ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Right wing Teemu Selanne, the second-leading scorer in Anaheim history, returned to the Mighty Ducks on Monday.
The 35-year-old free agent signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the team he played for from 1996-01.
Selanne, a nine-time All-Star, has averaged 37 goals year in 12 NHL seasons. Since entering the league with Winnipeg in 1992, he has 452 goals. Only Jaromir Jagr (478) has scored more.
"I'm very excited to be back in Anaheim," Selanne said on a conference call from his home in Helsinki, Finland. "I have such great memories from there. I'm looking forward to having many more.
"You never know in this business where you're going to be. I had a feeling I was going to come back."
Selanne said several teams he wouldn't identify expressed interest in his services, but Anaheim was his first option all along.
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| Teemu Selanne is back with the team for which he has scored 225 goals in six seasons. (Getty Images) |
Selanne said he was slowed in recent years by an injured left knee, but had surgery last September.
"My knee is as good as when I started in the NHL," he said. "I'm very excited now, it's back to 100 percent, it's time to play hockey again.
"When I can't use my speed, I'm useless. I have really high expectations of this year, not only of myself but the team. It's a new start. I think the new rules are going to help this game a lot. Without the red line, I think the game is going to be faster, particularly for our team."
Selanne had 16 goals and 16 assists in 78 games for the Colorado Avalanche in the 2003-04 season and added three assists in 10 playoff games.
First-year general manager Brian Burke said Selanne's past has nothing to do with his return to Anaheim.
"I'm not interested in adding names, I'm interested in adding hockey players," Burke said. "I signed Teemu because I think he makes us a better hockey team. We're anticipating he'll play on our top six. Certainly, I'm counting on him for top-six ice time and the power play.
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