Paul Kariya on distance from hockey since retirement: 'My love was for playing'

As the Anaheim Ducks continue to fight for a shot at the Stanley Cup, one of the franchise's greats has made a rare public appearance.

Paul Kariya, who ranks second to Teemu Selanne in all-time points by a Duck with 669, is set to be inducted into the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame, and offered some insight Wednesday in regards to why he's kept his distance from the game since retiring in 2010.

"Some players, when they're done playing, they almost have a career path into coaching or scouting or being a general manager. My love was for playing," Karyia told Gary Kingston of the Vancouver Sun.

"If I could still play, I’d still be playing out there."

Kariya's career was cut somewhat short by a series of serious concussions, and he remains adamant that something needs to change in order to curb head injuries in hockey.

"We're still talking about it, so I think there’s still an issue there," he stated. "To me, targeted head shots have no place in the game and the players that take those type of actions have no place in the game."

Despite largely staying away from the rink since his playing days came to an end - even skipping Selanne's retirement ceremony in Anaheim this past season - Kariya insists he hasn't divorced himself from the game, keeping the door open for future involvement.

Drafted fourth overall by the Ducks in 1993, Kariya scored 402 goals and added 587 assists in 989 regular season games with the Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues.