***Selanne Tells Finnish Outlets He Shall Return***
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Aug 6, 2010 1:42 PM PDT
in **This Just In**
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According to a Finnish news outlet (Urheilu Lehti) that has been picked up and translated by TSN, Teemu Selanne has made the decision to return to the Anaheim Ducks. Selanne says he would like to start negotiations, perhaps signing in a few days, that the recent acquisitions by the Ducks have convinced him the team can succeed, and most interestingly that he has spoken with both Paul Kariya and the Anaheim organization about the possibility of bringing his former teammate back to the Ducks. A translation by ALLDUCKS reader ahtikullervo is available here.
Uncertainty surrounded Selanne's return this offseason after he told Finnish outlet Helsingin Sanomat that playing on a winning team would be determinative for him. More recently, speculation has grown that the return of Paul Kariya was also a factor in Selanne's decision.
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Finnish mini camp….call Niemi, he can come too….I am not sure about Kariya coming back….if they have the same chemistry great, but their line at the end of last year was scoring in big chunks….hate to mess that up for nostalgia sake
with our D mostly offensively challenged..(see sleeks article about it) we will need all the firepower and playmaking up front we can get…its worth a shot
"You must be the pendejos I keep hearing about!"
-John Marston-
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Aug 7, 2010 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Glad to have him back.
If it makes you feel any better, Teemu, we want a winning team as well.
"Abtholoootleee"
Worth noting
that this blog was started on a controversial bring back Kariya post in March of 2009 in which I said:
I think fate will decide. It’s a bit of serendipity that, like they were in 2003, both Kariya and Selanne will be UFA’s at the end of next season.Just wanted to prepare everyone
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Aug 6, 2010 2:32 PM PDT reply actions
hahahahaha, no, just if it happens, we’ll have a limited amount of impartiality here. I’ll try to let Jen talk a lot, she’s a Kariya hater, and I certainly won’t depict him as the panacea for the team’s problems, but I won’t pretend for a second that this blog wasn’t started on the premise that we were willing to say we wanted Kariya back.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Aug 6, 2010 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe you should just roll with it Arthur. Don’t forget you also hit the mark with Saku.
by Newport Rebel on Aug 6, 2010 9:42 PM PDT up reply actions
How do you feel about it though Arthur?
Are you a Kariya Hater, who hates this or
Are you a Kariya Hater, who is about to forgive him and is warming up to this or
Have you always liked Kariya and are generally excited about this (like me)?
I’ve always liked Kariya, and I’ve never held his decision to leave in 2003 or any of his conflicts with management against him. So I really just see this as a coming home, mostly emotional and for Selanne and people like me, but a coming home nonetheless.
Deep down, it just makes sense to me that Kariya’s name goes into the rafters. Sakic couldn’t have been clearer (by signing that huge unmatchable offer sheet with New York) that he didn’t want to play in Colorado once upon a time, and people actually cried at his retirement ceremony last year. If forcing a player to play with you during the most contentious player versus management period in the NHL is the only real difference between them, then I think this late career return will go a long way to setting things right with a lot of fans.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Aug 6, 2010 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions
I totally agree. I’m glad i kept all that #9 crap in my office. The day (hopefully a long way in the future) when Selanne’s jersey is hanging in the rafters, it wont look right without #9 just to the left it.
43 points in 75 games is not chump change either.
he claims he feels really good after the hip surgeries and he split Lidstrom and Rafalski like he was 26 again last season, so you never know. I mean, many of us didn’t REALLY believe Selanne was back after his surgeries. So, you really never know. I’ve always thought that he and Koivu are the only ones who ever successfully receive passes from Teemu, so it’ll bring the Flash’s turnovers down at the very very very least.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Aug 6, 2010 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions
I would be so happy if they can get both Kariya and Selanne. It’ll bring back the memories of when I first started to become a fan of hockey. I remember playing those NHL games on playstation and dominate with Kariya and Selanne. I know we still need defensemen, but I think Selanne and Kariya will sign at some sort of discount and hopefully we can make a trade. Also, I’m hoping that if we can just get off to a decent start (Which seems impossible considering the last 3 years, we have had crappy starts). We can maybe upgrade our defense at the trading deadline. Also, everyone talks about us having our own internal salary cap, I think these 2 signings will raise our internal salary cap due to increase in ticket sales, so i don’t think it’ll affect us in terms of spending money on a defenseman upgrade.
Great News!
I’m torn on bringing Kariya back, but I am definitely happy that Selanne is returning. Hopefully we can make a run deep into the playoffs so Teemu can try to get his second ring.
ANGELS . . . DUCKS . . . GOLDEN BEARS
Which in mind is a terrible move
Selanne and Kariya are coming back for what, 1 or 2 years? Look, I get that it’s a feel good story and I certainly want Teemu back. But is it worth giving up someone we control for the next four years?
I hate that it seems like if we get Kariya we’ll lose Bobby. I’d love to keep them both. But if I’m making decision, I go for the longer franchise benefit and I just don’t think Kariya is that.
by PhantomPretender on Aug 6, 2010 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions
There’s also the chance that we lose Getzlaf if we give Bobby the raise, even via offer sheet. If Bobby makes 6 or more on an offer sheet, then Murray’s hands are clean for not paying him more than Getzy, but who knows if that breeds some contempt and we’re suddenly left without Getzlaf, Perry AND Bobby.
Signing Kariya also protects us from a Bobby holdout. Bobby doesn’t have to play to become unrestricted free agent in four years, so if he chooses to holdout, we won’t be tied to Blake being good or Lupul being healthy. We’ll have options.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Aug 6, 2010 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m not advocating we HAVE to move Bobby, but there are plenty of positive considerations around it. And the fair deal for Bobby is NOT someone who can help us now or an impact veteran. The fair deal is four guaranteed years of play. A great player who plans to leave us after a year won’t do, so as long as we’re trading Bobby for four years of quality contract time with a good player then we still get back the long term franchise benefit.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Aug 6, 2010 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Teemu is playing GM, which I can’t totally blame him for…Why come back to a rebuilding team at his age? However, Kariya does not really improve this team.
Saku, Teemu and Blake were a very good line when they were all together last season. I feel we have enough scoring wingers right now and signing PK will end leave guys like Sexton, Beleskey and perhaps even Lupul in the press box or the AHL.
We all love nostalgia, but lets find that feeling by watching The Goonies instead of Duck’s hockey.
by Bombay was a bust on Aug 6, 2010 4:31 PM PDT reply actions
I don’t know where Lupul is in terms of health, and it’s hard to count on Jason Blake. I can’t say a guy who looked good in spurts after being a disappointing shothound for quite some time is SET in terms of his roster position, especially when he’s taking in quite a bit of salary.
It’s proven that Kariya makes Selanne better, and Selanne wants to play with Kariya as a motivation for him to return, so while nostalgia is the only thing that’s guaranteed, it isn’t exactly the only reason Selanne wants it to get done. Koivu maybe lost a step his last year with Montreal, but the theory is that he’s a player who was once great and you take a chance on him rather than taking a chance on a guy who was once good or a kid who could be great. Carlyle and Murray are veteran obsessed, so I don’t know why they wouldn’t rather have a guy who was once great in the lineup instead of a younger player with health issues (Lupul) and a small guy with some serious recent struggles in production (Blake), both of which were just once good, not great.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Aug 6, 2010 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions
I just thought of something . . .
If PK is to return, would Ryan give up #9, or would Kariya just pick another number. Should be an interesting few weeks.
ANGELS . . . DUCKS . . . GOLDEN BEARS
I want PK back. There is that kid in me that watched these two tear the opposition a new one back in their day that wants to see that magic again. His number should be up in the rafters with Teemu once it’s all said and done.
I don’t blame PK that much for his decision to leave. In the long run, Duck fans got the last laugh when we hoisted the cup. He has never gotten that. I think that’s punishment enough for those that are looking to stick it to him. Let him come back. Enjoy a year or two with Teemu. And send them both out properly… And by properly I mean with a smile (and a cup wouldn’t be bad either!).
As far as the number 9, if BR signs, he should keep it. Having said that, I think if BR did sign and keep it, come the end of this year, or the end of whatever year PK and Teemu want to hang em up (given that they decide before the offseason), BR should give Kariya back the number for the last home game. It’s just one game for him and we can watch #8 and #9 skate off the ice for one last time together. I think that would be something else. Hell, it’s getting dusty in here as I type this. Don’t know what caused it…
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