In the Ice Hockey SM League, six matches on Friday and seven games on Saturday. Follow the Ice Hockey Tour from the Puhee frequency or Areena.
The JYP of Jyväskylä, which greatly increased its player budget, has fallen far from the top of the hockey league, and the expected playoff spot is not in its possession.
JYP is second last in the standings before SaiPa of Lappeenranta. Hämeenlinna Pallokerho, stuck in the last quarter-final spot, is six points away.
Before the start of the season, JYP’s head coach Jukka Rautakorpi often emphasized the process before the result or, for example, the playoff places.
– If you look at the number of games played and the score column, no one in the organization is certainly satisfied. The set goals have not been met, says JYP’s director of sports Mikko Viitanen.
According to him, the situation is discussed daily. Viitanen says that development targets and weaknesses have been thought about, but those discussions are still held within the club.
Before the current season, JYP increased its player budget by 700,000 euros, but it has not produced the desired result. To date, one series point has cost JYP more than 40,000 euros, which is the third highest in the series. You can find the point price comparison in the article below.
Was JYP’s point worth the price, Mikko Viitanen?
– The given budgets are perhaps a bit misleading in the big picture. The wording of the question is such that I don’t really want to comment on such a question at this stage, says Viitanen.
Head coach Rautakorpi signed a three-year contract with the club in April 2022. The cooperation with the head coach is unlikely to end, even if the playoff spot is not grabbed this season.
– I believe in our employees and players. If we want to be successful one day, it requires long-term work from all the club’s employees.
JYP will face KalPa on Friday and Saturday. The Kuopio club is in 7th place in the series and two points away from a direct quarter-final spot. According to Viitanen, the stakes in the matches are high.
– KalPa has played good hockey all season, and our series games are starting to decrease. Points are really important when chasing a playoff spot. A weekend of high expectations.
JYP’s GPA is miserable
Urheilu’s ice hockey expert Top Nättinen estimates that JYP has been better than its results this season. JYP had not lost a single game by two goals since October 15th, until Kärpät scored 4-0 in Oulu on Wednesday. The goalie has contributed to the equalization of the results Wine Vehviläinen inclusion.
– That shows that the team has hung on to the result. At JYP, operations have begun to balance out after a few really difficult seasons.
During the season, about a quarter of the matches that have ended in defeat have come with a difference of one goal. The same pattern can be seen in profits. Nättinen says that sometimes “the ketchup bottle has opened”.
JYP’s inferior and superior game are the middle caste of the series, and in terms of goals scored, the team shares sixth place. However, the defensive game has faltered, as the number of goals conceded is the third highest in the series.
– Even I sometimes get confused by JYP’s series ranking, when so many goals have been scored and the special situations are at a sufficient level. Yes, playing defense is definitely a problem.
Despite the good performances, JYP’s scoring average is miserable: 1.2 points per match.
– With such a point average, you have never reached the playoffs in the SM league.
Nättinen also believes that head coach Rautakorvin will stay with the club, even if there is no place in the playoffs this season. That’s why he would already turn his eyes to the upcoming season.
– JYP has an extension contract with eight players from its 10 best scorers – and also with the number one goalkeeper. We can build on that next season. Although (defender) Sami Niku would go, because the money will surely get a good kit or even two instead.
KalPa and Pelicans get praise
KalPa has performed beyond expectations. The price of a point for the club is the lowest in the league. The head coach Tommi Miettinen did a two-year contract with KalPa of the contract (you switch to another service) in 2020 and now his era is coming to an end.
– Miettinen has done everything for his club and himself. He knows that he has to show good results in order to continue coaching at the top level, Nättinen estimates.
According to him, the body of KalPa’s team is well built. About emerging players Juha Jatkola and Aapeli Räsänen have succeeded. In addition, more experienced Lasse Lappalainen and Jaakko Rissanen are playing a peak season.
– After the silver medal in 2017, the club has been looking for its own place a little. Now we are close to the maximum where we can go with that money and that team, Nättinen says.
Also the pilot of Lahti Pelicans Tommi Niemelä receive incense. The Pelicans are the fourth youngest team in the series, with experienced players as specific acquisitions.
– In his career, Niemelä has coached young players and worked in the junior national team. Through that, he has become a good friend of young players.
The cost of a point for the Pelicans is the fourth lowest in the league. Nättinen says that still the whole season has been “quite a union”.
– If the Pelicans play to the end with that ranking, it will by far be the worst performance of the season considering the players and the money.
Money clubs have a continuum
At the top of the SM league are the money clubs Rauman Lukko and Tampere-based Ilves and Tappara. In fifth and sixth place are Kärnpät and TPS from Turku.
According to Nättinen, everyone is ready for the playoffs, although Kärpät and TPS have been looking for themselves a bit this season. He says that the clear underperformer among money clubs is Helsinki IFK.
– IFK is of course a matter of eternity. Club management, sports management and coaching have always been question marks. Especially if you compare to Lukko, Ilves or Tappara.