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Teemu Selanne blogs and sets a September 16 date to decide on retirement or not

Teemu Selanne

We’ve seen so many retirements this summer but there’s one potential retirement that we’re keeping a close eye on in Anaheim’s Teemu Selanne. Selanne and his 637 career goals are hoping that his ailing left knee can hold up to the rigors of one more NHL season. After a year that saw Selanne score 80 points and score 31 goals making us think of the “Finnish Flash” from his days in Winnipeg, we’re hoping he’s got one more year in him.

Selanne blogged about his summer for a Finnish television station, his worries about his knee, and about the rigorous workout regiment he goes through in the summer to prepare for a season. Thanks to one of the users at SBN’s Battle of California blog, “sleza,” there’s a translation of what Selanne had to say about his decision process concerning his possible retirement or not.

As for his thoughts through this summer:

In many ways this summer has differed from the previous ones. The uncertainty over the continuing of my career for reasons not dependent on myself and the different kind of training were the biggest differencies. Before I pondered if I still want to play, but now the question was if I can play anymore?

I’ve had to answer to the question “How’s your knee, will you continue your career?” to boredom. I’m sure many others were equally bored of having to deal with it again and again and again. Sorry, but what can one do about it.


As for when he’ll make a decision for whether or not he’s going to play this year, we’re sure Ducks GM Bob Murray will be anxious to know when he’s deciding.

Following 3 weeks will show my future as hockey player. The training camp starts on September 16th, and that’s the final deadline for the decision. Thusfar the knee has been pretty good and I believe we can make it better.

When the season starts in October in Finland against Jokerit and Buffalo, I sincerely hope, like many of you readers, that among Saku [Koivu] and Lyde [Toni Lydman] there would be #8 in the Ducks for one more time.


We hope for the best of health for Selanne and that he’ll be back on the ice again, and we’re sure the Ducks hope so too. With Selanne waiting until the start of training camp to make a decision, it would seem likely that he’s going to come back. The Ducks have been a great organization for Selanne and you’d have to think that if he was going to retire he’d have given the team a heads up on that by now.

Having the Ducks season start in Finland has to be a motivator for Selanne to come back for one more year, but if his knee can’t take a full season, it’ll be sad to see him hang it up. That said, if this season is going to be it for Selanne, kicking it off at home is one hell of a start for a farewell season.