It's all Ducks, all the time, it seems. Two days after finally trading away Matt Schneider and his $5.625 million salary-cap hit, Ducks' GM Brian Burke did the expected and signed 38-year-old Teemu Selanne to a two-year contract.
The pertinent numbers: Selanne will earn $3.25 million in the first year of the deal and $2 million in the second. It's a total package of $5.25 million, with no performance bonuses, so the annual salary-cap charge is $2.625 million – reasonable by today's standards for a player of Selanne's caliber, who will play in the Ducks' top six. Considering Selanne was sitting in the stands, watching exhibitions at this point last season, the decision to sign for two years represents a significant change in heart.
Presumably, the Ducks are convinced of his commitment too, because if Selanne decides not to play next year, they take a salary-cap hit anyway (a function of his being over the age of 35). Selanne is 38, but two years ago, in the championship season, had an exceptional 94-point year; and last year, despite missing all those months, had a thoroughly respectable 23 points in 26 games.
Selanne was already in camp, on a pro tryout, awaiting the Schneider deal. In a prepared statement, Burke said he was happy to have him and thanked him "For his patience as we sorted out our salary cap situation. Teemu is a true Duck. His loyalty to this franchise and community is unquestioned.”
As for Selanne, he reiterated again: “This is the only place I wanted to play. We have great owners, great fans and a chance to win again. This team is hungry and ready to go.”
Selanne is Anaheim's all-time leader in goals (325), points (689), plus/minus (+117), power play goals (117), power play points (278), game-winning goals (54) and overtime goals (5). During the 2006-07 regular season, he finished third in the NHL in goals, but was in power play goals (25) and tied for first in game-winning goals (10). That year, he became the oldest player in NHL history (36 at the time) to score more than 45 goals in one season.
