All time SM-Liiga Teams

Here's an idea to pass time (and at the same time help me learn who played where in Finland):

Make an all-time team for your favourite SM-Liiga team. That includes any players who have at one time or another played on your team, whether they are currently active players or not (including players who are currently on your team's roster).

I have no idea, but I would assume that TPS would include Saku Koivu, Kimmo Timonen, and Miikka Kiprusoff. Take it away!

I'm quite sure, that someone will do one for TPS, so I took my other favorite SaiPa, 'cos I'm probably the only SaiPa fan here ;) Does this include players, who only played for juniors? I assumed that it does, so here is my list.

Forwards:
1. line
Vesa Viitakoski - Christian Ruuttu - Petri Skriko
2. line
Yrjö Hakala - Otakar Janecky - Vladimir Machulda
3. line
Heikki Mälkiä - Jeff Bes - Dale McTavish
4. line
Heikki Juselius - Ralph Cox - Petteri Nokelainen (hopefully)

Defence pairings:
1. pair
Lalli Partinen - Veli-Pekka Kautonen
2. pair
Antti Hulkkonen - Jukka Peitsoma
3. pair
Juri Kuznetsov - Jussi Timonen (hopefully)

Goalies:
Hannu Kamppuri
Jarmo Myllys
Jussi Markkanen

Added two future prospects. It proved to be a bit harder than I thought, but then again, we haven't had the same kind of players like TPS or HIFK...

These are fun to do. I just had to do two teams. Sorry.

Kärpät 1st All-Stars consists of players who have performed outstandingly and in addition have played at least for few seasons in Kärpät. 2nd All-Stars are for players that are just great no matter how long or short time they have played here, players that were here in less glorious times and players that just didn't make it to the 1st team.

Here goes.

Kärpät 1st All-Stars:

Forwards:

1st line
Markku Kiimalainen - Kari Jalonen – Pekka Arbelius

2nd line
Petr Tenkrat - Brett Lievers – Kai Suikkanen

3rd line
Martin Bergeron - Jari Viuhkola - Vladimir Kames

4th line
Juha Riihijärvi – Mikko Leinonen - Andrei Potaitchuk


Defence pairings

1st pair
Reijo Ruotsalainen – Juha Huikari

2nd pair
Jouni Loponen - Juha Tuohimaa

3rd pair
Mikko Haapakoski – Francois Bouchard

Goalies
Niklas Bäckström
Tim Thomas



Kärpät 2nd All-Stars:

Forwards:
1st line
Lasse Pirjetä - Michael Nylander – Jussi Jokinen

2nd line
Petr Ton – Henry Saleva - Ilkka Sinisalo

3rd line
Markku Perkkiö - Sakari Palsola - Robert Miller

4th line
Marko Lapinkoski - Pekka Järvelä – Brad Smyth

5th line (sorry)
Niklas Hagman – Jarmo Mäkitalo – Esa Pirnes


Defence:

1st pair
Janne Niinimaa - Joni Pitkänen

2nd pair
Lasse Kukkonen – Martin Stepanek

3rd pair
Kari Suoraniemi – Ari Vallin

Goalie
Hannu Kamppuri

Christian Ruuttu
Ruuttu has born in Lappeenranta but moved to Pori as a kid. He has NEVER played in SaiPa...


And now Alltime ÄSSÄT (5 lines, because that 5th line is a foreigner -only line). This is how I made it right now, tomorrow the team would be a lot different.

Kari Makkonen - Veli-Pekka Ketola - Arto Javanainen
Pekka Rautakallio - Tapio Levo (probably the best line in Finnish rinks ever)

Veli-Matti Ruisma - Christian Ruuttu - Tapio Koskinen
Harry Nikander (R.I.P) - Antti Heikkilä

Jari Levonen - Rauli Raitanen - Jari Korpisalo
Olli Kaski - Pasi Peltonen

Masi Marjamäki - Markku Tähtinen - Jesse Joensuu
Mika Rontti - Pauli Levokari

Vladimir Vujtek - Mark Jooris - Jaroslav Otevrel
Olegs Sorokins - Stanislav Meciar

extra attacker:
Vyacheslav Fanduls
extra def:
Tommi Rajamäki

Goalies:

Kari Takko
Mika Lehto
Scott Langkow

Coaching:
Lasse Heikkilä
Vasili Tikhonov
Ismo Läntinen

And quite many good players were left away... I tried to make every line as a line of certain time.
Saarikoski, Tuominen, Kivelä, Flinck, Tuomi, Virtanen, Jyrkkiö, Härkälä, Heiskanen, Varis, Benda, Glad, Potaichuk, Kivenmäki, Rosenberg, Kapusta, Veber ...

I'm very sorry. As I mentioned in my thread, I took players who have played only in juniors too. I recalled, that Ruuttu had played for Saipa in juniors, but maybe I was mistaken.

EDIT: And if Ruuttu hasn't played for Saipa's juniors, then I'll just take Antti Aalto in the line-up instead of him. :)

I can do TPS but I don't have the time just yet.

But some of the players might include:

Forwards
Saku Koivu
Jere Lehtinen
Esa Keskinen
Mikko Mäkelä
Mikko Eloranta (for the fourth line ;))
Juhani Tamminen
Raimo Summanen
Matti Keinonen
Lauri Mononen

Defensemen
Kimmo Timonen
Timo Nummelin
Seppo Lindström
Hannu Virta
Sami Salo
Petteri Nummelin

Goaltenders
Miikka Kiprusoff
Urpo Ylönen

HIFK does compare favourably with TPS

T Ruutu-O Jokinen-J Ruutu =)
J Tamminen- M Hagman-H Riihiranta
E Tikkanen-C Ruuttu-M Murto
S Kapanen-D Boyko-J Caloun

I Sinisalo

Karalahti-Rafalski
Zidlicky-S Saarinen
P Lehtonen-P Rautakallio
Bob Halkidis

S Wetzell
S Lindfors

a hifk fan would probably come up with a better roster, I just looked it up for interest

KalPa (not currently in SM-Liiga, but has been for many years and hopefully is again when next season begins):

1. Line:
Darius Rusnak - Olli Jokinen - Sami Kapanen
Kimmo Timonen - Reijo Ruotsalainen

2. Line:
Jouni Rinne - Jussi Tarvainen - Marko Tuomainen
Peter Slanina - Erik Hämäläinen

3. Line:
Marko Jantunen - Tommi Miettinen - Juha Jokiharju
Jarno Kultanen - Juha Tuohimaa

4. Line:
Jarmo Kekäläinen - Pekka Tirkkonen - Adam Hall

Goaltenders:
Pasi Kuivalainen
Kimmo Kapanen
Tuomas Nissinen

Some notes:
- I left Veli-Pekka Ketola and Mikko Leinonen out because they played only 7 games when KalPa was playing in the first division.
- Instead I qualified Reijo Ruotsalainen and Adam Hall, though Ruotsalainen played only 16 games in KalPa and Hall has now played just two games, but will play the whole season if NHL season doesn't begin.
- Please remind me if I forgot someone, I'm pretty sure I did.

HIFK does compare favourably with TPS

Well yeah, but check out how many foreigners TPS has had. And besides...goaltending wins championships. :banana:

I can have a go at Jokerit.

Keijo Säilynoja-Otakar Janecky-Teemu Selänne
Juha Lind-Glen Metropolit-Petri Varis
Antti Törmanen-Timo Saarikoski-Pasi Saarela
Jari Kurri-Juha Ylönen/Antti Aalto/Tuomo Ruutu-Frank Banham

Waltteri Immonen-Mika Strömberg
Janne Niinimaa-Tom Koivisto
Nikolai Makarov-Kari Martikainen
Sean Gagnon-Ari Salo

Ari Sulander
Markus Ketterer
Kari Lehtonen

I probably left out some great names of the past. The fouth line center i couldn't decide, so they'll have to rotate. ;)

Edit: replaced Mikkola with Kurri.

I can have a go at Jokerit.

Keijo Säilynoja-Otakar Janecky-Teemu Selänne
Juha Lind-Glen Metropolit-Petri Varis
Antti Törmanen-Timo Saarikoski-Pasi Saarela
Niko Mikkola-Juha Ylönen/Antti Aalto/Tuomo Ruutu-Frank Banham

Waltteri Immonen-Mika Strömberg
Janne Niinimaa-Tom Koivisto
Nikolai Makarov-Kari Martikainen
Sean Gagnon-Ari Salo

Ari Sulander
Markus Ketterer
Kari Lehtonen

I probably left out some great names of the past. The fouth line center i couldn't decide, so they'll have to rotate. ;)

Jari Kurri?

I can have a go at Jokerit.

Keijo Säilynoja-Otakar Janecky-Teemu Selänne
Juha Lind-Glen Metropolit-Petri Varis
Antti Törmanen-Timo Saarikoski-Pasi Saarela
Niko Mikkola-Juha Ylönen/Antti Aalto/Tuomo Ruutu-Frank Banham

Waltteri Immonen-Mika Strömberg
Janne Niinimaa-Tom Koivisto
Nikolai Makarov-Kari Martikainen
Sean Gagnon-Ari Salo

Ari Sulander
Markus Ketterer
Kari Lehtonen

I probably left out some great names of the past. The fouth line center i couldn't decide, so they'll have to rotate. ;)

my old next door neighbor :)

Jari Kurri?

Who?

Jari Kurri?

He's there now. :blush:

He's that fourth-line player who might get some ice time behind Juha Lind..!

(Great avatar, by the way, Jussi. There's a Kosovar on the soccer team I play on, too :)).

I can have a go at Jokerit.

Keijo Säilynoja-Otakar Janecky-Teemu Selänne
Juha Lind-Glen Metropolit-Petri Varis
Antti Törmanen-Timo Saarikoski-Pasi Saarela
Jari Kurri-Juha Ylönen/Antti Aalto/Tuomo Ruutu-Frank Banham

Waltteri Immonen-Mika Strömberg
Janne Niinimaa-Tom Koivisto
Nikolai Makarov-Kari Martikainen
Sean Gagnon-Ari Salo

Ari Sulander
Markus Ketterer
Kari Lehtonen

I probably left out some great names of the past.

Esa Tikkanen? Sure he's an IFK icon, but you found a place for Tuomo Ruutu so why not Tiki?

Esa Tikkanen? Sure he's an IFK icon, but you found a place for Tuomo Ruutu so why not Tiki?

Tuomo's played more games for Jokerit SM-liiga team than Esa and won the gold in 2002 compared to Esa's silver in 2000.

OK. My first and final version of TPS' lineup would be:

Raimo Summanen - Saku Koivu - Jere Lehtinen

German Titov - Esa Keskinen - Mikko Mäkelä

Lauri Mononen - Kari Jalonen - Matti Keinonen

Juhani Tamminen - Martti Jarkko - Reijo Leppänen
.
.
Hannu Virta - Timo Nummelin

Kimmo Timonen - Sami Salo

Petteri Nummelin - Seppo Suoraniemi

Seppo Lindström - Aki Berg
.
.
Urpo Ylönen
Miikka Kiprusoff

HM: Mal Davis, Juhani Wahlsten, Reijo Mikkolainen, Ilkka Mesikämmen, Jorma Valtonen, Markus Ketterer, Jani Hurme etc.

Note: The lines are in no particular order really.

The defense seems to be the weak point, at least compared to the other teams.

OK. My first and final version of TPS' lineup would be:

Raimo Summanen - Saku Koivu - Jere Lehtinen

German Titov - Esa Keskinen - Mikko Mäkelä

Lauri Mononen - Kari Jalonen - Matti Keinonen

Juhani Tamminen - Martti Jarkko - Reijo Leppänen
.
.
Hannu Virta - Timo Nummelin

Kimmo Timonen - Sami Salo

Petteri Nummelin - Seppo Suoraniemi

Seppo Lindström - Aki Berg
.
.
Urpo Ylönen
Miikka Kiprusoff

HM: Mal Davis, Juhani Wahlsten, Reijo Mikkolainen, Ilkka Mesikämmen, Jorma Valtonen, Markus Ketterer, Jani Hurme etc.

Note: The lines are in no particular order really.

The defense seems to be the weak point, at least compared to the other teams.

that'd be my TPS pretty much, butt Kipper as a HM, Ketterer as backup, and add Kai to HM as well.

that'd be my TPS pretty much, butt Kipper as a HM, Ketterer as backup, and add Kai to HM as well.

Oh yes, Kai Nurminen does deserve a mention.

LW-C-RW
Jorma Sevon - Janne Ojanen - Timo Susi
Teuvo Takala - Erkki Hytönen - Yrjö Hakala (fifties line)
Esko Luostarinen - Erkki Lehtonen - Seppo Liitsola
Jukka Alkula - Martti Jarkko - Mikko Leinonen

HM:
C: Aleksander Barkov, Pertti Koivulahti
W: Ville Nieminen, Vesa Viitakoski, Pertti Ansakorpi, Oiva Oijennus, Antero Lehtonen, Jukka Porvari, Jouni Seistamo

D
Teppo Numminen-Timo Jutila
Pekka Marjamäki-Lasse Litma
Matti Rintakoski-Kalevi Numminen
Pekka Laksola-Pertti Valkeapää

HM: Hannu Haapalainen, Harri Laurila

G
Antti Leppänen
Markus Mattsson

HM:
Hannu Kamppuri
Mika Noronen
Esko Niemi


Players that didn't play long enough (with Tappara) to get included, but deserve a mention anyway:

Mike Stapleton C
Jiri Kucera C
Luciano Borsato C
Lasse Pirjetä C/W
Esa Pirnes C/W
Theo Fleury W
Jussi Tarvainen RW
Reijo Ruotsalainen D
Toni Lydman D
Derek Mayer D
Jussi Markkanen G
Tom Draper G
Jason Muzzatti G

This turned out to be alot harder than I thought and I'm sure I forgot some very deserving people...

I think that Ville Nieminen is already in top 10 Tappara players of all time despite the fact there have played lots and lots of great players.

In terms of skill he's not even close. In terms of accomplishments - not even close. Bear in mind that I've had to leave out players that have won 3,4 or even 5 championships and numerous other medals with Tappara, and have played for 10+ seasons with the club.

Nieminen's totals with Tappara are 83games 18goals 21assists 39points 138PIM (regular season).

Those are nowhere near the numbers of any of the other players that are on the roster or have got an honorable mention. The reasons why I decided to mention Ville were, of course, the Cup (which has nothing to do with Ville's career with Tappara), and the fact that he is such an exceptional character, has a huge heart and obviously has great love for the club that "raised" him.

Of course there are many ways to make these lists and if I was to include the players that have accomplished most outside their career with Tappara, I would of course include Nieminen and players like Fleury and Ruotsalainen on the list.

Those are nowhere near the numbers of any of the other players that are on the roster or have got an honorable mention. The reasons why I decided to mention Ville were, of course, the Cup (which has nothing to do with Ville's career with Tappara), and the fact that he is such an exceptional character, has a huge heart and obviously has great love for the club that "raised" him.

But keep in mind that it is totally impossible to compare 80es and nowadays players statwise. I think that Ville would have been close to Lehtonen or Susi numbers in 80es.

Ville has a great impact to Tappara now. Too bad he is injured for a while (quite long while...)

But keep in mind that it is totally impossible to compare 80es and nowadays players statwise. I think that Ville would have been close to Lehtonen or Susi numbers in 80es.

Ville has a great impact to Tappara now. Too bad he is injured for a while (quite long while...)

Good point, it's very hard to compare stats from different eras, but let's do it anyway..

Jiri Kucera (C) 183 games 195 points 1.07 PPG
Jouni Seistamo 143 games 151 points 1.06 PPG
Vesa Viitakoski 133 games 132 points 0.99 PPG
Pertti Koivulahti (C) 463 games 403 points 0.87 PPG
Antero Lehtonen 208 games 178 points 0.86 PPG
Jussi Tarvainen 220 games 187 points 0.85 PPG
Jukka Porvari 236 games 195 points 0.83 PPG
Aleksander Barkov (C) 518 games 416 points 0.80 PPG
Kari Heikkinen 481 games 351 points 0.73 PPG
Pertti Ansakorpi 376 games 270 points 0.72 PPG
Tommi Pohja 270 games 190 points 0.70 PPG
Pauli Järvinen 363 games 249 points 0.69 PPG
Oiva Oijennus 392 games 262 points 0.67 PPG
Ville Nieminen 83 games 39 points 0.47PPG


I could list a lot more. especially some older ones, but I think this is enough to demonstrate why Ville should not be included. Note also that Ville has won no silverware with Tappara as all of the wingers here (excluding Viitakoski) are multiple Finnish Champions. In my mind, there's no way Ville is more deserving than any of these guys, but like I said, there are many ways to compile these things. My way is not to include players that have not had a long enough succesfull career with Tappara, and not to include prospects and such.

And yes, Ville was having a great short term impact on the team, but so have many had in the past (Fleury, Muzzatti, Mayer, Pirnes, Borsato, Markkanen etc).

(All this talk about Nieminen not being deserving to make the roster does not mean that I don't like the guy! He has been one of my favourite players for many years now)

Goaltenders:
Jarmo Myllys
Ari-Pekka Siekkinen
Mika Oksa

Quite easy choices. Siekkinen led Blues to semi-finals in 1998, best result to date. During regular season he had 7 shutout, which was a record. Myllys played great season in 2002-03 and Oksa is out current goalie. He is only on these who has played in Blues juniors. Tom Draper was one candidate, but he played here very badly and I left him out.

Defenseman:
Timo Blomqvist
Teemu Sillanpää
Peter Ahola "A"
Jiri Vykoukal
Arto Laatikainen
Rami Alanko

Blomqvist was chosen mostly by earlier career merits. Sillanpää, Ahola and Alanko (current) have been captains of the team. Laatikainen is playing his 7th season here. Vykoukal has been easily best foreign defenseman here.

Forwards:
Jan Caloun
Nils Ekman
Sergei Prjahin
Juha Ikonen "C"
Joonas Jääskeläinen
Jan Långbacka
Jere Lehtinen
Tero Lehterä
Juha Ylönen "A"
Dale McTavish
Esa Pirnes
Lauri Tukonen

I put maximum amount of foreigners to 5. McTavish is only of those who played only one season (others at least 3), but he is still holding record of most goals in the season. Ikonen played many years here, a true gentleman but sadly his career ended in knee injury. Jääskeläinen has more goals than anyone in Blues. I then put "L-line" in. It was very important when Kiekko-Espoo got it's place in SM-liiga. Ylönen is easy choice with his NHL career and then I had two places left. I put Pirnes as he made his SM-liiga debut here. I added also one young star with Tukonen.


Lineup
1. Myllys
2. Oksa
3. Siekkinen

Vykoukal-Ahola
Alanko-Laatikainen
Blomqvist-Sillanpää

Ekman-Ikonen-Jääskeläinen
Lehtinen-Långbacka-Lehterä
Caloun-Ylönen-McTavish
Prjahin-Pirnes-Tukonen


I left those players who joined Blues for this season out. Also missing is Mariusz Czerkawski (lockout 1994), because he played only 7 matches (but scored 9 goals)

Coaches:
Hannu Kapanen
Hannu Saintula
Niki Andersson


I hope I didn't forget someone.