Teemu Selanne says former Winnipeg Jets owner betrayed him
Photo credit: Sportsnet
Former NHL star Teemu Selanne has finally opened up on his time in Winnipeg, and notes a former Jets owner lied to him, while a GM chirped his girlfriend
He's not just one of the best players the Winnipeg Jets ever had, he's one of the best of the modern era. Teemu Selanne played 1451 regular season games in the NHL throughout his career, scoring 1457 points, solidifying himself as a legend. But, while Selanne remembers his time in Winnipeg fondly, he is not happy with some treatment from a former owner of the Jets, as well as a former General Manager.
During an appearance on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, Selanne recalled his departure from Winnipeg via a trade in 1996. He was upset at the time, as were many fans. In the podcast, he explained that he was told just days prior to the trade by then new Winnipeg Jets Richard Burke that he was a foundational part of the franchise and would never be dealt. A couple of days later, he was sent to Anaheim.
"He called me, and said I know there are rumours of you getting traded. You're not. You're gonna be a huge part of our success. I was very happy to hear that. I was, I believe, fifth in scoring in the league. Playing great.
That's the first time I learned that it's a business, You're like a race horse, you know. They make their own decisions. It doesn't matter how you feel."
That's the first time I learned that it's a business, You're like a race horse, you know. They make their own decisions. It doesn't matter how you feel."
Selanne added that Winnipeg was his team, and he loved the city and the fans. Being traded made him feel like a failure at first. Selanne also recalled that while he had 47 goals at one point during a season, he had a bit of a dry spell, failing to get one past the goaltender for two games. Then GM Mike Smith pulled Selanne into his office and told him he needed to start scoring or he would be sent to the Jets farm team in Moncton, New Brunswick. After he went home, his girlfriend at the time told him she was at a nearby mall in Winnipeg when she happened to run into Smith. Selanne summarized what his girlfriend told him about the encounter.
"I was at the mall. Your GM Mike was there. He didn't even say anything. He just came to me and asked 'Do you know where is Moncton?' I was like, Je**s, I can't believe this."
Selanne would go on to have a Hall of Fame career, including a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. The Jets ended up moving to Arizona in 1996 to become the Phoenix Coyotes, before returning to the league following the collapse of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2011.
| POLL | ||
9 AOUT | 80 ANSWERS Teemu Selanne says former Winnipeg Jets owner betrayed him What do you think of Selanne's treatment from the owner and GM while part of the Winnipeg Jets? | ||
| Awful | 59 | 73.8 % |
| Part of the game | 13 | 16.3 % |
| I'm not sure | 8 | 10 % |
| List of polls | ||
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