Former NHL star Jari Kurri backs Anaheim Ducks right wing Teemu Selanne for longer career-NHL News
The general manager of Finland’s national team, Jari Kurri, has backed his former colleague and countryman, the right wing, Teemu Selanne, who represents Anaheim Ducks in the National Hockey League (NHL), to play in the longer run.
Kurri, who is on a scouting tour of the league and watched Ducks playing on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, said he sees no reason for Selanne to announce the retirement from NHL at this stage.
Selanne is already 41 and recently disclosed to have possibly been playing the last season of his career. However, there is no confirmed statement from the player that could help to ascertain that he would definitely call it day from the professional hockey,
most probably next year.
He now gets backing from Kurri, who believed that the Finnish-born has managed well to defy his age and believed he still had stamina for more games.
Kurri said:
"I hope he keeps playing. Why stop? I know him. He wants to win. He wants to do well. He's playing well. I don't see any reason why (he should) stop. He's having a good time."
Selanne recently went past Kurri for 19th position on the league’s leading scorers list. He came into Wednesday’s game with 59 points, leading Anaheim in the current season.
The GM visit of the league was with the intent of motivating Selanne and 37-year old centre, Saku Koivu, to represent Finland in the World Championship, which is scheduled to be held in Helsinki and Stockholm in May this year (2012).
However, the official refrained from commenting much on the prospects, saying he would like to put his plans on hold for a while to allow the said players to concentrate on the NHL run.
He added:
"We'll give them a few more games to see what happens. That's why we always come here. (We talk to the) head coach and (ask) what's going on and how they're doing and how they're feeling."
The manager said he was happy to know that Selanne has broken his record and was excited to watch him playing on Wednesday night, for which he said he had flown from Dubai to Munich.
He commented:
"I'm really happy. I've known him for many, many years. We're good friends. We played lots of hockey together.”
Selanne is said to keep Kurri’s post up on his wall, while looking for an inspiration from him and idealising him in the game skills. Later, they became teammates in 1996-97 in Anaheim.
Kurri had planned his visit of NHL two months earlier but somehow could not make it to. Now his delayed coming was seen well in time for watching the prospective player for Finland’s national team displaying impressive game skills at the age of 41.
Tags: