On Thursday, it was reported that Marko Anttila will play in Kärpi next season and Jori Lehterä will return to Tappara. The SM League will see many returnees next season as the player stream has turned away from KHL.
12: 01 • Updated 12:03 PM
In the Finnish Hockey League, player transfer roulette has been hot lately. Two major player news releases were released on Thursday.
Oulun Kärpät said that it had concluded Marko Anttilan with a one-year contract. Made a long playing career abroad Jori Lehterä will return to Tappara for next season.
In addition to Anttila and Lehterä, many other well-known players have returned to the domestic trough or changed clubs in the Finnish Champions League in the spring and summer.
The reason for the hot transfer market can be found in KHL, among others, where foreign players have left the contract since Russia invaded Ukraine.
We listed the most notable player transfers in the SM League recently.
Player, club, contract status
Julius Nättinen, HIFK, 2024
The JYP puppy is a second-round NHL reserve that didn’t open its path in the league after the OHL and AHL seasons. The 25-year-old has played in the Finnish Championship League before at JYP. In HIFK, hard power is expected from the attacker. There is pressure to succeed.
The king of goals in the SM league with 33 goals in the season 2019–2020.
Juuso Hietanen, HPK, 2024 + 1
The Lions credit pack will be puck next season at HPK, its breeders club. Previously played in the Finnish Championships in the 2006-2007 season.
Hietanen, 37, brings a tremendous amount of experience and gaming security to HPK’s back lines.
Frans Tuohimaa, Jukurit, 2023
Jukuri’s wounds were caught by a good goalkeeper. Previously played in the Finnish Championships in HIFK and SaiPa, among others. Lions World Cup gold and Olympic victory.
A good addition to Jukuri’s team next season, who is looking for success again.
Marko Anttila, Flies, 2023
Marko Anttila played in the Jokers last season and in Ilves for the rest of the season. Many could have expected the 37-year-old veteran to continue in Tampere.
Anttila is especially remembered for two world championships and Olympic gold in the Lion.
Tommi Kivistö, Flies, 2025
Kivistö already has a handsome gaming career behind him, even though he is only 31 years old. In addition to KHL, there is a lot of SM league experience in the basic package, but not in Kärpi.
Joonas Kemppainen, Flies, 2023
Kemppainen has a long section of KHL behind him and the NHL was played as well. Won two Finnish Championship gold medals in Kärpi in 2014 and 2015. Brings depth, breadth and decision-making power to the team. Good times in KHL below.
Valtteri Kemiläinen, Tappara, 2024
Kemiläinen celebrated the Finnish championship 2017 in Tappara. Last season he played in KHL and SHL.
In the Finnish Championships, there is an elite of defenders, and there is an Olympic gold.
Jori Lehterä, Tappara, 2023
Lehterä scored 69 points in Tappara in the 2009–2010 season.
The striker has since played a total of seven seasons in the KHL and five seasons in the NHL. At its best, a creative and skilled player.
Juuso Puustinen, JYP, 2025
Juuso Puustinen has played for KHL and the Swedish SHL in recent years. The striker is a great addition to JYP, who has been squatting in recent seasons.
Jesse Joensuu, Aces, 2024
Joensuu made his Finnish league debut in Ace in the period 2003–2004. In recent seasons in the Jokers. In more than 100 matches, the NHL man likes to play hard.