Head coach Jukka Jalonen wanted the Devils’ versatile veteran striker for his last World Cup to strengthen Leijon. However, Erik Haula’s decision was negative.
After an excellent last season, the veteran center of the New Jersey Devils wrapped up his season already after the NHL regular season Erik Haula33, was among the players that the head coach, who is preparing for his last World Cup Jukka Jalonen especially hoped to strengthen the Finnish team to Prague. Jalonen made this clear in an interview with Urheilu a couple of weeks ago. Haula was offered a giant screen, especially as a top-class understrength expert.
For example, Haula would have been available due to his contract situation, but his decision about the three-week World Cup assignment was ultimately negative. Haula justifies her decision e.g. announced by their employers’ association in a video interview.
He says that family, i.e. his wife, his three-year-old firstborn son, and his baby boy, who was born just two months ago, now come first.
– We are living a busy time at home now, and it would be a hard decision to leave for three weeks. I wouldn’t be able to help the team 100 percent and I don’t want to play in that situation.
A harsh experience in Minsk
The only time Haula has represented Finland at the World Championships was in the spring of 2014, the head coach was also in his last games then, i.e. Erkka Westerlund and Haula’s club is still the Minnesota Wild. That’s when Finland’s games ended in Minsk with a final defeat against Russia, and Haula’s in a particularly harsh way, when the Pittsburgh star Yevgeny Malkin the transverse club caused the man from Pori to break his jawbone and suffer a genuine concussion. Haula last played for Leijon in the fall 2016 World Cup. He is still among the candidates, including the next head coach Antti Pennanen assemble a team for the 2025 four-nation NHL national team tournament and the 2026 Olympic tournament.
Until now, Haula’s season in the NHL had ended without playoffs only in the 2018-2019 season.
The injury is being investigated
According to Urheilu, Haula also suffered an injury at the end of the regular season, which will be investigated in New Jersey before the player is released for the summer vacation. Haula’s family will settle in Minnesota in the second half of May, where the attacker is familiar with doing his summer training with a group of top professionals.
Among the Finnish NHL veterans, he has excelled many times in the World Cup Mikael Granlund According to Urheilu, at least he is seriously considering a trip to Prague. The season of his team San Jose Sharks also ended in the regular season.
In the near future, Haula will also be able to marvel at Prague’s Gothic architectural wonders, as the Devils’ 2024-2025 NHL season starts in the Czech capital.