Minnesota Wild Players Playing Elsewhere During The Lockout Thread
Mikko Koivu had his first game in the Finnish Elite League, SM-Liiga, today. He played as first line Center for Turku TPS. Other lockout players in the team include Lauri Korpikoski of the Phoenix Coyotes, Alec Martinez of the Los Angeles Kings and Kris Russell of the St. Louis Blues. In goal TPS has ex-Shark Antero Niittymäki.
The game was TPS's 90th anniversary game and they hosted Tampere Ilves (Lynx), the most prestidigous SM-Liiga team of all time (the Canadiens of Finland). Both teams however are at the bottom of the standings. After tonight's loss, TPS is dead last at 14th place and Ilves is now 13th.
Mikko's stats below. He did well although his team lost.
OCT 25, 2012: ILVES @ TPS 5 - 3
G 2, A 0, P 2, +/- +1, PIM 2, S 5, TOI 25:07
Nope, but I wouldn't if he joins the team soon, a chance to play with his brother. Then we'll get some Filppulas vs Koivus action between TPS and Jokerit.
Meh Finland's bound to get some more NHLers. It's a solid league.
SM-Liiga has a lot of lockout players.
Boston's Rich Peverly
Carolina's Jussi Jokinen played for 8 games, has returned to NA. His contract was only for 8 games.
Dallas' Stephane Robidas and Philip Larsen
Detroit's Valtteri Filppula. Cory Emmerton played for one period and was injured. He broke his finger and has returned to NA.
Edmonton's Lennart Petrell
Florida's Sean Bergenheim, injured, has returned to NA.
Los Angeles' Alec Martinez
Minnesota's Mikko Koivu. Kurtis Foster is scheduled to play his first game in Finland today.
Nashville's Craig Smith
NY Islanders' Jesse Joensuu and Frans Nielsen
Ottawa's Erik Karlsson and Kyle Turris
Phoenix's Mikkel Boedker and Lauri Korpikoski
San Jose's Jason Demers and Antti Niemi
St. Louis' Kris Russell
Here's highlights of Koivu's first game in SM-Liiga yesterday. TPS is home team and plays in white. As it was a 90th Anniversary game, TPS wore nostagic jerseys in the first period.
I wonder if Erik Karlsson is eligible to the SM-liiga rookie award. If he is he might win it over Alexander Barkov which would be kind of funny considering his play in the NHL.
EDIT: actually Barkov isn't eligible. He played 32 games last season so it was his rookie season already.
I wonder if Erik Karlsson is eligible to the SM-liiga rookie award. If he is he might win it over Alexander Barkov which would be kind of funny considering his play in the NHL.
I don't know how he have played mostly but against my team Blues Karlsson wasn't so good. He made many bad passes and got stripped out of the puck couple of times.
Foreign players aren't eligible for the rookie of the year award. And then there's also the case of Riku Helenius, who would've theoretically been eligible last season, but because he had so many games played in AHL and SEL, he had to settle for just the goalie of the year award. So I doubt any lockout players would be considered for the trophy anyway.
Boston's Rich Peverly
Carolina's Jussi Jokinen played for 8 games, has returned to NA. His contract was only for 8 games.
Dallas' Stephane Robidas and Philip Larsen
Detroit's Valtteri Filppula. Cory Emmerton played for one period and was injured. He broke his finger and has returned to NA.
Edmonton's Lennart Petrell
Florida's Sean Bergenheim, injured, has returned to NA.
Los Angeles' Alec Martinez
Minnesota's Mikko Koivu. Kurtis Foster is scheduled to play his first game in Finland today.
Nashville's Craig Smith
NY Islanders' Jesse Joensuu and Frans Nielsen
Ottawa's Erik Karlsson and Kyle Turris
Phoenix's Mikkel Boedker and Lauri Korpikoski
San Jose's Jason Demers and Antti Niemi
St. Louis' Kris Russell
That raises the caliber of play in the league a lot.. And it's a close resemblance to the NA game.
