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Teemu Selanne, the “Finnish Flash” proved to the world, and himself, that he still had game during all of his contests in the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games. His great leadership skills and ageless performance earned him a vote for MVP by the media for Team Finland. Selanne scored four goals during these Olympic Games; including two during the USA/Finland Bronze contest on Saturday.
There is no doubt that this tournament showed Selanne playing some of his best hockey of the past few years. For the current, 2013-2014 season, Selanne has only posted seven goals and 13 assists. By comparison, he posted 31 goals and 49 assists in the 2010-2011 season. It is apparent in statistics, as well as his current compete level, that the great “Finnish Flash” is playing his official “last year” of hockey. Selanne posted a total of 682 career goals and 768 assists combined from the Finnish Junior teams, a Finland/ Canada Cup game, four different NHL franchises, and in 6 different Olympic Games over a time-span of 28 years. The impact he has had on the game has set a standard for players all over the world to live and play by.
Selanne is well-known and recognized across the league and the sports industry as a “class act”. Even former Anaheim Ducks teammate Bobby Ryan has only good things to say about Selanne:
The question is, though, is it really his last year? I know that he has had countless interviews and there is plenty of documented quotes from Selanne himself stating that he is through and that this is it. I guess because I have heard “one more year” for quite some time that I am just in disbelief. If it is truly the end, Teemu has definitely stated this is his last Olympic appearance and demonstrated a love for the sport and his country. The Sel8nne legend will forever live on in the NHL. I am certain that Anaheim will retire the #8 because no one else in the future of the franchise should ever be allowed to wear that number.