans.
Selanne practiced with the team on Monday and the 37-year-old
Finn is expected to accompany the Ducks when they begin an
eight-game road trip on Tuesday.
"It took Teemu several months to determine if he had the passion
and determination to return to the NHL and we are thrilled to have
him back," Ducks general manager Brian Burke said on the team's
website (ducks.nhl.com).
"This is a player who scored 48 goals last year and showed no
signs of slowing down."
One of the NHL's premiere marksmen, Selanne finished third in
league goal-scoring last season while leading the NHL in powerplay
tallies with 25.
A 10-time All-Star, Selanne has averaged 39 goals per year over
his 14 NHL seasons. The veteran right-winger also added five goals
and 10 assists in 21 playoff contests.
"After skating at Anaheim ICE for the last few weeks, I feel the
passion again to play hockey," Selanne said.
"Anaheim is the only place I wanted to play."
Taken by the Winnipeg Jets with the 10th overall pick in the
1988 draft, Selanne has collected 540 goals and 1,135 points in a
career that has also included stints with the San Jose Sharks and
Colorado Avalanche along with two tours of duty with the Ducks.
The Ducks (27-20-6) are currently fifth in the Western
Conference standings.
(Agencies via China Daily January 30, 2008)
