Teemu Selanne, Forever A Jet

At the end of this 2013-2014 National Hockey League season, future Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne will hang up his skates and retire after a 22-year career which saw him obliterate Mike Bossy's record for goals and points by a rookie set in 1993 while a member of the Winnipeg Jets.

Selanne, as of the start of this NHL campaign, has recorded 675 goals and 755 assists for 1430 points.
That will obviously be increased as he enters his final year in the league and will most likely end up in fifteenth spot on the all-time points leaders list surpassing Stan Mikita this season.  He's only 37 points behind Mikita as of this writing.  He won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Anaheim Ducks in 2006-2007.  Suffice to say Selanne will be a first-ballot entry into the Hockey Hall of Fame.  And most probably he will only have to wait the minimum three years before being on the nomination ballot.  His international numbers also speak volumes as he is the all-time points leader in that category as well as he leads all skaters in both Olympic competition as well as the world championships.

As everyone knows, Selanne started his NHL career in Winnipeg in 1993.  He only played three and a half seasons in a Jet uniform before insanely being traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim virtually overnight to the shock and ire of every Jets fan.
It didn't take long for Selanne to become a fan favourite in Winnipeg.  In fact many (including your truly) will always consider him a Winnipeg Jet although he has played 15 years in Anaheim (over two tenures there) and won his first and only Stanley Cup there.  His wife, Sirpa didn't want to leave Winnipeg in the first place.  The Selannes even came back to Winnipeg after he was traded to have their first child, their son Eemil, born in the city.  He will go into the Hall as a Duck.  Another inevitable fact that also irks Winnipeg hockey fans, although many of them will admit it is undeniable given the obvious discrepancy in times spent playing in the two cities and the above mentioned Stanley Cup win with the Ducks.

Even today, Selanne is one of three former Jets that encompasses their existence.  For Winnipeg Jets fans he will always be a Jets legend.  The others being Bobby Hull and Dale Hawerchuck. You could probably add Thomas Steen to that list as well, although he was underrated throughout his entire 14-year career-all with the Jets-outside of Winnipeg.

There is nothing negative that can be said about the man.  His humility, as well as his talent, is legendary.  He has never publicly said anything derogatory about any player or organization.  Repeatedly throughout the years, everyone from Gary Bettman, his teammates, coaches, GMs and fans the world over have sung his praises about his statesmanship.  There will most likely never be another Teemu Selanne.

Oh how I wish he was going into the hall as a Jet.