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Farewell to Teemu Selanne


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One of the greats gone from the game, he'll be sorely missed. Although he may go play in the Finnish league this was his last year in the NHL.

So farewell to one of the classiest acts, hard driven guys I grew up idolizing in hockey. There'll never be another Finnish Flash

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That's actually a very debatable point, considering Teemu himself was fairly one-dimensional and defensively unreliable in the first several years of his career. I've made the case in the past that Pavel was important to the team on their defensive side as well, but Teemu certainly was not. To emphasize that, Pavel is 11th all-time in the NHL in shorthanded goals with 34. Teemu is 394th all-time with just 7 shorthanded goals, meaning he did not play a lot of shorthanded minutes.

Outside of Teemu's first year, Pavel actually had higher numbers than him on several occasions. Pavel was more dominant on his own, considering he had very average linemates throughout his career and Teemu had Kariya in Anaheim. Teemu's top four goal finishes are 76, 52, 51, 48. Pavel's top four are 60, 60, 59, 58. Pavel finished the 1993-94 season with 49 goals in the last 51 games of the season (essentially 50 in 50). In addition, none of Teemu's playoff campaigns rival Pavel's 1993-94 campaign (where he had a streak of 13 goals in 12 consecutive games).

Teemu was also a year older than Pavel in 1992-93 (Teemu's 76-goal season); the two were neck-and-neck in the goal scoring race that year along with Alex Mogilny until Bure fell into a slump near the end of the season when Greg Adams went down with an injury.

That said, today is a bittersweet day. Teemu had the privilege of playing several more years after the lockout because he could recover from his pre-lockout injuries. It's sad to see him leave the NHL (apparently he wants to finish his career in Finland), but we had the joy of watching him lift the Stanley Cup in 2007 and continue his career for a full decade after the 2004-05 lockout. We saw him transform from a strictly offensive player in his early years to a responsible, defensively-sound depth scorer in his final years.

I have to agree with Ghost. Teemu was a superior player over his career. Especially if you compare longevity and the role he palyed in Anaheim, he really added a lot to his game over time.

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@ Amish Rake Fighter. I think you're mistaken about that anthem. How about this?

Now here's the real deal, with lyrics...

Thank-you for sharing your many gifts & talents with the NHL... & yourself with all of the fans in every town you ever played in, Teemu! We shall see your legacy enshrined in the hockey-hall-of-fame, very soon. May good fortune be with you & your family, always!

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In tribute to Teemu's NHL retirement & subsequent return to...Finland! Check out these guys!

This is SEMMARIT! I've seen them perform. The founding members are graduates/teachers from a musical seminary college in Finland. They do international shows that tribute or spoof musical genres/icons around the world. They sing accapella with the occaisional drum. They would have been great entertainment participants at the 2010 Winter Olympics in VAN. Didn't happen, but, if they put on a show near you...go see 'em. LOL!

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In all seriousness tho'...

Teemu Selanne is the model of true class and integrity. He never dodged the hard questions of any issue....& said the right things. He carries himself with propriety on the ice & off of it & he showed respect for his fellow union brothers as fathers, husbands, sons & human beings, at all times, & in all situations.

As a prolific goal-scorer, he had a phenomenal shot, & the slippery ability to get free & bury his chances. The consummate teammate he took determination to new levels. Despite his fame, he remains approachable & still greets everyone with such warm humility...that it makes his greatness all the more esteemed. That impish under-stated smile of his is ever present. Teemu is still one of the fittest NHLers you will ever find & as grounded as the salt of the earth. He sets honorable goals & then works hard to achieve them. I wish him well as he extends his career back home, in Finland.

Teemu acknowledged hockey-fans everywhere respectfully & took the responsibility of being accountable to them, seriously. His examplary leadership in how to be & stay a model pro & citizen....will be dearly missed.

Milan Lucic, could take some notes, here.

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Love him. And he's going out in style, on top of his game and still having a huge impact vs fading away.

He's been a wonderful part of my hockey loving days and I wish him nothing but the best in the future. He will be missed.

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In all seriousness tho'...

Teemu Selanne is the model of true class and integrity. He never dodged the hard questions of any issue....& said the right things. He carries himself with propriety on the ice & off of it & he showed respect for his fellow union brothers as fathers, husbands, sons & human beings, at all times, & in all situations.

As a prolific goal-scorer, he had a phenomenal shot, & the slippery ability to get free & bury his chances. The consummate teammate he took determination to new levels. Despite his fame, he remains approachable & still greets everyone with such warm humility...that it makes his greatness all the more esteemed. That impish under-stated smile of his is ever present. Teemu is still one of the fittest NHLers you will ever find & as grounded as the salt of the earth. He sets honorable goals & then works hard to achieve them. I wish him well as he extends his career back home, in Finland.

Teemu acknowledged hockey-fans everywhere respectfully & took the responsibility of being accountable to them, seriously. His examplary leadership in how to be & stay a model pro & citizen....will be dearly missed.

Milan Lucic, could take some notes, here.

Nicely said. Agree, & 'gratz to Teemu on an amazing career. Remember his rookie yr, so well.

Also remember an old Calgary Herald article(was stuck out there in 92/93), apparently Dave King had implored his GM so strongly , to go after Selanne. He'd recently coached against him in Europe, I believe?.. Imagine if the Flamers had pulled that off? Turned out Winnipeg was a perfect place for him to start out.

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