Teemu Selanne to meet with Ducks’ Murray, Boudreau next week

Ducks right wing Teemu Selanne will meet with General Manager Bob Murray and Coach Bruce Boudreau next week before deciding whether he will return to the team for his 21st NHL season.

Selanne, who turned 43 in July, had a strong start last season but his production declined in the later stages, as did his ice time. He had 12 goals and 24 points in 46 games in the lockout-shortened season. The emergence of several young wingers was a factor in his reduced ice time.

Selanne spent much of the summer in his native Finland but returned to Orange County last week and met with Murray last week to discuss his role. With the start of training camp approaching on Sept. 11, Selanne wanted to talk to Boudreau and clarify the coach’s plans for him.

The Finnish forward ranks 15th all-time in NHL scoring with 1,430 points and 11th in goals with 675. With 251 career power-play goals, he ranks third in that category. A five-time Olympian, he’s the all-time leading scorer in Olympic hockey competition with 20 goals and 37 points in 31 games.

“I’ve met and talked with Teemu a couple of times in the last week or so. We have had good, positive discussions,” Murray said Friday via email.

“He told us he would like to meet again next week, and was hoping to make a decision at that time. We want him to take his time and make a decision he’s comfortable with. It’s Teemu’s decision to make.”

It’s unlikely that Selanne would play elsewhere if he and the Ducks can’t agree on his role.

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