KRISTEN:
Today, I was going to make jokes about how Andrew Cogliano's winning sushi roll is a harbinger for a bad season. Or, I would talk about the ECHL's Elmira Jackals renewing their affiliation with the Ducks. But in light of yesterday's news, it is only appropriate to take a retrospective look at the man who is arguably the greatest Duck ever. Here, it is folks: the links and events - the highs and the lows - that have shaped Teemu Selanne's career:
- 1993: Teemu, then a rookie for the Winnipeg Jets, discusses his love of muscle cars and his 'rock star' status in Finland. And according to Sports Illustrated reporter Jon Scher, he might even win the Calder Trophy instead of Eric Lindros. I guess we'll see how that works out... [SI Vault]
- 1996: Huzzah! The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim acquire Selanne from the Jets. [The Deseret News]
- 1997: #8 scores two goals and an assist in the Ducks' first-ever playoff game against Phoenix. [Kingman Daily Miner]
- 1998: Teemu is sidelined with a stomach injury, but Team Finland beats Team Canada (featuring legends like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux) to win a bronze medal at the 1998 Olympics. Fun Fact: Teemu is the all-time leading scorer in men's Olympic ice hockey! He's appeared in five Olympic games, and won best forward at the 2006 Olympics. [New York Times]
- 1999: Teemu scores his 44th and 45th goals in an April game against the Rangers. He will win the league's inaugural Rocket Richard Trophy later that year. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
- 2001: The Ducks trade Teemu to San Jose in return for goalie Steve Shields, winger Jeff Friesen and a conditional draft pick. Whomp-whomp. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
- 2003: More sadness! The Avalanche sign Paul Kariya and Teemu to one-year deals. [SI]
- 2004: Teemu wanted to forfeit the March 8 Avs-Canucks game after Todd Bertuzzi pummled Steve Moore. He also implies that NHL enforcers might be using drugs, which is a rather striking claim to make at that point.[NBC Sports]
- 2007: The Stanley Cup "runneth over with tears for Selanne," according to USA Today. [USA Today]
- 2010: Teemu scores his 600th career goal. [ESPN]
- 2011: "I look at this as my last year." [Pro Hockey Talk]
More Teemu Links
- Watch Teemu sign his new contract! [Anaheim Ducks]
- Watch Great 8's hat trick (and other highlights). Be impressed. [Anaheim Ducks]
- BoC provides a translation of Teemu's new blog. [Battle of California]
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What's your favorite Teemu moment?