Eeli Tolvanen the coach of Seattle, who got into their ranks Dave Hakstol was the first to highlight the player’s shot. Of course. Tolvanen, who charmed in the Jokers and the national team a few years ago, is known above all for his shot and scoring potential.
However, the potential has not been realized at the NHL level.
After moving up to the NHL more regularly in the 2020–2021 season, Tolvanen finished with a promising 11 goals in 40 games in the first season, but has finally scored only 24 goals in 128 games in two and a half seasons. The numbers don’t lie in this case either.
The situation began to drift into a dead end once and for all during the autumn. Tolvanen started the season well by scoring three points (1+2) in the first three matches, but ended up drifting out of the playing lineup for weeks.
– After all, there has been a lot of thinking about why it happened. I got off to a good start in the beginning and had some successes. When we returned to North America after the games played in Europe, it really felt like now this hockey is working again. Then I played a couple of worse games, and that was followed by standing command, Tolvanen recounting the events of the fall for Urheilu.
– After that I only got one more game in the top chain. At the end, there were mainly four chain jobs on offer. Otherwise, it was one game in the lineup and five out. There was just no chance to show.
It goes without saying that the situation was heavy on the player’s state of mind.
– It was a difficult situation. On the day of the game, you go skating by yourself and do extra work with the coaches so that you are ready when the opportunity arises. When that thing stretches from a week to two and two to three, and you don’t play, it starts to weigh you down.
In the end, the club decided to trigger the situation.
Nashville had to quickly call up defenders from the farm due to injuries. It meant that someone had to go to the farm, because an NHL team can have 23 players at the same time. It was decided to send Tolvanen, who had been sitting outside the playing lineup for a long time anyway.
According to protocol, Tolvanen was put on the transfer list because of the farm command. From that list, other teams can pick up a player for free within 24 hours. The team with the lowest point average gets the first round.
If no one takes the player, he continues his journey to the farm.
Tolvanen’s relief came in the 23rd reserve shift, when the Seattle Kraken, who played a great early season, decided to give the Finnish winger a chance.
– No one wants to be on the transfer list, but maybe it’s now a good time for me. I was stuck in Nashville and couldn’t get the role I wanted. Then we just waited to see where I would end up. The feeling was a relief that I now have a new start. Sometimes it requires it, although it was nice in Nashville, the team was good and there were a lot of Finns there.
– However, we are here in America for hockey, so work comes first. To me, this new beginning is important, so it’s good that the club changed, Tolvanen underlines.
The paint taps must be opened
In terms of the continuation of Tolvanen’s NHL career, the new club faces the same questions as before: what kind of player will he profile as in the NHL? Are the skating, physics and other features enough to play the score unit?
Tolvanen is considered specifically as a goal scorer, but in the NHL, he is still lacking in this regard.
On the other hand, Tolvanen has improved in his overall playing. The player himself says that he is now more physical than before and that he even enjoys a more physical game. It may still be that the path to a longer NHL career in Tolvanen’s case goes through the top rather than the bottom chain.
One way or another, Tolvanen would have to find ways to score goals at the NHL level.
– Of course, I want to be a player in the scoring unit who scores points and helps the team win. I’ve always been like that, and it hasn’t changed at all. When you think about scoring, there is less space in a small rink, so the shot has to go faster. We also have to find the space to shoot, Tolvanen states.
– In North America, shots are also blocked a lot, so you have to be able to get the puck to the goal. I’ve also had the feeling that you always have to shoot the puck in through the top bar. It doesn’t have to be that way. As long as you get the pucks to the goal, they will start to bounce in, Tolvanen believes.
In his new club, Tolvanen starts off moderately.
– I’m just going to play healthy hockey. It’s nice to be able to play to my strengths again and enjoy the game.
– Seattle is certainly a good team for itself in the sense that this is a consistent young team with no superstars. Here, all chains have produced results, so it doesn’t matter which chain I play in, Tolvanen concludes.
Seattle will next play on the night between Thursday and Friday, Finnish time, as a guest of the Carolina Hurricanes. Seattle is second behind Vegas in the Pacific Division. You can see the NHL standings at this link.