When will Teemu Selanne and Nicklas Lidstrom retire?

[oilfan10]

Selanne
I'm sure everybody is keeping track of this guy. He's having an incredible season once again! 40 years old, point per game player, top ten in scoring, clutch, etc. One could argue he's getting better as the season goes on.

So it begs the question: when will he retire? It will be a disappointing day for hockey fans when it happens. He has been one of the best players in the league the last 2 decades and is showing no signs of slowing down. Heck, he still wears a JOFA helmet for crying out loud. I hope he plays long enough to hit 700 goals. 67 to go as of tonight(so far...).

Lidstrom
First defenseman over 40 to get over 60 points, and a Norris trophy Candidate once again. I thought he was going to be done this year after he had an off year(for him, good year for other players), but he has come back to his typical self. Still one of the best in the game, and will go down as one of the best of all time. Lets just hope it's later rather than sooner.

[edthesandwich]

He hinted prior to the start of this season that he felt good enough at the time to predict he would play this season and next. Having been a die-hard Selanne fan since his first NHL goal, I sincerely hope he does come back next season. He's in tremendous shape, he still has wheels and frankly, the league will be a little less fun without him in it.

Interesting fact I learned, BTW, after noticing that he had FIVE points tonight. He now has the third-most points in a season of any player in their age-40 season. Here's the top 5:

Gordie Howe (1968-69): 44 goals, 59 assists, 103 points
Johnny Bucyk (1975-76): 36 goals, 47 assists, 83 points
Teemu Selanne (2010-11): 28 goals, 47 assists, 75 points
Alex Delvecchio (1972-73): 18 goals, 53 assists, 71 points
Mark Recchi (2008-09): 23 goals, 38 assists, 61 points

It's worth noting that Howe is the only man to surpass 70 points as a 41-year-old (he had 71 in 1969-70), so at least Teemu has something to shoot for next season!

[centrehice]

I hope Teemu continues to play and stays away from Piling up fast cars back in Scandinavia.

BTW: Nicklas Lidstrom just set a Brand New NHL Historical First tonight:

First Defenseman in NHL History over the age of 40 to have a 60 point season.

Just Wow !!

[ReimerFan]

He is still playing amazing. I hope he comes back next season. There are only two things I hope for great players of any sport.

1) Retire before you start to wane in skill (He is still far from that)
2) When you retire, stay retired =) Think Jordan, or more recently in Leafs history Sundin.

So many great players leave on top, come back and end up retiring again before the season is out. Again I don't think Selanne will do that. Such a great consistent player!

[oilfan10]

I hope Teemu continues to play and stays away from Piling up fast cars back in Scandinavia.

BTW: Nicklas Lidstrom just set a Brand New NHL Historical First tonight:

First Defenseman in NHL History over the age of 40 to have a 60 point season.

Just Wow !!

I was gonna post the question for Lidstrom as well, maybe we can get a mod to change the title to Selanne and Lidstrom?

[edthesandwich]

Here's a mind-boggling stat I just unearthed:

Games missed by Sidney Crosby this season: 35
Games missed by Nicklas Lidstrom in his entire 19-year career: 32.

WOW.

[oilfan10]

Selanne ends the night with 3 goals and 2 assists. This guy isn't ready to retire.

[Wickabee]

Here's a mind-boggling stat I just unearthed:

Games missed by Sidney Crosby this season: 35
Games missed by Nicklas Lidstrom in his entire 19-year career: 32.

WOW.

Woah.

Both of these guys are certain HOFers and deservedly so.

[stop__dreaming]

40 years old and still producing hockey at an extremely high level. My hat goes off to Teemu. He is one of the core players still playing when I started following hockey around 1997.

Where some players dwindle from 35 onwards, Selanne hasn't, and that stat of having the third-most points in a season of any player in their age-40 season is incredible. He still could catch Bucyk for second, too.

[RGM81]

Selanne ends the night with 3 goals and 2 assists. This guy isn't ready to retire.

Simply incredible. I woke up and noted that my Twitter feed had a lot of Selanne references, including one that definitely falls under the long-running "boy I wish that happened" file: the old line about him always wanting to come to Montreal to play with Koivu.