Koivu & Selanne Finally Together

[RGM81]

Full article: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/s...68-going-media


Teemu Selanne for NHL Executive of the Year!
That was my first thought upon hearing the Ducks had signed longtime Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu to fill their recent void of a proven second-line center.
After all, Selanne and Koivu have been longtime friends and linemates on Finnish national teams that have competed in the Winter Olympics and World Championships over the past decade.
So how much arm-twisting did you have to do, Teemu?
"It wasn't like that," a laughing Selanne said this week, by phone from his summer home in Helsinki, Finland, upon returning from a weeklong family vacation in Spain.
"We've been talking and joking about this (playing together in the NHL) for a long time. And when Saku became a free agent (after Montreal decided to shake up its roster), we talked some more, before anybody made him an offer.
"I just tried to tell him what a great place Anaheim is to play and let him make up his own mind. I didn't want to pressure him about it, because I don't know how long I'm going to play."
Interestingly, it was Koivu who had tried to persuade Selanne to sign with Montreal when Teemu was mulling retirement after the Ducks won the 2007 Stanley Cup and again the next year when he was still undecided about his future. But Teemu's deliberations didn't last long.
"No brainer for me," Selanne said, laughing again. "No way I was going to Montreal."
Didn't take long for Koivu to realize the futility of his recruiting mission.
"We joked about it (playing together in Montreal) a few times and talked about it, because we enjoyed our time with Team Finland," Koivu said last week from his home in Finland during a media conference call. "But to be honest with you, Teemu and his family love the sun too much and love California and Anaheim too much for me to get him to come to Montreal. He said there was no way."
So Koivu came to Anaheim instead. But it wasn't a no-brainer for him. He also talked to the Minnesota Wild, his younger brother Mikko's team, as well as the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers.

Suffice to say that I'm really happy for Saku and I wish him all the best in 81 games next season. I'm glad he didn't go to Ottawa or the Rangers, two teams I despise.

[sholi2000]

Full article: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/s...68-going-media


Teemu Selanne for NHL Executive of the Year!
That was my first thought upon hearing the Ducks had signed longtime Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu to fill their recent void of a proven second-line center.
After all, Selanne and Koivu have been longtime friends and linemates on Finnish national teams that have competed in the Winter Olympics and World Championships over the past decade.
So how much arm-twisting did you have to do, Teemu?
"It wasn't like that," a laughing Selanne said this week, by phone from his summer home in Helsinki, Finland, upon returning from a weeklong family vacation in Spain.
"We've been talking and joking about this (playing together in the NHL) for a long time. And when Saku became a free agent (after Montreal decided to shake up its roster), we talked some more, before anybody made him an offer.
"I just tried to tell him what a great place Anaheim is to play and let him make up his own mind. I didn't want to pressure him about it, because I don't know how long I'm going to play."
Interestingly, it was Koivu who had tried to persuade Selanne to sign with Montreal when Teemu was mulling retirement after the Ducks won the 2007 Stanley Cup and again the next year when he was still undecided about his future. But Teemu's deliberations didn't last long.
"No brainer for me," Selanne said, laughing again. "No way I was going to Montreal."
Didn't take long for Koivu to realize the futility of his recruiting mission.
"We joked about it (playing together in Montreal) a few times and talked about it, because we enjoyed our time with Team Finland," Koivu said last week from his home in Finland during a media conference call. "But to be honest with you, Teemu and his family love the sun too much and love California and Anaheim too much for me to get him to come to Montreal. He said there was no way."
So Koivu came to Anaheim instead. But it wasn't a no-brainer for him. He also talked to the Minnesota Wild, his younger brother Mikko's team, as well as the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers.

Suffice to say that I'm really happy for Saku and I wish him all the best in 81 games next season. I'm glad he didn't go to Ottawa or the Rangers, two teams I despise.

If he went to the Rags I'd burn every single Koivu card I own.

Just picked up a D'Agostini Bulldogs jersey from Meigrey!!!!!!!!

[CSSports]

Koivu will be another "Special Buddy" to Salami.....just like Kariya was....

[doniceage]

I wish them both as I like both players. Of course the Ducks always been a problem for Detroit so not good LOL.

Don

[RGM81]

Koivu will be another "Special Buddy" to Salami.....just like Kariya was....

That's uncalled for.

[CSSports]

sorry - the "evil" Kings fan thought won over the "good" Kings fan thought

[cnshockey]

sorry - the "evil" Kings fan thought won over the "good" Kings fan thought

its weird hearing good and kings in the same sentence. just doesnt sound right