Why Teemu Selanne Will Be Back with the Anaheim Ducks in 2008

Many hockey fans and writers believe Teemu Selanne's failure to give Ducks' GM Brian Burke a commitment to play by July 1 indicates that Selanne will not be back in 2008.

I disagree.

The Ducks' other indecisive superstar, Scott Niedermeyer, was under contract with Anaheim. Niedermeyer was absolutely obligated to give Burke a decision in a timely manner this year, and he did.

Selanne, on the other hand, is a free agent. He has no contractual obligation to the Ducks whatsoever. He is in Finland right now enjoying the beautiful Finnish summer.

As anyone who has ever been to Helsinki in July knows, the Finns go all-in during the summer. Many businesses shut down for several weeks when it warms up.

The idea of a lengthy "holiday" is built into the Finnish way of life. It is difficult for work-obsessed Americans to understand, but when it comes time to party in the summer, the Finns stop working and PARTY.

Teemu, despite his roots in Orange County and the great things he's done with the Children's Hospital here, is a Finn first and foremost. The ever-present Finnish flags and Suomi National Team or Jokerit Helsinki Selanne jerseys at the Honda Center are a testament to that.

But, let's put the cultural differences aside for a minute and talk hockey.

From a purely technical perspective, I think Teemu is coming back.

Here is why:

The Ducks only have three right-handed shots on the entire roster, including defensemen. One of them is Ryan Getzlaff, their All-Star, first-line center.  Todd Bertuzzi, a natural right wing, is gone to Calgary.  All-Star RW Corey Perry is already slotted into the right side of the first line, with Getzlaff at C and either Bobby Ryan or Chris Kunitz at left wing.

That leaves George Parros as the only other RW on the entire roster.  Parros is a fan favorite and gives 110-percent effort. But he can't skate with newly acquired speed C Brendan Morrisson or LWs Ryan and Kunitz.

All six defensemen on the roster—including team captain Chris Pronger and perennial All Star and Norris Trophy finalist Scott Niedermeyer—naturally shoot left-handed. The Ducks can't effectively move someone up front from the blue line, even if they needed to.

Selanne knows this, and can clearly see that Burke has nobody on the roster to play the key second-line scoring position. 

The Ducks third and fourth lines are there to check people. Second-line production is the key to Anaheim's success. With it, they earned the second seed and won the Stanley Cup.

Without it, they were seeded fourth, and knocked out in round one by a surging Dallas team—a team they would have fared better against in the later rounds, in my opinion.

With Morrisson (shoots L), Samuel Pahlsson (shoots L), and hard hitting Brian Sutherby (shoots L) slotted to play the second-, third-, and fourth-line C positions, Ryan Carter is looking for a place to play. He has the speed to skate on the second line, but he is a natural center—and, you guessed it, shoots left handed.

Selanne can take all the time in the world, knowing there is no urgency to his decision. My personal opinion is that he'll be back at Anaheim Ice after the Finnish summer winds down in a few more weeks, and help lead the Ducks to their third consecutive 100-point season.