The changes in Colorado’s goaltending department became the talk of the week. Colorado was not satisfied with only superficial changes, but changed the whole package at once. Only rarely do clubs go on a rampage in the middle of the season to replace the entire goalkeeper package.
Justus Annunen got to go to nashville, Alexander Georgiev to San Jose. A replacement was obtained from Nashville Scott Wedgewood and from San Jose Mackenzie Blackwood. What is special about the new duo is that they have a total of only three playoff experience. Blackwood hasn’t played a minute in the playoffs.
– From there you can see that Colorado has conceded 105 goals in 30 matches, ‘s hockey expert Ismo Lehkonen give a laugh.
– It didn’t come as a terrible surprise that changes are being made.
The pressure will inevitably increase on the team’s Finnish goalkeeper coach as well Jussi Parkkilan around. Parkkila’s duties include getting the goalie department up and running.
– No one guessed at the beginning of the season that they would have to do something like this. Georgiev just couldn’t catch the rhythm. In baseball terms, it felt like he got a plate scare. Annune was made to suffer first. And there’s no need to worry about Justus, he will become an NHL goalie, assures Lehkonen.
Lehkonen believes that Colorado’s cashier department is now in better shape.
– Colorado made very good decisions. At least Wedgewood seems like a calm, experienced guy who doesn’t startle a little.
Who surprised
Minnesota is one of the sensations of the current season. Last season, the Wild didn’t make the playoffs, but now leads the league with the best point percentage (75%) in the series by far. by John Hynes the team he is piloting is in a frenzy, especially when playing five against five.
Minnesota has conceded the fewest goals in the series and its 5-5 goal difference is plus 37 hits.
– There is no one who would have been able to say during the season that after 30 games, Minnesota is at the top of the league. Here is a team whose disciplined style of play is followed by every player. On the other hand, there is also enough artistry. The team spirit seems to be excellent, says Lehkonen.
Minnesota has held on to its identity, which was created already in the previous decades captain Mikko Koivun under. The team game always comes first. Kirill in Kaprizov the club has an absolute superstar on its hands for the first time ever in the club’s history.
At least they give support to Kaprizov in the artist section Mats Zuccarello and Brock Faber.
– There are echoes of old Minnesota here. They’ve always been a bloody disgusting team to play against and they still are. This gang has been playing Dunar ice hockey for ages. They defend well and through that comes attacking. Everything is left to the game every night. We also talk about the top team in sports.
Who cheated
Can’t surprise Buffalo in this category. The speeches at the end of the season were beautiful as usual, and after all, a familiar new head coach who has experienced everything had been acquired behind the bench Lindy Ruff. Once again, this was supposed to be the season Buffalo regained its glory after a 13-game playoff drought.
Yeah, yeah.
There are currently eight losses in a row and the previous win was on November 23rd. Undisciplined and poorly defending, Buffalo is once again falling out of the playoff bracket early. If the old signs hold their itch, during the “garbage time” of spring, the team will take a resultless streak close to the playoff line, which will again allow us to sit back and wait for the coming fall.
– You can’t get anywhere in this series by working part-time. That team doesn’t look like they’re serious in any area. I think this is always Buffalo’s year, but they always find ways to lose. Absolutely incomprehensible, when there are still good players in the team, Lehkonen says in Finnish.
Over the years, Buffalo has tried with numerous different coaches. Ruff represents the old union, but there was a humanist in the team previously, for example, known as a Swedish debater Ralph Krueger. Regardless of the coach, the end result has always been the same and it seems it will be again.
– Ruff has lost his miles. He looks quite calm there behind the bench. Maybe he asks more these days, if the guys would be willing to do the work. It can be said quite frankly that everyday life in that club is not okay. It just can’t be. The level of demand among players is nowhere near there.
Finnish goal of the week
One of the feel-good stories of the week was related to Utah Juuso Välimäki. After a difficult fall, Välimäki, who was also sitting in the stands, has clearly gained some fangs and courage in his game in recent matches. At the same time, results have also started to come in. The balance of the previous six matches is recorded as 2+1 and +3. At the same time, the responsibility has started to increase again.
Välimäki’s expressions after the goals tell a great way of genuine joy.
– The successes are good news both for the Finnish national team in terms of the winter tournament and for the player himself. Certainly, things have been thought through quite carefully in the stands and discussed with the coach. Now he has dared to attack again and increase the risk factor a bit. If you don’t take risks, you won’t achieve anything, Lehkonen sees.
Välimäki has sought his identity at the NHL level. The last matches have been moving in the right direction in this regard.
– The sooner a player in the NHL develops a self-image, the better. Välimäki is not a flat cap basic bone, but a physical defender of the second basket. Now there is clearly an increased risk in the spirit of fire or clay. Great to see.
What next
In the coming weeks, Lehkonen will be watching with interest what kind of buzz starts happening in the player market. Usually, the business only picks up around February-March, but the seasoned puck man believes that this season, the start of business will happen earlier.
– For some, the kiosk is already open. Nashville and the Rangers are crisis clubs worth watching. There are quite good players in both. Seattle is a team with good players. Where will their story go? Then there is Pittsburgh, Detroit and Buffalo as well, Lehkonen lists potential sellers.
According to Lehkonen, shopping pants are just an arm’s length away for many.
– There are teams that lack, for example, a first or second center or a play-making defender. Some people who crave success may need more bottom chains. Toronto, Carolina, Dallas, Colorado, Vegas, Edmonton are certainly clubs where the GM works around the clock in this regard as well.
The transfer window in the NHL closes on March 7, 2025.
– There is no need to wait until then for big bangs this year, assures Lehkonen.