The coaching game going on behind the scenes took a completely new turn, which could have far-reaching consequences, writes journalist Jussi Paasi.
The next Puhe Ice Hockey Tour is on Friday 4 November. from 6 p.m. NHL match Columbus–Colorado to be played in Tampere. In the SM league, the matches HPK–SaiPa, JYP–Ilves, Kärpät–KalPa, Pelicans–KooKoo, Sport–Tappara, TPS–HIFK.
– It’s funny, after all.
Top Nättinenit is easy to agree with the words of the former ice hockey player, now an expert.
The same, the chair game that has been going on for years is here again.
Only about a third of the ice hockey championship league season has been played, but right now the last coaching badges for next season are being handed out. Of course, what makes the situation funny is that, as a coach of a league club, you may find yourself in a situation where you will face your future employer in the deciding matches of the spring.
Many players are also in the same mess, because their contracts will be sealed well in advance. The clubs’ key positions are usually locked around the national team break in November.
The current state serves no one. At worst, it leads far away from the core of the sport, if the thoughts of a player or coach who moves to the opponent’s ranks run away during the rest of the season in the direction of the next payer.
A player may be able to keep his focus, but it is practically impossible for a coach: he has to be closely involved in building his next team, i.e. the current opponent.
On November 2, the ice hockey round discussed the SC league coach roulette.
However, the coaching game going on behind the scenes took a completely new turn this autumn, when Iltalehti reports (you switch to another service) Tappara hired a Swede as their head coach next season Rikard Grönborgin.
Of course, the appearance of a black horse does not eliminate the problem described above, but for the first time in years I found myself getting excited about the coach news. It seemed confusing, because I think the SM league is far too coach-oriented.
Read also: Rikard Grönborg, who is rumored to be in the NHL, is about to take the helm of Tappara – the expert believes that it may be easier for a foreigner
I got excited because I think Grönborg is exactly what the men’s ice hockey major league has been looking for in a coach for a long time. If – hopefully when – IL’s news is true, next season we will get things that are needed in every area of life in the SM league.
An outside view. A different approach. A challenger to conventional ways.
The last time a foreign head coach was seen in the SM league was in the 2008–09 season. There’s nothing really surprising about that.
Finnish ice hockey is strongly national team oriented. Lions succeed Jukka Jalonen with a golden recipe that is also copied in the SM league. It is understandable. Up-and-coming Finnish coaching talents aim at the helm of the national team, and the players strive to join the blue-white gold train.
When everyone implements almost the same formula, uniformity is guaranteed. The chances of success in international tournaments are therefore excellent. Today, Leijonat is a downright dumb winning machine.
Despite that, club hockey should be much more than just the national team’s game and regular rink.
In an ideal situation, the SM league would have clubs with significantly different game identities. It would create more tension between the teams, diversify the sport for spectators and perhaps offer completely new perspectives on hockey.
Grönborg is expected to bring a style that clearly breaks the prevailing consensus of the SM league to Tappara. I really hope that happens. It would be in everyone’s interest. Too much similarity is always boring and stupid in the end.
The black horse of the chair game can at best bring far-reaching consequences.
The next Puhe Ice Hockey Tour is on Friday 4 November. from 6 p.m. NHL match Columbus–Colorado to be played in Tampere. In the SM league, the matches HPK–SaiPa, JYP–Ilves, Kärpät–KalPa, Pelicans–KooKoo, Sport–Tappara, TPS–HIFK.