Teemu Selanne will be back for another season with the Anaheim Ducks. (Jerry S. Mendoza/Associated Press)Anaheim Ducks forward Teemu Selanne confirmed Saturday that he will back next season for the NHL club.
Selanne, who turns 39 next week, has one year remaining on his contract but has contemplated retirement before and wasn't a sure bet to return.
Selanne recorded 27 goals and 27 assists in 65 games last season, adding four goals and two assists in 13 playoff games. The Finnish forward ranks 23rd all-time in goals with 579 and has 1,212 points, good for 46th on the NHL career list.
"Teemu is still playing at a high level, brings passion and energy to the locker room and is a loyal member of this franchise," general manager Bob Murray said in a statement.
He entered the NHL with a remarkable 76 goal season with Winnipeg in 1992-93, the most ever for a rookie. He also has played for San Jose and Colorado, but has spent the bulk of his career over two stints with the Ducks.
Selanne will earn a base salary of $3.25 million US next season. He said in the statement released by the team that Anaheim's strong finish and playoff showing has him excited from the 2009-10 campaign.
Anaheim squeaked into the playoffs but upset Presidents' Trophy winners San Jose and extended defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit to seven games.
The Ducks were informed Friday that perennial all-star defenceman Scott Niedermayer will also return in 2009-10. Later in the day they traded veteran defender Chris Pronger, along with prospect Ryan Dingle, to Philadelphia to create salary cap space.
In exchange, Anaheim received from the Flyers forward Joffrey Lupul, defenceman Luca Sbisa and first round picks in 2009 and 2010. They then parlayed the Flyers pick from this draft into two selections from Columbus.
