Teemu freakin' Selanne

[The Comish]

Over the course of Kurri's career the leage produced an average of 6.09 goals per game. In Selanne's career (through last season) that number was 4.86 goals per game.

The upshot of this is that Kurri had about 25% more opportunities to score in his career (probably more since he played for one of the highest scoring teams at the time).

Selanne (end of 2012) 1341-663-743-1406-1.048

Add 25% and you get 1.31 points per game...

Obviously this isn't definitive as you don't know that Selanne would have availed himself of the opportunities, but I gotta think having 25% more chances to get on the score board is likely make an impact on one's career totals.

Oh, and yippee for the dead puck era...

(goal/game stats taken from: http://www.quanthockey.com/TS/TS_GoalsPerGame.php )

Great reply Loch! I don't disagree from a points perspective, but a big part of what made Kurri better in my opinion was his defensive play. At the end of the day, I am a big Selanne fan, but an even bigger Kurri fan. Like I said earlier, I am a little biased as I am an Oiler fan and watched tons, literally tons of games where Kurri played. To say Kurri was solely a by-product of Gretzky (and I'm not saying anyone is) is to downplay Kurri's talent.

All that said, I completely agree with the op (still trying to get used to these abbreviations!)...Teemu freakin' Selanne!!

[Carcillo]

Selanne is the first player ever in NHL to have TWO 4 point games at the age of 42 or older. Not even Gordie Howe could do it more than one time.

[Loch]

Great reply Loch! I don't disagree from a points perspective, but a big part of what made Kurri better in my opinion was his defensive play. At the end of the day, I am a big Selanne fan, but an even bigger Kurri fan. Like I said earlier, I am a little biased as I am an Oiler fan and watched tons, literally tons of games where Kurri played. To say Kurri was solely a by-product of Gretzky (and I'm not saying anyone is) is to downplay Kurri's talent.

All that said, I completely agree with the op (still trying to get used to these abbreviations!)...Teemu freakin' Selanne!!

Yeah, just wanted to be clear that I wasn't trying to downplay anyone's talent.

Scoring was higher for many reasons but the fact remains, it was higher.

If you compare the player's point per game rate over their career vs the league goals per game rate it turns out that, on average, Selanne would have been in on about 21% of the expected goals in games he participated in and Kurri woud have been in on 18%...

These guys are elite and both great in their own way but Kurri got a boost from playing in a more offensively charged period.

[mister_mcgoo]

Selanne is the first player ever in NHL to have TWO 4 point games at the age of 42 or older. Not even Gordie Howe could do it more than one time.

wow, that IS impressive!

[The Guvnah]

I'll take Selanne all day every day over Kurri. Kurri was a fine player, to be sure, but his offensive totals are inflated due to the period in which he played. I like to use hockey-reference.com when comparing players from different eras. Their adjusted points system is great for creating an even playing field and it really makes Kurri's best seasons look less great, where Teemu's first three full seasons in Anaheim become even better. Top two in the league in goals for three seasons in a row, and let's face it, Kurri, like a lot of other players benefited greatly from playing on Gretzky's wing. Put Selanne on Gretzky's wing and HE may be the one with the goal scoring record, not Gretzky.

[4T2]

[jeffl97]

Just read this today and had to share:

He also shared a story about Teemu Selanne. Late in a close game, a penalty call went against Anaheim, and Boudreau was admittedly losing it behind the bench. Selanne went to discuss the situation with the referee, who became quite animated with Selanne.

"Teemu comes back to the bench and I ask him what that was all about," said Boudreau. "Teemu says that he asked the ref what he made in a year, because he would write him a cheque right now if he would quit."

http://www.durhamregion.com/sports/a...e-of-admission

[Loch]

Just read this today and had to share:



http://www.durhamregion.com/sports/a...e-of-admission

'Legendary' is an understatement when describing Teemu.

[PrairieDog]

'Legendary' is an understatement when describing Teemu.

This is true.

I love the fact that this thread is 2 1/2 years old and still alive...hopefully we get another year out of Teemu, although his production really took a dive this year (he's 42 after all).

Would love to be posting in a year about how he with a 65+ point effort at 43 (not likely but hey, its Teemu freakin' Selanne).

[agentzero]

This is true.

I love the fact that this thread is 2 1/2 years old and still alive...hopefully we get another year out of Teemu, although his production really took a dive this year (he's 42 after all).

Would love to be posting in a year about how he with a 65+ point effort at 43 (not likely but hey, its Teemu freakin' Selanne).

lol seriously. He's been "retiring" since like 2008 but has been a monster all the while. I think last year expectations were finally caught up by reality. Time to pass the torch, but wow, what a run. He was SO good.

[STONE.]

He got the invite to Finland's Olympic Camp roster!
A sign he'll stick it out for one more year?

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2...c-camp-roster/

[Zorro]

This was a great day in hockey:

[agentzero]

This was a great day in hockey:

He should have held it after Rob N...... but I digress.


I think maybe he plays in Finland before the olympics bc I get a sense that his NHL days are over (but didn't we say that like 1000 times in recent past..??).

Shortened year might help him come back, but they gotta want to start playing some kids in the top 6 and I don't know if Teemu will play 3rd line. We'll see I guess..getting a decision around like Jan again lol.

Go Teemu. Class.

[Carcillo]

Anaheim should only use him in home games next year. No travel with the team for away games, let him to stay with his family in California. 41 games and he'd be very effective for them and fresh for the playoffs.

[Loch]

Anaheim should only use him in home games next year. No travel with the team for away games, let him to stay with his family in California. 41 games and he'd be very effective for them and fresh for the playoffs.

Good plan.

I can picture some young punk complaining about Teemu sliding in and out of the line-up and Boudreau responding with 'Take a lap, dumbass.'