The team wants Teemu Selänne back, the commish wants Teemu Selänne back, and the fans want Teemu Selänne back, but does Teemu Selänne want back?

The Fans Have Spoken, But Is It Too Much To Ask?

Fans chanted "one more year!" at Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selänne when they reunited with the rest of the Anaheim Ducks in the team's Stanley Cup championship banner ceremony last Wednesday night.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman added, telling Niedermayer, "We, of course, would love to see you back" during the first period intermission of Anaheim’s home opener against Boston.

Niedermayer and Selänne have yet to announce whether they intend to play this season or retire. Already seven games into the season, it is time to declare business as usual.

Despite the delays, the Ducks have made arrangements to try to restore what is lost in their absence. Defenceman Chris Pronger has been named team captain, taking over for Niedermayer. They have also signed veteran defenceman Mathieu Schneider in the event that Niedermayer does decides to retire.

Since their play has been mediocre since the season began, all signs point to the absence of Selänne and Niedermayer, but they are also without starting goaltender Jean-Sébastien Giguère.

The Ducks could use all the help they can get right now. With three wins and four losses, one has to imagine that there is serious concern about their Stanley Cup run this year.

Anaheim suffered yet another setback with the recent loss of newly acquired winger Todd Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi left Sunday’s game with an apparent concussion when he was hit by Minnesota Wild tough guy Derek Boogaard.

The Ducks are in for the long haul, competing against surging teams such as San Jose and Dallas in the same division. If San Jose can manage to have their top three forwards produce as they did during the 2005-2006 season, the Ducks could very well be in trouble.

Too Quick To Judge?

It seems that some of us had spoken too soon when it came to the Vancouver Canucks. Their start this year was absolutely horrendous. Superstar goaltender Roberto Luongo posted an embarrassing goals against average over the first three games of the season – consequently all losses.

Luongo was pulled after allowing four goals in the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers. Vancouver went on to lose the game 8-2. Vancouver’s success cannot be primarily focused on Luongo’s play alone, Markus Naslund has also been under the microscope as of late. He has been struggling (to say the least) and the Canucks have relied solely on the offensive power to come from the Sedin Twins. Perhaps Naslund left a sour taste in the mouths of fans after he suggested that General Manager Dave Nonis try to acquire centre Peter Forsberg. Naslund guaranteed big things if Nonis could reunite the scoring duo, both natives of Sweden.

Wild Dealt First Loss by Last Place Kings

The Los Angeles Kings are trying to convince all of us that they are not as bad as their record illustrates. They just may have done that with a big win last night over first-place Minnesota.

Anze Kopitar scored a short-handed goal in the third period, and the Kings scored on all three shots in the shootout to beat Minnesota 4-3, the Wild's first loss of the season. Scott Thornton and Kyle Calder also scored for the Kings, who had lost five in a row. Dustin Brown and Michael Cammalleri also scored in the shootout against Nicklas Backstrom.

Jean-Sébastien Aubin made 28 saves in his 200th NHL start and first with the Kings. Rookie goaltender Jonathan Bernier returned to his junior team in Maine on Monday after filling in for an injured Aubin.
The Kings took a 3-2 lead with 13:34 left in the third period and Brian Rolston tied it with 12 minutes left in regulation, beating Aubin on the stick side with a slap shot.

The Wild are attributing this loss to lack of discipline, although they are the only team who have yet to lose a game this season in regulation.

Player Profile – Paul Stastny

After breaking Colorado’s record for most points in a rookie season with 51, Paul Stastny has continued to impress playing alongside veterans Joe Sakic and Ryan Smyth. Tied for second in the league in scoring in the preseason with five goals and nine points, he also recorded an astounding eight points in Colorado’s first three games. He went on to tally four assists and a career-high five points on October 7 against the San Jose Sharks. There is no denying that one can make comparisons between Stastny and former Avalanche centre Peter Forsberg. Colorado is an offensive force to reckon with this year and they definitely have a bright future. Paul leads the league in scoring with 13 points in just six games.