Best Finnish Ice Hockey Players: Europeans in NHL

Finnish hockey is very closely related to Russian, and it’s not because of the geographical proximity. It was the Finnish team, especially in the 90s of the last century, that spoiled the nerves of Russian fans a lot. Russians lost to the Finns so often that journalists even invented a special concept of the “Finnish complex”. And they immediately began to offer recipes for how to deal with it. It was alleged that the Russians, having learned about the upcoming match with the Finns, psychologically “burn out” and were defeated even before the game.  In this article, we decided to talk about the best Finnish ice hockey players. So without further ado, let’s jump right in!

Best Finnish Ice Hockey Players: Jari Kurri

One of the most talented hockey players of the 1980s-90s in the world in general. The first 3 years of his professional career Jari spent at home in Helsinki, playing for the local Jokerit. And only the 1979/80 season can explain why the Finn got into the NHL. Back then, European players in the North American league were rare (and they were almost always Swedish), but 39 points in 33 games would impress anyone! And in his debut season for the Oilers from Edmonton, he proved that the Canadians made the right choice. 75 games 75 points. He also scored 12 points in the playoffs. Although he played only 5 matches! And now he is the general manager of the KHL club Jokerit. 

The Excellent Skater Teemu Selanne

Looking at Teemu Selanne’s first season in the NHL, it’s easy to see why his  nickname was the Finnish Flash. No one made their debut in the league so brightly. And no one’s appearance had such a stunning effect on others, as this kid from Helsinki. 76 goals and 132 points scored forever entered Teemu in the history of the league. A result that he was never destined to repeat. After four seasons in Manitoba, the Jets were forced to trade one of their best players to Anaheim due to financial problems. It was in the then “mighty ducks” that Selanne became the best sniper in the league for two years in a row. But this did not save him from a new exchange.

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After playing three and a half seasons away from California without much success, after the lockout, he returned to Anaheim, in which he won the Stanley Cup in 2007. In 2008, Teemu practically retired from hockey but found the strength and motivation to continue his career. He signed a contract with the Ducks until the end of the season. There, he scored 23 points in 26 matches. He still plays for Anaheim. But most likely this season will be the last in the career of the magnificent Teemu. He is the best scorer in the history of Finnish hockey and is currently 15th among the most scoring players in league history.

Greatest Finnish Hockey Players Ever: Saku Koivu

Saku Koivu’s career was not easy from the very beginning. After a good debut season (45 points in 82 matches), in each of the subsequent ones he received serious injuries. But at the same time managed to remain among the club’s top scorers. Perhaps, seeing the stubbornness and iron character of this seemingly slender boy, the management of Montreal had no doubts about appointing him captain after only four years on the team. So Koivu forever inscribed himself in the history of the club, becoming the first European captain in the almost 100-year history of the Canadiens. The captain’s patch did not bring him luck. Three operations (one on the shoulder and two on the knees), but the worst was yet to come. 

In September 2001, Saku was diagnosed with cancer of the lymphatic system. And he had to miss almost the entire season. It was with the return of Koivu to the ice at the very end of the regular season that one of the most touching moments in the history of Montreal is connected. The audience gave Saku, hairless after chemotherapy, a ten-minute standing ovation at the home arena. Koivu helped the team to perform successfully in the playoffs. And at the end of the season, he became the owner of the Bill Masterton Trophy.

Then there were six more seasons in Canada, separated by a lockout, a new series of injuries – serious and not so much. And after 13 years in Montreal, Koivu joined his friend Teemu Selanne in Anaheim. 22bet Sportsbook offers the best odds for all the hockey tournaments. Also, check out the online sportsbook sites in Finland before placing your bets.

The Best Defenseman Kimmo Timonen

​​Probably the best Finnish defense player ever. It is difficult for a defender to compete with the forwards in points performance. But, oddly enough, Timonen could do it! 1108 games in the NHL, 571 points. Not every striker scored that much! One of the best defenders of our time, the highest-paid Finnish NHL player, two-time All-Star Game. And two more times he was unable to play due to injuries. Timonen was selected 250th overall in the 1993 draft by Los Angeles. But in the end, Timonen never played a single game for the Kings. 

After spending eight seasons in Nashville, Timonen set the record for most assists in team history with 222 assists. Unfortunately, due to the lack of prospects to win the Stanley Cup with Nashville, Kimmo did not sign a contract with the Predators. With the Flyers, Timonen signed a 6-year contract with a salary of $37.5M. He is the highest-paid player in Philadelphia. As the online sportsbook news in Finland states, in total, he took part in 812 games during his career, scoring 427 points. And don’t forget to bet on your favorite hockey team by visiting 22bet Sportsbook.

Best Finnish Ice Hockey Players: Jere Lehtinen

After playing enough in Europe and becoming the world champion in 1995 as part of the Finnish team, Lehtinen went to conquer the NHL. Drafted by the now-defunct Minnesota North Stars, he arrived at Dallas and immediately made it to the main roster. In three years, he went from rookie to first-line player and earned an invitation to the All-Star Game. And a year later he won his first Selke Trophy – the award for the best defensive forward. The 1998/99 season was not only the best in Lehtinen’s career (52 points, another Selke Trophy) but also the most successful in the history of the stars. It was on account of Jere’s assist to Brett Hull, after which the winning goal was scored in the final series with Buffalo, as well as 10 goals in 23 matches scored on his own.

 A year later, he and the team again reached the Stanley Cup final. This time Dallas lost to New Jersey. And three years later, Lehtinen entered the elite club of three-time winners of the prize for the best defensive plan forward, which also includes Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau. After the 2004/05 lockout, he had another good season, tying his personal best in scoring, but then age and injuries took their toll. And regressing statistically for four years in a row, Lehtinen retired from the NHL, retiring second among Finns in terms of career utility.

Best Finnish Ice Hockey Players: Miikka Kiprusoff

Miikka, who started his NHL career in San Jose, twice lost the competition for a place in the lineup. First for the position of the main goalkeeper of the Sharks, Evgeny Nabokov. And then compatriot Vesa Toskala ousted him from the bench. But there is no harm without good. It was in Calgary that he became one of the best goalkeepers in the NHL in recent years. Immediately after moving to Canada, he became the best player of the month. And even the injury did not prevent him from earning a nomination for the best goaltender in the league. 

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He showed himself even more clearly at the end of the regular season, together with the team stopping just one step away from the Stanley Cup, leaving his gate intact in five games during the playoffs. Having rested for a year due to the lockout, he gave out his best season. A new club record for the number of wins, a Hart nomination, and a well-deserved Vezina Trophy. Four years in a row, Miikka helped his team reach the playoffs. But they not only failed to repeat the success of six years ago but even made it past the first round. Kiprusoff played nearly twice as many NHL games as his closest rivals and became the first Finnish goaltender in league history to win a Stanley Cup playoff game.