Selanne

Selanne

Teemu Ilmari Selänne nicknamed "The Finnish Flash" (born July 3, 1970) is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger, an alternate captain of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). An offensive player known for his skill and speed, Selänne has led the NHL in goal-scoring three times and has been named to the league's First All-Star Team on two occasions. He has won the Stanley Cup once with the Ducks in 2007. Selänne is the last active player drafted in the 1980s (even though his NHL career did not start until 5 years after he was drafted) still playing in the NHL, as well as the oldest player in the NHL.

Selänne started his hockey career on the youth team, EPS (Espoon Palloseura). While playing junior with Finnish club Jokerit, Selänne was selected 10th overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets. Continuing to play with Jokerit following his draft, he played two-and-a-half seasons in Finland's premier league, the SM-liiga. In 1992–93, he joined the Jets and set NHL rookie records with 76 goals and 132 points, en route to the Calder Memorial Trophy. After three-and-a-half seasons with the Jets, he was traded to the Mighty Ducks and formed a high-scoring duo with winger Paul Kariya on the team's top line. Selänne's initial five-year tenure with Anaheim included two 100-point seasons and a Lady Byng Memorial Trophy nomination as the league's most sportsmanlike player. In 2001, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks and remained with the team until signing with the Colorado Avalanche for the 2003–04 season in order to reunite with Kariya. Following the 2004–05 NHL lockout, during which time he returned to Jokerit, Selänne re-joined the Ducks. On March 21, 2010 Selänne scored his 600th goal against the Colorado Avalanche.

Representing Finland in international competition, Selänne is the all-time points leader in men's Olympic ice hockey.