Paul Kariya completed a free-agency triple play when he said goodbye to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and reunited with Teemu Selanne on the Colorado Avalanche.

Kariya was disappointed not to get the qualifying offer he wanted from the Western Conference champion Mighty Ducks on Monday, so he made the most of his surprising unrestricted free agent status on Thursday.

In one move, Kariya paired again with Selanne, set himself up to be a free agent next year, and found a team that can give him another chance to win his first Stanley Cup.

“When we both became free agents, we made a hockey decision,” Kariya said. “We both said, ‘Forget about the money, where’s the place we want to play?’ And Colorado jumped out at both of us immediately. So we made things work monetarily.”

Kariya, who led the University of Maine to its first NCAA championship in 1993, signed a $1.2 million deal with Colorado that puts him under the league average and lets him become an unrestricted free agent again when the contract is up. Normally, free agency isn’t granted until a player is 31.

“Teemu and I are absolutely thrilled,” said the 28-year-old Kariya, who earned $10 million last season. “I think we have a good chance at winning a Stanley Cup here and that’s why we signed here.”

While the Avalanche were bolstering their forward lines, the Detroit Red Wings made another big addition to their defense by signing Derian Hatcher away from the Dallas Stars.

Hatcher landed a five-year, $30 million deal with the Red Wings that will put him on a defensive unit with Nicklas Lidstrom, the NHL’s top defenseman the past three seasons, and Chris Chelios – another Norris Trophy winner.

Hatcher grew up in a Detroit suburb, rooting for Gordie Howe and the Red Wings. He was a finalist for the Norris Trophy this year but lost out to Lidstrom.

“I’m just ecstatic to be here,” Hatcher said. “It would be really special to win a Stanley Cup in the town I grew up in.”

Selanne, dealt to San Jose by Anaheim in March 2001, left the Sharks for a $5.8 million deal for next season with the Avalanche. He turned down the Sharks’ offer of $6.5 million, the amount he earned last season.

That gave him the chance to be a free-agent partner with Kariya, who he spent five years with in Anaheim.

“It was automatic that we wanted to play together somewhere,” Selanne said. “The first choice was Colorado right away. We were hoping the chance was available. This organization has a history of winning the Stanley Cup. That’s why this is so thrilling.”

Kariya and Selanne didn’t become winners in Anaheim, so the Ducks split up the pair two years ago. With the help of playoff MVP Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Kariya nearly won the Stanley Cup this year but the Ducks lost Game 7 of the finals to New Jersey.

Don Baizley, the agent for Selanne and Kariya, surprised Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix with the idea of bringing the pair to Denver. Baizley also represents Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic, Colorado’s other dynamic forwards.

“There is so much talent here,” Kariya said. “To play with guys like Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg and Rob Blake and Adam Foote and guys like that, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

One that Lacroix was happy to have fall into his lap.

“Over the last 36 hours, these two athletes expressed their strong desire to come to Denver and play for the Avalanche,” Lacroix said. “Obviously, we were stunned.”