On Thursday, the Colorado Avalanche sent tremors across the NHL when they reunited one of the league’s top tandems by signing Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne to one-year contracts.

The 28-year-old Kariya led the Anaheim to the Stanley Cup Finals this past year, but since the Ducks elected not to give him a qualifying offer to retain his rights, Kariya became an unrestricted free agent.

The seven-time all-star signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract to play for the Avs. It’s a $7.8 million pay cut from this past season. Kariya said that he and Selanne decided to “forget about the money” and wanted, “where’s the place [they] want to play?” Colorado was the top choice.

	Paul Kariya Left Wing
	Height 5-10 Weight 172 Shoots Left Born October 15, 1974 in Vancouver, BC College Maine Drafted 4th overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim

• In the nine years Kariya was in Anaheim, he set numerous team records including goals (300), assists (369) and points (669).
• He won the Lady Byng trophy in 1996 and 1997.
• In 1993, he won the Hobey Baker Award for best collegiate player.
• He was a member of the 2002 Canadian Olympic team who took home the gold and the 1994 team that took the silver.