Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/01/2015 (3060 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s time for a permanent form of tribute to Teemu Selanne to be established here in Winnipeg.

While retiring his jersey is problematic, and likely not very fitting, the idea of a bronzed statue of Selanne in his shooting the glove out of the air pose seems perfect.

Not lost in all the Selanne celebrations this weekend was the connection Winnipeggers still have with the player and in particular his rookie season with the Jets.

It’s a moment in time that hasn’t been tarnished over the years and Selanne’s 76 goals as an NHL rookie is an iconic accomplishment.

Playing parts of four seasons in Winnipeg and scoring 147 goals and 306 points, however, isn’t jersey-retiring stuff.

Not to mention the thorny subject of “what franchise owns those statistics anyway?” The Jets, for which Selanne played, were sold to Phoenix.

Selanne talks career highs and lows, love for Winnipeg in new interview

But this isn’t a Jets issue. It’s a Winnipeg hockey issue.

Like the Winnipeg Falcons, the WHA teams and their championships, like Billy Mosienko’s three goals in 21 seconds.

Selanne’s time in Winnipeg was but a flash. Honouring it while adding some permanency seems fitting.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Fans would love it. They would take pictures with it and they would revere it. It would, like Selanne’s rookie season, become a Winnipeg thing.

My colleague Randy Turner had this to say about Selanne on Sunday night.

Some are confused about #NHLJets fans affection for Teemu Selanne. It’s simple. He was a shining example of what they lost when NHL left.

— randy turner (@randyturner15) January 12, 2015

Perfectly said. And well worth remembering.