Teemu Selanne entered the NHL 18 years ago with a bang, scoring a whopping 72 goals in his first NHL season with the Winnipeg Jets.  Add to that his 56 assists, and you have one of the best rookie campaigns in recent memory.  Last night, Selanne solidified his spot as one of the best European-born players of all time, scoring his 600^th career goal against one of his former teams, the Colorado Avalanche.

Many fans first memories of Selanne are not with the Jets, but his first run with the Anaheim Ducks.  He and Paul Kariya, who scored his 400^th goal this past Thursday against the Rangers, were the two young dynamic stars that many people, even outside of Anaheim, loved to follow.  They had good reason too, as Selanne managed to average more than a point per game during those glorious years in Anaheim, including 225 goals during that span.

After a trade so San Jose, and a short lived reunion with Paul Kariya in Colorado, the best thing that could have happened to Selanne in 2004, then 34, happened.  The NHL cancelled the 2004-2005 season.  Selanne, riddled with the injuries that come with playing in the NHL, took the year off, and let himself recover.  His return to Anaheim after the lockout was one for the ages, as he came storming back with 40 goals and 50 assists in 2005-2006.  After another 90+ point year in 2006-2007, Selanne entered the playoffs with just one thing missing on his now Hall of Fame resume; a Stanley Cup.  His Ducks teammates delivered, and Selanne was finally able to hold the Lord Stanley’s Cup after a 16 year wait.

Selanne joins an exclusive club with his 600^th marker, becoming just the 18^th player in history to reach the mark.  He is now just one goal away from Jari Kurri, his childhood idol, from being #2 in goals scored amongst European-born players (Jaromir Jagr is #1).  Selanne has had a very long, very successful career.  Should he call it quits after this year, the Hall will open its doors for Selanne, a first ballot Hall of Famer.