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Last week, it was reported that former Anaheim Ducks forward Teemu Selanne was still undecided on where, or if, he would play in the NHL this coming season. The Finnish forward was trying to figure out if he wanted to return to Anaheim, perhaps try his luck on another club or if it was finally time to hang up the skates for good.
Well, now it appears Selanne has not only narrowed his options to two, he claims he’ll have a decision next week. In speaking with the Orange County Register, he said, ”by next week, I know what I’m going to do.”
Related: Teemu Selanne Wants More Minutes With Anaheim Ducks
Recently, the 21-year vet spoke with Ducks’ GM Bob Murray, and this appears to have helped Selanne come to the conclusion that he’s either coming back to Anaheim for another year or he’s riding off into the sunset on a trail that will undoubtedly feature a stop at the Hall of Fame.
Of course, a return to the Ducks would come with some stipulations. Mainly, if Selanne resigns, he expects top-six minutes.
“My point is, if they’re better than I am, I am expecting and accepting a smaller role,” Selanne said. “But if I’m better, I need to play more. I need to play top minutes. That’s what I’m looking for.
“That’s fair for everybody. To be honest, I’ve been playing a big role. I don’t know if I’m ready to play 10-12 minutes a game. And that’s what I want to make sure. If I play well, I get what I deserve. Sometimes it’s not like that. So I want to make sure I’m treated the way I deserve.”
It’s more than fair to say Selanne can make such a claim. He may be 43 years old, but he certainly doesn’t play that way. He’s shown for years now that Father Time is nowhere to be seen, scoring over 25 goals in four of the last five seasons.
Even more important to consider; Anaheim lost one of its stars this offseason when they traded Bobby Ryan to the Ottawa Senators. Sure, the Ducks still have scoring talent, but a skilled veteran presence is never a bad thing.
Stay tuned, as next week we should find out if one of the all-time greats is ready to give it a go for another year.
Casey Drottar is an NHL writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @CDrottar19 or “Like” him on Facebook
