The Finnish winger and the Anaheim Ducks have agreed to terms on a contract for the balance of this season and Selanne has re-joined the team.
Sources tell TSN that Selanne signed a one-year deal with an annual base salary of $1.5 million, which means Selanne will receive just under $600,000 for the balance of this season. But as a player older than 35, Selanne is entitled to performance bonuses and he will almost certainly earn another $1.35 million from the Ducks this season. That performance bonus is achieved by simply playing 10 games, so, barring injury, Selanne will actually receive close to $2 million in base salary plus performance bonus for the balance of this season.
His base salary will count against the cap this year, but his performance bonuses only count against the cap if they put the Ducks over the $50.3 million limit. If that happens, the Ducks must carry forward his bonus paid out to be applied to next season's totals against the cap. But that only happens if the bonus figures put the Ducks over the cap this year, and as of now, the Ducks have plenty of cap room left to absorb Selanne's contract. Or go out and get a player at the deadline, if they so choose, and carry Selanne's bonuses to next year's payroll.
In any case, the most popular Duck in franchise history has returned to the flock and signed a contract that gives the Ducks great flexibility to make more moves at the deadline if they so desire.
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And the tagging room issue - available cap space for next season - that was such a problem in getting Scott Niedermayer in the fold has suddenly reversed itself. The Ducks are currently sitting with more than $4 million in tagging space for next season and if the Ducks were to trade a player at the deadline with a multi-year deal for a player who is in the final year of his contract that number would only increase, so much so that signing a restricted free agent like Corey Perry to an extension before July 1 would not be out of the question.
"It took Teemu several months to determine if he had the passion and determination to return to the NHL, and we are thrilled to have him back," said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke in a statement.
"This is a player who scored 48 goals last year and showed no signs of slowing down."
The right-winger appeared in all 82 of the Ducks' games last season, recording 48 goals, 94 points and 82 penalty minutes en route to their first Stanley Cup. The Helsinki, Finland native has played in 1,041 regular season games over his 14-year career, recording 540 goals, 1,135 points and 461 penalty minutes.
The ten-time All-Star was originally drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1988 Entry Draft. In his first year with the club, the Finnish Flash set rookie records with 76 goals and 132 points.
After four seasons in Winnipeg, Selanne was traded to Anaheim and played for four years with the Ducks before being dealt to the San Jose Sharks in 2001. After two seasons in San Jose, he was reunited with former Ducks teammate Paul Kariya when he signed with the Colorado Avalanche as a free agent.
Selanne returned to the Ducks as an unrestricted free agent in 2005. He led the club in scoring in 2005-06, posting 40 goals and 90 points in 80 games.
Selanne has played in four Winter Olympics with Finland, winning a silver medal in 2006 and a bronze medal in 1998.
TSN : NHL - Canada's Sports Leader
this really is a joke. the ducks have made a mockery of the NHL. they play half the season and then their players decide they will come back? pathetic. anyone actually believe Burke didnt have this all scripted?