Holy crap! Assat totally blows it. I mean I know JyP is good but I can't believe they got swept.
So on another note, what's Assat's roster look like for next year? Who will be leaving and who is staying? That is such a bummer. Any chance they'll be able to hang on to Mark Lee or Dixon?
Is Kuusela's contract up with Blues? They should try to pick him up again. But that's probably a longshot.
Ässät's best player Zaborsky was injured for the playoffs, and the first-round-pick Joel Armia also ended his season to an injury during the playoffs. Nevertheless, JYP was really good.
Dixon has a contract with Ässät for 2012/13, so if he doesn't go to KHL's money, he's with Ässät. Personally I think he wont leave Ässät, since he didnt like KHL to begin with. Ässät's super-scorer Tomas Zaborsky is going to be really difficult to hang on to. He could get about 5x more money from Russia.
Ryan Caldwell is leaving Ässät, the rumours say he will join HIFK, Helsingin Jokerit or Espoon Blues.
Kristian Kuusela's contract with Blues is for 2012/13 also.
Holy crap! Assat totally blows it. I mean I know JyP is good but I can't believe they got swept.
Other than the injuries, some players playing like **** and some experienced guys being sick, they had absolutely no luck... what. so. ever. JYP has been very good for a good while and the games were close for the most part.
And about the roster, we will be hearing more about the roster next week according to Mika Toivola.
Other than the injuries, some players playing like **** and some experienced guys being sick, they had absolutely no luck... what. so. ever. JYP has been very good for a good while and the games were close for the most part.
And about the roster, we will be hearing more about the roster next week according to Mika Toivola.
Awesome, can't wait to hear what they're gonna do. It looks like they've got Honkanen, Taimi, Sammalkangas, Uusitalo, Savinainen, Aaltonen, Niemi, Uusikartano, and Sillanpaa locked up...and Armia presumably for another year? Or is he headed to North America? What about Zaborsky, any chance he comes back? Sorry so many questions, it seems like they have a decent core of role players if they can lock in some top tier talent. I think Silanpaa could do pretty well with a 2nd line type role, but obviously you guys have seen him in action where I'm just looking at stats.
Awesome, can't wait to hear what they're gonna do. It looks like they've got Honkanen, Taimi, Sammalkangas, Uusitalo, Savinainen, Aaltonen, Niemi, Uusikartano, and Sillanpaa locked up...and Armia presumably for another year? Or is he headed to North America? What about Zaborsky, any chance he comes back? Sorry so many questions, it seems like they have a decent core of role players if they can lock in some top tier talent. I think Silanpaa could do pretty well with a 2nd line type role, but obviously you guys have seen him in action where I'm just looking at stats.
There is an interesting name in the Ässät U20 team: Aki Juusela. 20-year-old winger with some nice stats. He played 15 games in Ässät (3+2=5) and 32 games in Ässät U20 (32+21=53). His development has been steady for the past few years, I reckon he'll get a real shot next year in FEL.
You also may want to check Borna Rendulic, a Croatian forward who played mostly in Ässät U20 this year (34gp, 21+28=49).
Holy crap Sport actually took a game with a 2-0 win over Ilves.
I guess Ilves just wants to get their season finished and move on to sauna night with the guys... Maybe now they'll realize they have to do something about it.
There is an interesting name in the Ässät U20 team: Aki Juusela. 20-year-old winger with some nice stats. He played 15 games in Ässät (3+2=5) and 32 games in Ässät U20 (32+21=53). His development has been steady for the past few years, I reckon he'll get a real shot next year in FEL.
You also may want to check Borna Rendulic, a Croatian forward who played mostly in Ässät U20 this year (34gp, 21+28=49).
I think he will be, most likely, loaned to some Mestis club. Croatia is still not part of the EU so he counts as foreginer, unless he really has excellent training camp with senior team.
There was amazing atmosphere in the Barona tonight. Better than last years finals against HIFK.
Yeah was there today (like i should living under 1km from the arena.) and the atmosphere was something else it usually is in Länäri.
Was one amazing game to follow live. Had all the ups and downs, multiple times.
Awesome job by Blues!! Also, Pelicans was losing the series 1-3 and won just now the 7th game 3-2 and the series 4-3. First time in their club history, they are in the top 4.
Glad Blues and Pelicans won, playoffs jsut got a lot more interesting.
Also I'm very impressed with Juuso Ikonen. He is already the most creative forward in Blues and at times he even looked dominating. Could have had couple assist again but thanks to our great captain Kähkönen's stone hands he didn't. I might jump on the Ikonen bandwagon.
KalPa should build their team also for the playoffs. Team has too much mickeymouses. Congrats to Blues making impossible possible.
If Jokerit can't make it to the end..I hope for Pelicans or Blues taking the Kanada Malja.
JYP-Jokerit: Jokerit having slight edge when Vatanen is out but this is close series. Both teams has rested. JYP with home advantage is a plus. Jokerit has good 5player defensive system and better role players. Goaltending shouldn't be a problem for both teams. But still many questionmarks. First game might tell us more. 50-50.
Pelicans - Blues: Tired teams goes against each other. Pelicans have better firepower but Blues has better defense. Could the goaltending become a factor in the series? Both teams have great coaching. 60-40 to Pelicans.
Also I'm very impressed with Juuso Ikonen. He is already the most creative forward in Blues and at times he even looked dominating. Could have had couple assist again but thanks to our great captain Kähkönen's stone hands he didn't. I might jump on the Ikonen bandwagon.
His only flaw now is his size. Even that won't be a problem if he can get stronger since he doesn't seem to get overpowered as much as I expected.
His only flaw now is his size. Even that won't be a problem if he can get stronger since he doesn't seem to get overpowered as much as I expected.
According to wiki he is 170cm, can that be right? Is he really that short.
No idea what's up with Finland producing these players that are below the average height than the population.
I am so ecstatic that both Blues and Pelicans won (or more so that Kärpät lost). Hoping for a Jokerit-Blues final. As a Jokerit fan I would be obviously pulling for them, but I wouldn't mind seeing Blues finally winning the championship.
EDIT: How did Blues make history last season btw? Becoming the first team in SM-liiga making it to the finals through the "wild card" series?
Last edited by Jeepers Creeper: 04-02-2012 at 03:47 PM.
