Two consecutive Finnish championships and World Cup experience do not make much of an impression in an NHL built around stardust. Walter Merelä is a meritorious power forward in Finland, but in rock-hard Tampa the wing has to start from scratch.
The beginning is a promising and reliable role of a two-way player in an ever-growing dollar league.
– The only thing more special is my rookie status. Maybe it was a little surprising that nobody here is interested in what you have done or achieved in Europe before. Nobody here knows who I am. Mentally, it may have been a bit challenging, however, I am already 25 years old and I had some kind of position before, Merelä laughs to Urheilu.
– It’s hard to explain, but I’ve had a little mental struggle with this. You have to start from the bottom again.
Merelä has started from scratch, but has not been left to mourn the work ahead. Merelä’s maturity was visible on the rink right from the training season, and to the surprise of many, he has already become a player in the triple chain and, among other things, a regular member of the underpowered game.
In a two-time (2020, 2021) champion team, such roles are not easy to come by.
– Surely I’m here because I’ve already learned to play the game correctly in Tappara. Perhaps slightly more experienced players are appreciated here. I guess I was able to play from the beginning because they felt I was mature enough for the game that they want to play here.
The box grows
Merelä’s responsibility has always been growing. The player from Ylöjärvi started with few minutes in the four chain, but has since been promoted to the three chain as a quality center by Anthony Cirelli overboard. A power forward plays on the other side Tanner Jeannot. At Alivoima, Merelä worked together as a pair of attackers Luke Glendening with.
In the previous game against San Jose, the Finn logged his biggest playing time so far at 13:02.
Already in the opening match, Merelä shocked the experienced and well-known tackling machine Luke Schenn with a hard counterattack along the walls.
In general, Merelä has succeeded well. With five against five, there has only been a knock once. With Merelä on the ice, 61% of the goals have been recorded for Tampa and 62% of the dangerous goals.
Merelä, who made it to the national team from Tappara, has quickly learned the ways of a small rink as an intelligent player.
– Sometimes there are still oh-oh moments with things that some here have done their whole careers. That maybe I should do that too. On a general level, however, it feels good and playing becomes more natural all the time. I already know the way of the game very well and know how to go in the right direction quite well. I have been able to improve all the time.
There has also been a rising trend in the puck-based game, although the opening goal is still waiting for itself. In the last matches, Merelä has started to get places, and in eight matches he has recorded six personal goals in the first sector, the fifth most in Tampa.
– It has been said here that during our playing time we get 4-5 goals in a game as a chain. Now you just have to start putting it in. For that I still need relaxation and patience. You don’t have to go for the goal every time and that’s the difference to Finland, where I scored a lot of goals from close range, Merelä can see.
Throwing out of consideration when going to the goal sounds a bit surprising, but the game in the NHL has changed since the past years.
In the SM League, the man forged a total of 36 regular season goals in the last two seasons, although he missed one third of the games last winter due to a cut injury. In the NHL, it would be good to get the head open, even if Merelä is not in Tampa with a big result responsibility.
– You should get the print soon for your own feeling.
The number remains on the assembly board
Judging by the increased responsibility, so is the coaching staff By Jon Cooper the management is satisfied with Merelä, although the Finn has received no other feedback about his work.
– We watch a lot of videos, but we don’t really talk to the players here. Through the videos, the purpose is to develop individuals, but there is not much feedback per se, says Merelä.
– I’ve thought about it in such a way that when I come to the hall in the morning and the board is playing in formation 39 (Merelä’s number), things must have gone well.
Champion coach, lawyer Cooper has made an impression on the experienced rookie player. Cooper is known to the media as a calm player coach. On the other hand, the evidence given by Merelä is a perfect reminder of why Tampa won two championships in a row.
– He is tough, but there is also relaxation and the ability to throw the ball. On the other hand, when we were a bit difficult and unruly in the beginning, it was dealt with quite honestly in the booth and no one was spared. I’m already used to that in Tappara.
The next step is permission to purchase an apartment
Along with his first NHL goal, Merelä’s next step in the NHL is permission to buy his own apartment. It has traditionally been a strong sign of trust from the club towards a new player. For now, Merelä and his spouse live in an apartment hotel next to the home hall.
– This is a really nice place, and some of our players have rented a room here. In general, life in Florida tastes good. It’s not something made up of the wind that the players really enjoy being here. Tampa is also a nice little place. The worst traffic jam I’ve ever been in was probably 35 minutes, Merelä concludes.
Stats: NHL.com, Natural Stat Trick