Europe, the continent that has given much of our nation’s cultural heritage, makes one think about the ol’ ancestral homeland. Whether it be about what brought our ancestors to our present home or what life may have been like in these native lands before they left. I know some of my ancestors moved here because they didn’t want to be conscripted in the Czar’s army during the Russo-Japanese War. However for many, including those European-born men who decide to cross the ocean to play in the NHL its all about opportunity. Yet it isn’t that way for everyone. Not all European hockey players get that chance for NHL stardom much the same way it is here in North America, but there is a pretty nice consolation prize by playing in their home leagues. Not only are they warmly recieved by raucous crowds, even if the arenas are not quite as big as the NHL but they can live the comfortable life of a professional athlete. The NHL has tried to reward the contributions of European hockey nations by bringing regular season NHL games to them so they can see their local stars once again. It wasn’t that long ago that rumors were floating about the NHL was possibly considering expansion to Europe but I think its safe to say that idea has been tossed into the circular file for good (thankfully).
Minnesota is probably simply hoping for a fresh start which seems odd to say when you consider it is the season opener but for the Wild the pre-season has been painful and long. After going 0-4-2 where in its first two games it was outscored 10 to 1, and then suffering two shootout losses to the Flyers and Blue Jackets’ respectively Minnesota has not played well at all. Upper management has noted it, Wild Head Coach Todd Richards has noted it. In someways the trip to Europe may be precisely what the Wild need to get their mind off of their struggles and perhaps find some much-needed chemistry in order to get out to a good start. The pre-season is almost done, just one more challenge or opportunity depending on how you look at it remains. A game against Finnish Elite League (Sm-Liiga) opponent Ilves Tampere. It is the last “no worries” game for the Wild for the 2010-11 season. Last night, the Wild got a taste of its future when it watched a game between HIFK Helsinki and Assat also of the Sm-Liiga as the brass got a live look at its 1st round pick from this summer, Mikael Granlund play for HIFK. You have to hand it to the pint-sized Finnish forward, he sure knows the right time to impress as he tallied a goal and 3 assists in a 11-2 rout of Assat. Granlund’s goal coming off the re-direction of a shot from the point. In a post-game interview, Granlund didn’t seem to have the Wild on his mind as he said his focus is on playing for HIFK Helsinki and from a team perspective that’s good to see; yet you’d think he’d be a bit more excited since he had to know the Wild were watching his every move. Yet excitement and Finns is often a rarely spoken combination.
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After a weekend spent practicing in an arena that is part cave and some relaxing time in a classic Finnish sauna cabin the Wild will attempt to ready itself mentally and physically to play against an unfamiliar opponent on a sheet of ice that is larger than they are used to. Ilves will be just as unfamiliar with the Wild, so Head Coach Juha Puajoja and Assistant Coach Raimo Helminen will have their work cut out for them as they attempt to prepare their team to play a team that (on paper) is far more talented than their own lineup. Apart from a few Canadians on Ilves’ roster, most have little to no North American hockey experience. The few European-born players that have North American experience on Ilves are led by veteran goaltender Jani Hurme who had his NHL career cut short by a knee injury while playing with the Atlanta Thrashers. Assistant captain and left winger Masi Marjamaki played in just 1 NHL game with the New York Islanders back in 2005-06, but had a few seasons playing in the Western Hockey League in Canada splitting his time between the Red Deer Rebels and Moose Jaw Warriors. While Ilves’ defenseman Nils Backstrom (not related to Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom) has no NHL experience, the former 9th round selection of the Detroit Red Wings (290th Overall in 2004) has North American experience after playing for four years at the University of Alaska-Anchorage. The last Ilves player of note is the presence of former 1st round pick of the Edmonton Oilers (15th Overall in 2002) in NHL bust Jesse Niinimaki where he has had moderately more success in the Sm-Liiga. Puajoja and Helminen (who once played for the Minnesota North Stars) will hope to use all of the extra 3000 sq. feet of ice to offset the Wild’s superior size and strength.
Minnesota has made a notable roster move of its own recently, by signing free agent goaltender Jose Theodore to a 1-year, $1.1 million deal. However, the Wild will not see Theodore dress in a Wild uniform while they’re in Finland. Theodore will have a conditioning stint with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate the Houston Aeros. I think the move to sign Theodore is a smart one; as he is a capable goaltender who has plenty of NHL experience and if anything profound happens to Niklas Backstrom he is more than comfortable in the starting role. It also should be noted, if Backstrom struggles the team will probably not wait long to give Theodore a shot in his place. I think ownership and management has made it clear they want to turn the downward spiral down in a hurry. Pressure certainly is on Wild head coach Todd Richards and an abysmal start in Finland has some Wild fans hoping the team lets the axe fall on his job as soon as the team lands back in Minneapolis. How things have changed, when a year ago the Wild recieved rave reviews for embracing a coach promising an up-tempo offensively focused system. The drama around the Wild aside, the team should have defenseman Cam Barker and Brent Burns available for tomorrow (late morning) game, but will likely be without Guillaume Latendresse. No matter what the Wild better be ready to work, and it should do whatever it can to build some confidence because the pre-season thus far has more or less hollowed that out.
Ilves Tampere roster:
Goaltenders:
#1 James Wilkinson – 5’8″, 156lbs
#31 Ville Kolppanen – 6’0″, 191lbs
#35 Jani Hurme – 6’0″, 198lbs
#74 Sami Kallio Aittojarvi – 6’1″, 172lbs
Defenseman:
#3 Konsta Makinen – 5’7″, 152lbs
#5 Nils Backstrom – 6’0″, 209lbs
#6 Jyrki Jokipakka – 6’0″, 176lbs
#8 Niko Peltola – 6’1″, 176lbs
#9 Markus Vastila – 5’8″, 161lbs
#12 Ville Laine – 5’9″, 176lbs
#23 Antti Bruun – 6’0″, 192lbs
#44 Ryan Glenn – 6’1″, 209lbs
#55 Teemu Kesa – 6’0″, 212lbs
#81 Arto Tukio (A) – 6’0″, 194lbs
Forwards:
#10 Matias Myttenen – 6’1″, 187lbs
#11 Jesse Niinimaki – 6’2″, 198lbs
#15 Masa Marjamaki (A)- 6’1″, 205lbs
#18 Henry Tuominen – 6’1″, 176lbs
#19 Kai Kantola – 6’1″, 176lbs
#20 Ville Korhonen – 6’0″, 196lbs
#21 Teemu Huhtala – 5’8″, 165lbs
#22 Mark Lee – 5’9″, 183lbs
#25 Toni Rajala – 5’8″, 163lbs
#27 Tommi Valimaa – 6’4″, 185lbs
#29 Matias Sointu – 5’7″, 181lbs
#40 Patrik Moisio – 6’0″, 165lbs
#42 Henrik Sandvik – 5’7″, 161lbs
#51 Pasi Maatanen (C) – 5’8″, 187lbs
#61 Marko Antilla – 6’6″, 231lbs
#71 Michael Keranen – 5’8″, 154lbs
#85 Jarkko Pellinen – 5’7″, 165lbs
#88 Joonas Rask – 5’9″, 170lbs
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