Silly Season 2009, part I

This is the Silly Season recap I promised, only a day late. I tried a couple of different formats for this post before settling for four lists, each with distinct purpose. The first one includes all players signed from Finland by NHL clubs. The second list includes all prospects signed by Finnish clubs. These lists also have some background for each transfer.

The last two lists, former prospects signed by Finnish clubs and former prospects signed by foreign clubs from Finland and simply lists of players without much context, I just didn’t think most readers would care. If you have any questions, I’m happy to answer them.

Prospects signed by NHL clubs

4/25 - Joonas Lehtivuori, Ilves → Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers signed their fourth round pick from 2006 to a three-year entry-level deal. Lehtivuori had a rather difficult year after his breakout in 2007-08. He suffered a hand injury in September and never quite returned to the level he was on before that. Hopefully he’ll bounce back in the AHL, he has the tools to be a second PP unit quarterback in the NHL one day.

5/21 – Ilkka Heikkinen, HIFK → New York Rangers

Heikkinen was never drafted, but has had reasonable success in SM-liiga ever since making his breakthrough in 2005-06. As his points totals from the past four years – 15, 24, 37, 34 – suggest, he’s an offensive defenseman who excels on the powerplay. He also has a nice frame (6’2″, 200 lbs.) and likes to hit. His contract, as obligated by the CBA, is a one-year, entry-level deal.

5/26 – Ryan Keller, Blues → Ottawa Senators

Keller only had one year of AHL experience when he came to Finland, but during his two years at Espoo, he proved to be one of the most lethal offensive weapons of SM-liiga. He’s a natural sniper, but has developed into a much more complete package during his time in Finland. He might not make the Senators team out of camp, but I fully expect him to see NHL action next year.

5/29 – Alexander Salak, TPS → Florida Panthers

Salak first came to Finland in August 2006 to play in the second-tier league Mestis for Jokipojat (Joensuu). He was one of the best goalies of the league during 2006-07, but he was still a diamond in the rough. It took two years in the school of Urpo Ylönen to make him one of the hottest young goalies in Europe. His unorthodox style still needs some work, it’ll be interesting to see if the Panthers’ decision to go with a part-time goaltending coach has an effect on Salak’s future development.

Prospects signed by Finnish clubs

3/9 – Mikael Granlund, Kärpät → HIFK

Granlund is one of the best prospects Finland has ever produced, so this was a huge signing by HIFK. The sad part is that the controversy around Granlund’s contract with Kärpät stole the show. There still hasn’t been an official announcement by Kärpät that they’re letting Mikael Granlund go, but the fact that HIFK already has the name of his little brother Markus on their junior site says a lot. (There will be a lot of Granlund coverage on this site (and the internet in general) during the next year, so I’ll just skip all the other things for now.)

5/4 – Juha Metsola, Lethbridge Hurricanes (CAN) → HPK

Metsola played two years in the WHL and a lot of my readers can probably tell more about his progress there than I can. I like this signing though, he should serve as a reliable backup behind Teemu Lassila and develop into a starter with the help of Jari Kaarela.

5/5 – Tommi Kivistö, Red Deer Rebels (CAN) → Jokerit

I’m not sure what to make of this. First of all, I’m thrilled to see one of my favorite prospects back in the uniform he left a year ago. Second of all, I’m happy that he might be able to recover after an abysmal (latter half of the) year. Third of all, I’m wondering why he decided to return after just one year in the WHL. Fourth of all, I’m worried that he’ll spend most of the year in the juniors, playing against sub-par opponents.

6/4 – David Leggio, Florida Everblades (USA) → TPS

Leggio replaces Salak in TPS. I don’t think I had heard his name ever before, so I’m not going to pretend that I know anything about him. Let’s just say that working with one of the best goalie coaches of the world has never done anyone anything bad.

6/22 – Joni Karjalainen, HIFK → Tappara

HIFK may have got Granlund, but they lost one of their own crown jewels. Karjalainen is a diminutive forward who has been a mainstay on all junior national teams of his age group. He’s available to be drafted this year, but I don’t think he has done enough to warrant a pick at this point. He does have a nice skillset though.

Former prospects signed by Finnish clubs

3/12 – Colby Genoway, Mora (SWE) → Ilves
4/2 – Antti-Jussi Niemi, Leksand (SWE) → Jokerit
4/6 – Tuukka Mäntylä, Frölunda (SWE) → Tappara
4/14 – Ari Ahonen, Frölunda (SWE) → KalPa
4/23 – Dale Clarke, Blues → HIFK
4/27 – Jarkko A. Immonen, SaiPa → Blues
4/30 – Justin Morrison, Hamburg Freezers (GER) → Lukko
5/5 – Esa Pirnes, Atlant Moscow Oblast (RUS) → Jokerit
5/5 – Jukka Hentunen, Ak Bars Kazan (RUS) → Jokerit
5/15 – Jakub Petruzalek, Albany River Rats (USA) → Lukko
5/19 – Jarno Kultanen, Blues → KooKoo
5/20 – Martti Järventie, Kärpät → HIFK
5/25 – Kurtis McLean, Bridgeport Sound Tigers (USA) → Lukko
6/10 – Darcy Campbell, Lake Erie Monsters (USA) → TPS
6/12 – Kamil Piros, HV-71 (SWE) → Ässät

Former prospects signed by foreign clubs

4/15 – Mikko Jokela, Jokerit → Dynamo Minsk (BLR)
4/15 – Jonas Andersson, Kärpät → Dynamo Minsk (BLR)
4/23 – Bernd Brückler, Blues → Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (RUS)
4/26 – Ville Mäntymaa, JYP → Frölunda (SWE)
5/2 – Tomas Duba, Ässät → HV Trinez (CZE)
5/3 – Tom Walsh, HIFK → Belfast Giants (GBR/NI)
5/8 – Leo Komarov, Pelicans → Dynamo Moscow (RUS)¹
5/15 – Geoff Platt, Ilves → Dynamo Minsk (BLR)
5/19 – Marko Kiprusoff, TPS → Angers (FRA)
5/26 – Toni Koivisto, Kärpät → Metallurg Magnitogorsk (RUS)
5/27 – Hannu Pikkarainen, HIFK → MoDo (SWE)
5/30 – Derek Damon, Ässät → Kassel Huskies (GER)
6/4 – Daniel Corso, Kärpät → Timrå (SWE)
6/4 – Jarkko Immonen, JYP → Ak Bars Kazan (RUS)
6/4 – Jamie Johnson, TPS → Leksand (SWE)
6/17 – Josef Boumedienne, Kärpät → Dynamo Minsk (BLR)
6/22 – Joey Tenute, Jokerit → Frankfurt Lions (GER)

Still coming this week: NHL Entry Draft 2009 preview. Stay tuned.

Footnotes
1. Ok, Komarov is not really a former prospect, but I didn’t want to make a separate list for just him…↑