When thinking about the Finnish surprises of the NHL season that has started, two names stand out above the rest: Arizona’s Ilves-backed duo Matias Maccelli22, and Juuso Välimäki24.
Maccelli played well in the AHL last season, but the expectations for the starting season were still moderate.
Välimäki, on the other hand, started the season in Calgary, where he had drifted badly on the outside corner. Välimäki was not the head coach Darryl Sutter’s plans, so the situation came to a dead end. Välimäki practically did not play anywhere, but followed the games of the NHL team from the stands for about a year and a half.
In October, Calgary finally released Välimäki by placing him on the transfer list, where any team could grab the Finnish defenseman for free. Arizona did not miss this opportunity.
When the first quarter of the season has almost been played, the Finnish duo of the coyote pack has emerged spectacularly in the desert. Maccelli leads the scoring market for newcomers and Välimäki, who hungrily joined Arizona, has quickly become the top defender of his team.
Urheilu’s ice hockey expert Ismo Lehkonen gives Arizona a commendable rating for capturing Välimäki, as he also gives Välimäki.
– Arizona could have made a big heist here, damn it! Lehkonen laughs.
– After a difficult time in Calgary, the guy has jumped in nicely, and if I don’t really give ten, then nine and a half from the start in the new club. There, many clubs might think, what the hell. Välimäki is a guy with size and skill and he doesn’t play any Hitchcock there, Lehkonen refers to the defender’s reliability.
We highlighted three themes from the Finns’ early season.
1. Soap-Maccelli
Matias Maccelli is the absolute comet of Arizona’s early season. In the team’s internal point exchange, only the number one striker With Clayton Keller has more power points than Maccell (1+9) in his account. Behind the power points, there is even an exceptionally fast adaptation process to a small rink for a young player.
Where many young people are looking for themselves and how to utilize their strengths in the world’s toughest league, Maccelli has been able to bring his strengths to the NHL bowl at a fast pace. The player who got his puck education in Turku and broke through in Tampere hasn’t had to change his game much.
– Many people struggle with their self-image, but it has become stronger for him. He sticks to what kind of player he is. And he still hasn’t started out there as a tomboy. Matias even plays surprisingly high-quality winning hockey. That is an important consideration, because he had difficulties with this in Finland when he was younger, Lehkonen states.
The best part of Maccelli’s game has been the numerous insightful passes with which he has released his teammates into open goal posts. With sharper finishing, the Finnish attacker would have more assists on his account. In two games last weekend alone, Maccelli created many scoring opportunities.
Lehkonen talks about the smooth-moving winger as Saippua-Maccelli.
– He is not a speed machine, but his skating is technically versatile and smooth. When there is skill in the hands, the eye stays up and the passing skill is good, it enables high-quality play and that he does not run into bombs there, Lehkonen sees.
On the other hand, Maccelli is still learning how to play, especially five on five. A few risks on the blue lines have materialized into counterattacks towards their own goal. It is an area of the game that the youngster must develop. The second is finishing.
– He hasn’t been played particularly hard yet. I still believe there won’t be any problems even when he starts getting more attention. He will establish his place as an NHL player there. He gives a great message to our young people, how to play a believable game in the NHL rush hour bus through movement and passing skills.
2. Välimäki’s hunger
Behind Juuso Välimäki’s new arrival, the first thing that emerges is the hardness of the mental side. The talented Ilves coach had been sidelined from NHL games for about a year and a half. Last season, Välimäki played only nine games, but when the opportunity in Arizona opened up, he was ready. This says a lot about Välimäki’s maturity as a person and athlete.
After coming to Arizona, Välimäki has quickly become the top defender of his team. This assessment is also supported by statistics. Välimäki is Arizona’s only defenseman with a plus (+2) power stat, and the only pack whose advanced stats from goaltending to goaltending are all above 50 percent.
Five power points have been generated in thirteen matches (1+4).
– He came really determinedly to the first games. He knew he had to use this opportunity and he has used it. I think he understands how difficult it is to become an NHL defenseman and he has prepared himself accordingly. Now it’s just a matter of continuing to maintain the level at which he started in Arizona, says Lehkonen.
Välimäki’s strengths are related to quality basic play. He is not Cale Makarin like a puck maestro, but nevertheless a game-opener that melts out of his hands and a lineman in the possession game. And Välimäki doesn’t hesitate to jump into the attacks boldly when a place opens up.
On the other hand, Välimäki defends in his own area with a high-quality active stick and otherwise solidly in front of the goal, shutting out the opponent’s playing equipment. In the same exchange against Rangers, there were two examples of this.
Välimäki will continue to have responsibility, but Lehkonen also reminds us to be calm.
– His corner is able to play the basic game with really high quality. You definitely want to try bigger things, but you can’t force Makar things from exchange to exchange. You have to enjoy the moment, the place in the second lap and so on, it’s just good at this point. He is undeniably a good defender, but there is still time for his best years, Lehkonen points out.
– It’s about patience to develop the thing piece by piece. He has a good physique, but skating and puck operation can be improved, offensive plays in the offensive zone and others to that side. For him, it’s all about ice level operation anymore. They say that you don’t have to reliably play big minutes until you’re 28.
3. The game of superiority
Arizona is one of the weakest teams in the league in the 5-5 game, but the superiority game, which operated with almost 30 percent power, has given the group oxygen to do. The Finns have also played a big role in this, even though the two only operate in the second formation. Only from Finns Mikko Rantase (11) has more superiority points than Maccelli (7).
Maccelli is ranked 23rd in the league’s statistics for superiority points. Four of Välimäki’s five points are from the superiority game.
Maccelli’s scheming and excellent passing skills are best achieved with superiority, and Välimäki’s line operation has not been criticized for that either. Over the weekend, the duo managed one hit and created a few good scoring chances.
So you should keep an eye on this Finnish duo in the future.
– If Maccelli is able to keep that level for another 30-40 games, he will make it a pretty tough thing, if he doesn’t start cheating, Lehkonen promises.