Ducks sign Selanne, Canucks grab McCarthy

Teemu Selanne has landed back in the duck pond, today signing a one year $1 million deal. Given the price tag - it's a good move, if you ask me.

Selanne has this to say:

"When I can't use my speed, I'm useless. I have really high expectations of this year, not only of myself but the team. It's a new start. I think the new rules are going to help this game a lot. Without the red line, I think the game is going to be faster, particularly for our team."

Will he morph back into the speed demon sniper that he once was? Not likely, but if the new offense producing rule changes hold up (laughter inserted here), he may return to 25-30 goal form, and in today's NHL, that calibre of goal scorer is nothing to sneeze at - especially if he's only making $1 million.

Selanne's career totals:

                                     GP    G    A  PTS
1992-93  Winnipeg Jets               84   76   56  132
1993-94  Winnipeg Jets               51   25   29   54
1994-95  Winnipeg Jets               45   22   26   48
1995-96  Winnipeg Jets               51   24   48   72
1995-96  Anaheim Mighty Ducks        28   16   20   36
1996-97  Anaheim Mighty Ducks        78   51   58  109
1997-98  Anaheim Mighty Ducks        73   52   34   86
1998-99  Anaheim Mighty Ducks        75   47   60  107
1999-00  Anaheim Mighty Ducks        79   33   52   85
2000-01  Anaheim Mighty Ducks        61   26   33   59
2000-01  San Jose Sharks             12    7    6   13
2001-02  San Jose Sharks             82   29   25   54
2002-03  San Jose Sharks             82   28   36   64
2003-04  Colorado Avalanche          78   16   16   32

 NHL Totals                         879  452  499  951  

From an overall point of view, Anaheim may have to shake up the roster somewhat because by my count (well, TSN's count actually), they have roughly $35.5 million tied up in 18 players.
That's cutting it pretty close when it's all said and done.

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The Vancouver Canucks today added some defensive depth by trading a 3rd round draft choice (2007) to Chicago for Steve McCarthy. The Canucks still need some more defensive depth, but I like the addition of the 6', 200 lbs McCarthy. He's a project for sure, but as a 6th defenseman, I don't mind that. In the new look NHL, it looks as though most teams are going to have to suffer through a period where they lack great depth at one position or another, and guys like McCarthy will probably fill out the rosters of many teams.

That said, I still think the Canucks are a couple of solid defenseman away from making an actual playoff run (sorry Canuck fans!). They have enough scoring on the back-end; what they need is some rugged, play it hard bruisers back there. Hopefully Nonis has something up his sleeve to land a rugged guy like Brendan Witt. If they don't, they may have to continue to win their games by outscoring the opposition as opposed to playing a more balanced game, which doesn't bode well for a lengthy playoff run.