| Teemu Selanne is optimistic that the NHL lockout is almost over. At least somebody is. (Getty Images) |
You can count Anaheim Ducks forward Teemu Selanne as one of the people who believes we're in the final days of the NHL lockout.
He even has a specific date in mind for when it's all going to end: This upcoming Monday, Jan. 7.
In an interview with Finnish Website MTV3.fi (the same website where Selanne earlier blogged about Gary Bettman being the most hated man in the NHL) the veteran forward said this is the first time the two sides have faced the pressure that the entire season really is in jeopardy, and that the players will be back in camp Jan. 10.
The full comment, via translation by Finnish reporter Matias Strozyk on Twitter:
"I think the lockout ends next Monday, the 7th, camps begin on the 10th and the 1st game is on the 18th or 19th. Light at the end of the tunnel now since it's the 1st time NHL & owners have pressure and the whole season really is in jeopardy. Right now I'm optimistic & think the season will begin. We (players) have wondered why this has taken so long & NHL has taken that stance."
So maybe he didn't have a specific reason, but hey, when Teemu Selanne talks, people listen.
For purely selfish reasons, we hope he's right because we would hate to see his Hall-of-Fame career come to an end because of a canceled season.
Selanne has already said he will probably retire if the entire season is lost.
He turned 42 in July but is still playing at a high level in the NHL. In 82 games last season, he scored 26 goals to go with 40 assists, leading the Ducks with 66 points.
In 1,341 career games, he's scored 663 goals to place him 12th on the all-time list. If he gets an opportunity to play this year, he should pass Luc Robitaille's 668 on the list.
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