In return, Selanne gave Burke and the Ducks a memorable 2006-07 season in which he scored his 500th career goal and played his 1,000th regular season game. At 36, Selanne was the first player in NHL history aged 35 or older to record consecutive 40-goal seasons, and the oldest player in league history to score 45 goals in a season.

He finished this comeback season with a club-leading 48 goals, third best in the NHL.

And now, he’s a house-owning, fast-driving, genuine Californian through and through. Not to mention a member of the first team to bring Big Stanley to the Golden State since the NHL expanded here back in 1967.

“The Junior Ducks' program, my kids all play there,” he gushed. “I think this can really boost hockey here even more, and in the future, you're going to see more and more great hockey players coming from this area. I think we've done a very important job.”

You know he is not done with hockey here — Selanne is Finnish, and hockey runs through a Finn’s veins like any Canadian, to be sure. But one gets the feeling that his further contributions might be coaching kids, because after finally winning the big one, this old horse might just be done playing with them.

“I've always said that I tried to keep playing as long as I feel the same passion and motivation and dedication that I've had the last couple of years,” he said. “On the other hand, I've always dreamed about retiring on the top. And I don't know if you can go more top than this. But I decided before the season that ... I didn't want to make any decision before I'm stable and I have the time to think about the future.

“So there's some big decisions coming.”

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