was a kindergarten teacher for three years in his native Finland, which might help explain the childlike joy he brought to the rink every day during a career that spanned more than 1,500 NHL regular-season and playoff games and six Olympic tournaments before he retired in 2014 as a member of the Ducks.
Selanne’s sunny attitude and strong bond with fans were as natural as his quick release and his explosive speed, setting him apart as he set rookie records with 76 goals and 132 points in 1992-93 and scored the 11th-most goals in NHL history (684) and 15th-most points (1,457).