Finding reasons for Teemu Selanne to resume his playing career.

Ever since the Ducks won a Cup last year, Teemu Selanne has stated how he wanted to go out while at the top. He didn’t want to become a player who keeps playing until he is a shell of his former self. Guys who either need the money, or just don’t know how to say goodbye to the game.

It can be said that Teemu Selanne, also known to many fans as “The Finnish Flash”, was on his way downhill after landing with the San Jose Sharks and then Colorado Avalanche. He failed to win a Cup in Denver with best-buddy Paul Kariya. He seemed to be done for. However, Ducks’GM Brian Burke decided to take a chance on him. Selanne did have knee surgery and a lot of time to rest during the lockout. Selanne also had some of his best years in Anaheim, so Burke took a gamble that paid off greatly. For just 1 million, he bought himself a 40-goal scorer as Teemu found himself a new man.

Then last year, Teemu Selanne put together another 40-goal campaign and won his first Stanley Cup in his first Finals appearance ever. One could say (and I imagine Teemu has asked himself), that there isn’t anything left for Teemu to do and if he retired now he would definitely be going out on top. I, however, beg to differ.

Repeating is an extremely difficult task in the new NHL, with more league parity and salary caps, but with Anaheim playing very solid hockey as of late and going on a winning streak, adding Teemu could only cementtheir status as a favorite. That would be somethingnot many players can say they have done in their career. Still, this is an obvious reason. There is another.

Jari Kurri is arguably the best Finnish player to ever play in the NHL. Personally, I give that nod to Selanne but hat Kurri did can’t be overlooked. People will say “sure, but he played on those great Oiler teams and in high offense times” and they are right; but the point is they cannot say how Kurri would have produced if he came in the league at the same time as Selanne.

Jari Kurri leads all Finnish players with 601 goals. Teemu is second, with 540 goals. Selanne has the better goals-per-game pace though with a 0.52, compared to Kurri’s  0.48. I think being the top-scoring Finnish player could be a challenge for Teemu. With the number of games left, assuming Selanne returns in a week or two at most, let’s say he manages to shake off the rust and scores 17 goals in the last 25-30 games. Can it be done? Sure. Will it be done? I’m not a psychic.

Teemu would obviously have to return next season as well as avoid injury if he wants to tak a crack at it. He’d need a 47 goal season to accomplish his task and end at 602 goals. He just had a 48 goal season. He’s had plenty of rest this year, so he might not be running on empty next season just yet. Assuming Bertuzzi - Getzlaf - Perry stay together, he’ll likely find himself getting less attention from the other teamand more chances. He will need a solid C to feed him the puck, but I think we’ll be able to find one. There are a lot of IFs, but if Selanne returned for this and next year, he couldhave a task to make him push himself in beating Jari Kurri.

Does that interest Teemu? I have no idea. Maybe it doesn’t. Then again, maybe, just maybe, it’s the incentive he’s been looking for.

Only time will tell.