Teemu Love and a Huge Opportunity

Apparently a hat trick and five points on a night where there is only one other game in the league will attract some attention.  That’s what Teemu Selanne got Monday night as the Ducks held serve against the lowly Colorado Avalanche, prompting everyone and their mother to stand up and take notice that “he sure isn’t playing like a 40 year old.”

As far as I can tell the only hockey outlet not to heap praise on Teemu for an extraordinary game was Versus’ NHL Overtime which aired before the Ducks game was through.  Most played the “will he or won’t he retire” game that all Ducks fans have played since June 6, 2007.  The most interesting however was a plea from Daniel at Anaheim Calling for the Flash to hang them up before he loses it … unless Paul Kariya comes back next year (emphasis on the Kariya condition). 

The familiar chant of one more year was heavy in the air Monday night, and I joined in with the rabble at times for sure, even dabbling in delusions of the grandeur of a future Kariya-Koivu-Selanne line as I left the building, but I’m starting to come around to the other side of the argument.  Nobody wants to see Teemu become the next Chris Chelios, where every time his name is mentioned it’s along with his age and sparks a series of “He’s so old that…” jokes.  (My favorite by the way, Chelios is so old, he still thinks of Montreal as an expansion team.  HA!) 

As for the Kariya situation, it would be amazing to see those two back together again, but the prospect of a letdown is still a little scary.  Last year Teemu and Saku came together and didn’t exactly feel the chemistry right off the bat.  After ten years of playing apart (that year in Colorado doesn’t really count, because Teemu was playing on Bobby Orr’s knees) it’s safe to assume that it would take a little while for the Dynamic Duo to get back into a groove.  If it takes most of the year like it did with Saku and they come back to pick up where they left off the year after that then Teemu will be pushing 42.  Where does it end?

Wayne Gretzky said that he wanted to retire while people still thought he could play one more year.  This summer will be the fifth such opp0rtunity for Teemu.

Honestly, I was surprised that he came back this year.  After missing the playoffs last year, and with Scotty’s retirement taking the defense to unknown territory, I didn’t really get what he was seeing when he said that he liked what Bob Murray had done over the summer and wanted to come back and take another run at it.  Of course I’m glad he came back, and that kind of leads me to my final position on the matter.  I would love to see him play forever, and I think he still has the ability and passion to do it at least a little longer, but much like a parent I realize that the decision is up to him and my only job is to continue loving and supporting him no matter what. 

So Teemu, Do what you’ve got to do and I’ll be there next year to see you go at it again, or raise your number up to the rafters.  Either way, thanks for the memories.

Sappiness aside, the Ducks have a gargantuan game tonight in Calgary.  They got some help last night as Chicago and Nashville lost in regulation to Boston and Vancouver respectively and Phoenix only allowed Dallas one point, winning in a shootout (second best option).  With a regulation win tonight they could put Calgary down for the count and they’ll move, temporarily at least, into sixth place in the West.  As Eminem said:  Better go capture this moment and hope it don’t pass ’em.