Teemu Selanne’s time in the NHL is in the books, but as we previously reported, he’s apparently considering extending his hockey career by playing for his old Finnish squad, Jokerit. The team, which will move from Finland’s top league to the KHL in 2014-15, is interested in bringing him on board. Very interested.
They are willing to pay him $10 million for the season, according to USanomat’s Juha Hiitela. If the 44-year-old forward doesn’t want to go through the hassle of traveling with the team, he can alternatively earn $5 million by playing exclusively in home games.
Update: Jokerit’s CEO has denied that the team has made Selanne such an offer, per the Finnish newspaper Iltalehti. Hiitela is sticking by his report.
Selanne started his professional hockey career with Jokerit before he made the transition to North America. He also played for Jokerit during the 1994-95 lockout.
Based on Cap Geek’s estimates, if he took the $10 million contract it would mean that he will make more playing hockey in the 2014-15 campaign than he did for any one season during his NHL career. His current personal best was his $9.5 million salary for 2001-02. He came with a $2 million cap hit last season.
Related:
Fanspeak: Selanne voted greatest Duck in franchise history