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Drum roll, please – Have we seen the last of No. 8?

While popular and prolific right wing Teemu Selanne, right, has been silent all summer, contradicting his statement at the end of last season that he expected to decide on his hockey future by July 1, there is good reason. With their salary-cap issues, the Ducks simply can’t sign Selanne right now. Handcuffing the Ducks further is a bizarre wrinkle in the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and its players union. In the past, teams have been able to sign players 35 and older to bonus-laden contracts, with any bonus money that pushed a club above the salary cap carrying over to the following season. The Players Association, however, has the right to reopen the CBA after this season, so unless the union commits to not doing so, which remains a strong possibility, any bonuses paid this season would count against this season’s cap. The idea that Selanne is somehow being selfish or irresponsible in this scenario is preposterous. On the contrary, the Finnish Flash has done the Ducks the latest in a long line of favors with his patience. Had he demanded a contract earlier, or for big money, he could have had one long ago with any number of NHL teams. Selanne knows the Ducks’ situation, and they know his. Burke received word last week from Selanne’s agent, Don Baizley, that Selanne has begun a skating program in Finland. Once the Ducks are able to get far enough beneath the salary cap, we’ll get an answer on Selanne. The smart money is that he’ll be in the opening-night lineup.