Winnipeg Jets/Teemu Selanne Morning Papers (Saturday, Dec 17th)

Note:  We will be covering the Jets practice this morning, as well as today’s Teemu Selanne press conference at 10:15 am.  For the latest updates follow us on twitter @illegalcurve.  We will have audio from practice and the Selanne press conference on site.

Note 2:  Don’t forget to tune into the Illegal Curve Radio Show on TSN 1290 starting at noon and going until 3 pm cst.

Winnipeg Sun:  Enstrom ready, willing.  As good as the Jets makeshift defence has been without the steady Swede in the lineup, the Jets could really use him back asap.

Winnipeg Sun:  Quick change for Miettinen.  The Minnesota Wild players who had played with him spoke quite highly of the two-way game he plays.

Calgary Herald:  Scheifele story proves old adage:  ‘Never give up’.  Jets fans had 3 minutes of worry yesterday.  Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun reported that Scheifele was hurt during a practice, but 3 minutes later reported that he was back on the ice.

Affiliate News – St. John’s IceCaps:

New Hampshire Union Leader:  Monarchs’ home win streak ends.  The IceCaps continued their undefeated on the road in regulation season as they stopped Manchester’s home winning streak at eight games.

Teemu Watch:

National Post:  Selanne could weave some magic.  A look back at his career.

Down Goes Brown:  A brief history of Teemu Selanne.  Sean McIndoe is an Ottawa-based writer who is one of the funniest you will find writing about hockey.  He gives his humourous take on Selanne’s history.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Go Flash Go.  How can you not cheer for Teemu?

Globe and Mail:  Teemu Selanne’s much anticipated return to Peg’.  As someone who circled this date on the calendar as soon as the Jets schedule came out, trust me, this is easily the most anticipated game of the season for many Peggers.

Winnipeg Sun:  Boo Teemu?  Jets fans say no way.  I could be wrong but I really don’t think fans will boo him.  I wouldn’t even be surprised if he scores if he got a few cheers.  Mayor Sam Katz better hope the Finnish Flash doesn’t ever decide to move to Winnipeg when he retires from hockey and run for Mayor, because he would win in Winnipeg with no platform whatsoever.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Teemu trade still galls.   It was almost inevitable that Chad Kilger and Oleg Tverdovsky couldn’t live up to the man they had been traded for.

Winnipeg Sun:  A fitting encore for Selanne.  As someone who has followed his career and still sees how productive he can be, let’s hope this isn’t the end.  Especially with the Jets moving West next season.

Winnipeg Sun:  Selanne’s Finish line is in sight.  The lockout was a bad thing for hockey fans but the best thing for Teemu Selanne as it gave him an opportunity to heal up his knees and regain his old form.

Los Angeles Times:  Winnipeg is still special to Teemu Selanne.  I watched the video that TSN did of fan reaction to the Selanne trade and is quite remarkable to see the intense, personal connections that fans felt towards the Finnish speedster.

Winnipeg Sun:  Could Jets get Teemu for playoffs?  I want to channel my inner Jim Mora (Playoffs, playoffs).  It still is a bit early to be planning a white out for this post-season and I don’t see Teemu agreeing to be sent here for a possible run on a team not yet expected to challenge for a Cup.

Winnipeg Sun:  Selanne not just a Flash in the pan.  Every single Jets fan has a Teemu story.  It sounds like everyone in River Heights has played street hockey with him at least once.  Fans will have an opportunity to give him the hero’s response they were unable to give him all those years ago.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets are Selanne fans too.  The Jets can’t be too mesmerized by the Flash or they will quickly find that while it might say 41 on his birth certificate, he is still playing like he is 25.

Next opponent news – Anaheim Ducks:

Chicago Sun Times:  Hawks get scoring, punch from 4th line in win over Ducks.  The Ducks lose again on the road (2-8-4 road record, with 4 straight losses).  The Jets are going to want to score the first goal against this Anaheim team who are 1-12-2 when giving up the first goal of the game.  The only bright spot for the team continues to be the man everyone in this town is talking about as the Finnish Flash broke Ray Emery’s shutout bid with 1:37 to go in 3rd.

Orange County Register:  From Carlyle to Boudreau.  The Register looks at 10 differences between new Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau and the one he replaced.