Photo: Youtube
Teemu Selänne had quit.
But hockey attracted too much.
The Finn’s own video in connection with the return is still the best we’ve seen.
Teemu Selänne was drafted 10th overall in the 1988 draft, but few could have imagined what an incredible player the Winnipeg Jets would land. When he finished his career, he did so as Finland’s greatest hockey player of all time, and one of the greatest in all categories in the country.
Ended career
Selänne showed what capacity he possesses already in his debut season in the NHL, when he scored a somewhat incomparable 132 points as a 22-year-old. His Jets went to the playoffs, but for Selänne it was just the beginning of an absolutely incredible NHL career.
Selänne played a full 20 seasons in the NHL, mainly in Anaheim, but as a 42-year-old it was difficult, and many thought he would retire. Selänne was already one of the organization’s all-time greats, but that summer of 2013 he was without a contract, and the supporters were just waiting for an announcement.
Beautiful video
And suddenly it came – in the most epic way. Selänne not only decided to continue his career for another year, he did it in an absolutely brilliant way. In a video that was published, Selänne was seen walking around a golf course – and yes, it might not have gone well.
At the end of the video, after a bad shot, Selänne throws his golf clubs into the water, while going outside to get his phone and make a call to Bob Murray, the general manager at the time.
– Hey, Bob! It’s Teemu. Yes, I will come back, but it will be my last year this time, says Selänne in the video.
That season there were 27 points in 64 games, but also an Olympic bronze.
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