Player Name/position: Teemu Selanne (Right Wing)
Overall Grade: C+
Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent on July 1. $4.5m cap hit last season. Teemu has said before however that he will retire a Duck so I'm not worried about him signing elsewhere.
2013 Stats: 46GP, 12G, 12A, 24P, -10, 28PIM minus-10 rating was his worst since the 2001-02 season when he was with the San Jose Sharks (-11).
Playoff Stats: 7GP, 1G, 2A, 3P, plus-1, 6PIM.
Offense: Despite his torrid start in which he put up two four-point nights in the first eleven games, the shortened 2013 season was not a good one for the Finnish Flash. The heralded scorer notched only three multi-point games and for much of the season seemed rather invisible on the ice. I believe this is largely due to him being uncomfortable with coach Boudreau's constant line shuffling (Teemu has always performed his best when he's had time to develop chemistry with his linemates), but overall it appears the 42-year-old might (gasp) finally be losing a step. His scoring pace of 0.52 points-per-game this past season was only half that of his career average of 1.04.
Defense: Teemu isn't much of a defensive player so I can't really say. However, as I stated previously his -10 rating last season is a little unsettling. While I do largely blame this on the ever-revolving door of guys Boudreau placed with him on the second line, Teemu's fancy stats also seem to support this theory as he boasts a -8.37 on-ice Corsi, as well as finishing only 47.3% of his shifts in the offensive zone.
Highlight of the Season: It wouldn’t be a Ducks season without a golden moment from Teemu. Without question his late, dramatic goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in the matchup of the NHL Juggernauts was a moment I won’t soon forget. The kid’s face at about the 24-second mark is more or less what I looked like when that happened.
Expectations for Next Year: As I stated previously, Teemu has repeatedly said he will retire a Duck so I'm not worried about him going to a different team even though he's technically free to sign wherever. That also being said we as fans are forced yet again to play the waiting game to discover if the oldest active player in the NHL sticks around for another season or finally decides to call it a career. Nobody wants the latter to happen; Teemu has become an unquestionable fan favorite for both his heroics on the ice and wonderful demeanor off it.
You have to admit this year's Ducks gave him something to think about in that regard, playing great hockey for most of the year and fighting tooth-and-nail in a seven-game series against arguably our most hated playoff-rival for one last time. Teemu has even said he feels there is "Unfinished business" with the current squad and that he feels they're "Ready to win right now." However only time will tell if that means he returns for another season or hangs up the skates and goes headlong into his restauranteur career.
New entry on my life bucket list: eat at Teemu's and ask him personally for a ketchup bottle.