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Thursday, January 18, 2007

A Re-Rise to Greatness


The career of the "Finnish Flash" Teemu Selanne is one that has been filled with many highs and lows. Between his breakout rookie season in 1992-93 (when he set an all time record for goals by a rookie) and 2000-01, Selanne was one of the games elite point producing wingers. In his first 637 games Selanne scored 372 goals, 422 assists for 794 points!

However in the following three seasons Selanne only managed to score 54 total points in 82 games, 64 total points in 82 games and his least productive season ever with 32 points in 78 games. It was then that many hockey pundits believed that the Finnish sensation that had wowed the league for 11 seasons was D-O-N-E at the age of 34. With the lockout of 2004-05 it seamed as though Selanne could either retire with his best years behind him or do as many other greats have done and hang on far too long.

Thankfully for the league and the Anaheim Ducks, NHL analysts and "experts" cannot measure a man's heart, determination and will to succeed. The "Finnish Flash" soared once more by doing something no one besides himself could have ever dreamed possible. In 80 games in the 2005-06 season, Teemu Selanne scored an amazing 40 goals to go along with 50 helpers! This 90 point performance led to him winning the Bill Masterson trophy for perservierence. It is virtually impossible to think that a player could nearly triple his production out of the blue like that.

So far this season Teemu Selanne has 29 goals (tied for the league lead) and 29 assists for 58 points in 48 games (tied for ninth in scoring) regaining is place as one of the best scorers in the league. This re-rise to greatness is likely to continue, and barring injury the league should be able to enjoy the smooth skating, sure handed winger from Helsinki for at least a few more seasons. Everyone enjoy.........."The Flash" is back atop the NHL once again.

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