Selanne signs two-year deal

by James Mirtle on Sep 28, 2008 4:13 PM CDT Comment 13 comments

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed right wing Teemu Selanne to a two-year contract. Per club policy, no financial terms of the deal were disclosed.

"We're happy to have Teemu back and thank him for his patience as we sorted out our salary cap situation," said Anaheim Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke. "Teemu is a true Duck. His loyalty to this franchise and community is unquestioned."
>> team release

It's interesting that after his wishy washy return last season he's signed up for two years, especially given that at 38 years old, he's over the magic 35-and-over point when multiyear contracts count regardless of if players retire or not.

Barring a career-ending injury, Selanne's a Duck for this season and next. The contract is for $5.25-million ($2.625-million a season), which isn't insignificant given Anaheim's current cap conundrum.

The Ducks are now between $1.2- and $1.5-million over the salary cap.
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TWO years? Didn't see that one coming. Guess if he's in top shape - and no reason yet to figure otherwise - it's not a bad move.

by Whale4ever on Sep 28, 2008 4:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

At least with that number they aren't completely hamstrung. Ryan's contract can be sent to the AHL until they can find a way to be rid of Marchant's salary.

by VeryProudofYa on Sep 28, 2008 6:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Judging by the numbers I see on nhlnumbers.com, it looks like Selanne will fit just fine, once they send Parros or Larsen or someone down to the minors. They won't be able to fit Ryan's full cap number (including bonuses) in, even if they trade Klee away for a pick, unless they go with a 21 man roster (ie. 6 defencemen).

But here's the interesting part: Ryan's cap hit drops once the bonuses on his contract become "impossible to earn", according to 50.5(h)(i) in the CBA. I don't know which bonuses are in Ryan's contract, but a bunch of them require 42 games played. So the Ducks could keep him in the minors for half the season to make those bonuses impossible to earn and shrink his cap hit.

by Ryan on Sep 28, 2008 7:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think they need Ryan on the roster though. We'll see, but I'm guessing someone else gets send down before he does.

by James Mirtle on Sep 28, 2008 7:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Brain Burke has all figured out so there's no need to speculate. He has law degree, years of experience in hockey and he even had his own day somewhere in B.C. (which K-Lowe almost ruined).

As for Teemu it's easy to see that he is in great shape. His skating is so smooth. Of course he has lost a step or two but when your nickname is The Finnish Flash there's plelty of steps left, too.

The main reason for him to return is his four kids. Every parent needs some downtime and in Teemu's case it's playing shinny with his buddies Nieds, Prongs, Getzzz and othersssss...

by Anonymous on Sep 28, 2008 7:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

at least next year we don't have to sit around and wait to see if he will play.

by thejumbotron on Sep 28, 2008 8:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Can you say "circumvention of the cap"? Maybe I'm wrong but I think its a given that Selanne does not play next year and that Burke knows this. This is just a way of getting something close to market value for Selanne's play this year.

Regards,
M. Ilard

by M. Ilard on Sep 29, 2008 6:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Selanne's deal will count against next year's cap regardless of if he retires or not.

by James Mirtle on Sep 29, 2008 7:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm with M. Ilard on this one... the Ducks have several players coming off their cap for next year - both Neidermayers, Morrison, Pahlsson, Beauchemin, etc - and some decent youngsters who can fill at least some of those roles for cheap.

If Selanne really does only intend to play one more year, this is a nice way of spreading the cap hit out over two years.

by jamiebez on Sep 29, 2008 11:50 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Selanne doesn't get the full amount of the contract if he retires halfway through.

by James Mirtle on Sep 29, 2008 1:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's why he's getting $3.25M this year and only $2M next. He gets well paid for this year (relatively speaking), and the Ducks eat the $2.625M in a year where they can well afford it - at least compared to now.

And by then Burke is running the Leafs anyway, right? ;)

by jamiebez on Sep 29, 2008 1:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Gotcha, I hadn't seen the contract split like that previously.

It could be, but who's to say Selanne doesn't continue to play? He's not that over the hill.

It likely depends on what sort of season he has this year.

by James Mirtle on Sep 29, 2008 2:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I find it interesting that Burke has a great deal of salary cap juggling issues completely of his own making, but people in Toronto still see him as the saviour.

Wasn't JFJ run out of town for over-paying Bryan McCabe and Darcy Tucker?

Tucker's deal at $3M per was bad, but still a lot more reasonable than Bertuzzi at $4M per.

I can't wait to see what sort of cap mess Burke makes with Toronto if he ever gets the chance...

by Anshu on Sep 29, 2008 3:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs