Teemu Selänne

Lore & Background

Selänne began his professional career in 1989–90 with Jokerit of the SM-liiga. He was a first-round selection of the Winnipeg Jets, 10th overall, at the 1988 NHL entry draft but initially remained in Finland. He led the SM-liiga in scoring as part of Jokerit's Kanada-malja winning team in 1991–92 before moving to North America. He broke into the NHL by recording 76 goals and 132 points in 1992–93, which remains the league record for most goals and points by a rookie, earning him the Calder Memorial Trophy. He scored 50 goals in a season three times and topped 100 points on four occasions. He played in 10 NHL All-Star Games, was named to four postseason All-Star teams, and won the inaugural Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy in 1998–99 as the league's leading goal scorer. He was a member of the Ducks' 2007 Stanley Cup championship team. Internationally, Selänne was a six-time Olympian, winning three bronze medals and a silver medal, and is the all-time leader in scoring at the Olympic men's ice hockey tournament with 43 points. He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2017.

Reader's Guide

Selänne's significance lies in his record-breaking rookie season, which set NHL marks for goals and points by a first-year player that still stand. He is the highest-scoring Finn in NHL history, retiring 11th all-time in goals and 15th in points. His jersey number 8 was retired by the Anaheim Ducks in 2015, and he was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in 2017. He holds numerous team scoring records for both the Winnipeg/Arizona franchise and the Anaheim Ducks. His election to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017 made him the second Finn after Jari Kurri. Internationally, he is the all-time leading scorer in Olympic men's ice hockey and helped Finland win multiple medals. His career also includes the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2005–06 for perseverance and dedication to the game. A national star in Finland, he is the subject of a top-grossing biographical documentary there.

Did You Know?

• Selänne scored 76 goals as a rookie in 1992–93, an NHL record that still stands.
• He co-founded the Godfathers' Foundation, which raises money for ill children.
• He worked as a kindergarten teacher for three years while playing for Jokerit.