Teemu Selanne scores goals. Plain and simple. He set the league on fire by scoring a record 76 goals in his rookie campaign back during the 1992-93 season with the now-defunct Winnipeg Jets. He now hangs his helmet a lot further south with the Anaheim Ducks, but he's still the same happy-go-lucky guy he was when he first broke into the league.

"Winnipeg found out early he was a genuine human being and it's worked both ways ever since," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle told the Canadian Press. "More than any other player, I think, he felt a real attachment to Winnipeg and was really hurt for the city when they couldn't keep the NHL team. There's a real soft spot there which goes both ways."

Hard to imagine Selanne would miss the harsh winters he had to endure while as a member of the Jets, especially now that he can wear shorts and a t-shirt to practices in sunny California, but the Finland native still has a real love affair with his first NHL city.

"I had such great years in Winnipeg and they treated me so well," he told the Canadian Press. "It was always a special relationship from there. I went back when they closed the Winnipeg Arena. The best time of my career was there. I've always had good relationships with the fans, especially in Winnipeg and here."

And that infectious charisma and appreciative demeanor has made him a popular guy wherever he goes.

"As soon as Teemu gets off the bus, he's the guy the media wants to talk to and the autograph seekers are after," Carlyle said.

Even more impressive has been his longevity in the league. Often seen as the No. 1 target from opponents' top defensive players, he's managed to recover from injuries and keep on putting up big numbers, most notably major knee surgery during the lockout season in 2004.

After scoring a career-low 16 goals prior to the lockout in 2003-04, many doubters thought the Finnish Flash had lost his dash. But Selanne knew he wasn't done, and was undoubtedly the comeback player of the year last season, scoring 40 goals and 90 points and following that up with an even better 48 goals and 94 points this season, including the 500th goal of his career. He became the oldest player in history to score 45 goals in a season.

The personal numbers are great and all, but what Selanne really wants is his name inscribed on the Stanley Cup. And after his overtime goal in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals eliminated the Detroit Red Wings, Selanne finally arrives in his first Stanley Cup final in his 16th season in the league.

"Obviously, this is a dream come true," said Selanne.

Now all he needs is the icing on the cake and a Hall of Fame career will have all the bells and whistles.