Selanne the New Chelios

uly 12, 2012By D.Vasso

Quack, Quack, Quack, He's still a Duck! Getty Images

I heard a joke a few seasons back about predictions for the next season, that being that 48-year old Chris Chelios was going to turn to dust if he continued to play.  Chelios then went and retired that season, but 42 year old Finnish right winger, Teemu Selanne might be in the league just as long.
Selanne was one of the free agents left to sign while free agency frenzy was still going on, but he has since decided to sign a one-year extended contract with his team the Anaheim Ducks. Selanne seems to be following Chelios in his love for the game and his ability to still be playing so well after doing it for so long. He also keeps on alluding that he is going to retire each year, but it never happens. Which is a similar situation for the Flyers with their defenceman Kimmo Timonen. Maybe it’s a Finnish thing.
At the start of last season he was saying that he was going to retire, but then he played in every game so it was clear that nothing was going to be stopping the veteran player. Oh and did we mention that he is the all-time leader in goals, assists, points and games played for the Anaheim Ducks?  The dude is a beast.
He plays for the love of the game, not for points, obviously since he pretty much already has them. It will be interesting to see how his year pans out. Though I highly doubt this will be his last season in the NHL. Maybe Selanne will be the veteran player that turns to dust from playing the game too much.