Selanne Steps Up the Pace

The loose puck was there for the taking, so Teemu Selanne pounced on it, turned in a flash, sped around an opposing defenseman and fed a perfect pass to Paul Kariya, who slammed the puck into the back of the net.

Suddenly, the silent Nassau Coliseum erupted in shouts and whistles of approval Friday afternoon.

Moments later, Selanne unleashed a blistering slap shot from the top of the left circle that hit nothing but net.

More cries of “Whoooooa.”

More smiles and chuckles.

It was only practice, but the Mighty Ducks got an eyeful in their first up-close on-ice look at Selanne since he was acquired Wednesday from Winnipeg. The Ducks knew he was good, but they still came away impressed.

“Certainly he gives us a lot better shot at making the playoffs,” said Kariya, who for perhaps the first time in his life is only the second-best player on his team.

The rest of the NHL gets its first look at Selanne clad in the Ducks’ eggplant and green road jerseys when the Ducks play the New York Islanders at 10 a.m. today.

Selanne, a three-time All-Star and a 76-goal scorer and rookie of the year in 1992-93 with Winnipeg, spent Thursday evening introducing himself to many of his new teammates.

Kariya, his new linemate and roommate, briefed him on the team and its strengths and weakness. To be sure, the addition of Selanne figures to jump-start the Ducks’ league-worst power play (11% conversion rate), perhaps their greatest, most consistent shortcoming.

What’s more, Kariya has 29 goals and 35 assists and Selanne has 24 goals and 48 assists, which potentially makes them one of the top one-two punches in the NHL.

Friday afternoon, Selanne tried on his new equipment--gloves, shoulder pads, pants and the No. 8 sweater formerly worn by Chad Kilger, who was sent to Winnipeg along with Oleg Tverdovsky on Wednesday.

Later, it was time for Selanne to get to know his new teammates. At the end of the 75-minute workout, he said he liked what he saw.

“This team has a lot of young, hungry players,” Selanne said. “I’m looking forward to helping them make the playoffs. It takes a bit of time to get used to everything and everybody. When we get going, it should be fun. . . . I’m sure I’m going to learn a lot of new things over the next two weeks.

“I think it [the trade] is going to be good for my hockey career. It’s a new start. I’m more than happy to go somewhere where a team really wants me. I wanted to go to a team that needs me.”

Selanne adds talent and depth to the Ducks, combining a potent mix of tremendous speed and a strong shot. Expectations soared the minute he was traded to the Ducks, but the question is whether he can push the third-year team into the playoffs for the first time.

He acknowledged there will be pressure to perform, to lead the Ducks to a playoff berth.

“I think I’m always going to have pressure,” Selanne said. “It’s a bigger challenge [with the Ducks] for myself right now. I really want to help this team so much. It’s a big challenge to prove this is a good team.

“And it all starts [today].”

Suffice to say, the Ducks couldn’t wait.

“Obviously, I’m thrilled to death to finally see him with the Duck logo on his chest. All the players were saying on the ice, ‘I can’t believe he’s really here,’ ” said assistant coach Al Sims, who conducted practice as Ron Wilson scouted the Baltimore Bandits’ game in Providence, R.I., Friday night.

“I’m a bit excited, a bit scared, I guess,” said Steve Rucchin, who will center the line with Selanne on right wing and Kariya on the left.

“He’s definitely a leader,” Todd Ewen said. “He brings a skill level even Paul Kariya has to work hard to attain.”

Added team captain Randy Ladouceur: “Teams have been keying on Paul. Paul is the guy who runs the whole thing. Now teams have to key on both [Kariya and Selanne] and that’s going to leave a lot of open ice for the others.”

Defenseman Don McSween also was eager to meet Selanne. McSween accidentally severed Selanne’s Achilles’ tendon during a Jan. 26, 1994 game at the Pond. Almost a year later, McSween suffered a gruesome slash on his right forearm that required surgery to repair nine tendons and two nerves.

“He asked how my hand was doing,” McSween said. “I asked how his heel was.”

Said Selanne: “I’m so happy he’s back. Those things [the injuries] were just bad luck. I’m happy we’re both 100%.”