Nashville does not belong to that series of NHL clubs, where the system bloats talented future star players. That is exactly why the budding breakthrough of Pärssisen, 21, is more than necessary for the club.
20:42•Updated 20:45
Juuso Pärssinen, 21, was already known as a talented hockey player at a young age, but the player from Turku has not gotten anything easy. Severe knee problems put a brake on the center forward’s career during his junior years: he ended up having three knee surgeries.
The movement and development suffered, and the Nashville Predators only signed Pärssisen three years ago in the seventh round.
However, the top hockey player of the second generation has turned the difficulties to his advantage.
Determined and tenacious, Pärssinen became a front-row player in the SM league and led Turku Palloseura in the role of first center in two consecutive springs until the final matches.
Senteri played through the SM league and moved to North America in the fall, where he started the season in the AHL with the Nashville farm team Milwaukee Admirals. Quality play, nine (2+7) power points in ten games and the difficulties of the NHL team eventually led to a quick NHL call-up.
Naps during the AHL match a couple of weeks ago were interrupted for a good reason.
– I woke up from a nap when I got a call to join the NHL. Had to play in the AHL that day. Of course, receiving such a call with a good mood, it’s a really cool thing, Pärssinen has a great day for Urheilu.
And the tough nature of the difficulties didn’t give the center forward the opportunity to go to the NHL just to participate.
– When the invitation came up, I decided not to go there to ask anything. You can’t come to the NHL just to hang out, I want to stay here. When I left for North America, the idea was that I would take an NHL spot at some point during the season. In that respect, nothing has changed. Let’s start from the fact that it’s not going down anymore, Pärssinen insists.
This is not just talk.
Pärssinen already raised his voice in his first NHL game against the New York Rangers by scoring a spectacular goal. A Rangers defender known for his hard tackles Jacob Trouba was close to turning off Pärssis’s lights with a tackle, so to speak.
However, the fearless Finn would do the same again.
– I did see him coming and somehow I had time to brake a little and dodge, but maybe I didn’t realize the intensity of the tackle at that moment. I only realized later when watching the situation on video that there was a pretty big Taklaus close to being hit, Pärssinen recalls.
– But I would do the same thing again anytime, if it gets me a goal, the young man laughs afterwards.
Making the most of the opportunity
Pärssinen’s NHL career finally got off to a flying start. Five days after his first career NHL hit, he had two goals and an assist against the New York Islanders. After five matches, Pärssisnen’s performances are recorded as 3+2. Even more important is the impact that Pärssinen has brought to the team.
Before the Finn was called up, Nashville had lost four of their previous six games. With Pärssinen, it has won four out of five matches and has never lost in regular time.
by Mikael Granlund and by Filip Forsberg Pärssinen, who got a place in between, has used the opportunity he got brilliantly. Pärssinen is responsible and knows how to start and play defense. Especially Granlund acts as excellent support for a young gambler.
– It’s cool to be able to play with such top players. They talk a lot and have said just play to your strengths. There have been a lot of minutes, and I’ve gotten into a good rhythm. I haven’t had any problems at all.
Mere participation is not enough, despite a good start, in the future. The other Finnish player in the team also knows this Eeli Tolvanenfor which the club had certainly planned a final breakthrough for the current season.
Tolvanen, who has lost his power (13 matches 2+2), is regressing to a ten-minute player at the same time as Pärssinen, who has moved up to the first chain and superiority formations, has taken the maximum advantage of the opportunity he got.
The game teaches the NHL rookie
Even Pärssinen still has plenty of time to become a top player in the NHL. Skating, strong fighting game and audacity are charming, but composure is also needed. The young man has already learned his lesson from a few careless mistakes and forcing the game.
The game turns quickly in the NHL and mistakes quickly turn into setbacks.
– The game turns suddenly and mistakes become more prominent. You can’t pull anything with a loose hand, but everything has to be done last. Of course, that’s only a good thing, says the cheerful Pärssinen, reached from Detroit.