Juuse Saros has been clearly the best Finnish goaltender in the NHL this season as well. The 27-year-old Saros has supported Nashville on his own. He has played a season in which he could very well rise to the top of the goalkeeper of the year competition.
But what happened behind the tip?
Moved to Detroit Ville Husso made clear strides in development before his injury in late March. Returned to a high level after difficulties, traded to Los Angeles Joonas Korpisalois the feel-good story of the season.
Of course, there were also difficulties: especially with the move to San Jose Kaapo Kähkönen the season became nightmarish.
Polarization was also visible in advanced statistics. Moneypuck has measured the number of goals saved by goalkeepers over goal scorers (you go to another service).
Saros has saved 0.7 and Korpisalo 0.48 per hour played. At the limit of 20 played matches, places 2 and 6 are hard to tell.
At the other end, Kähkönen’s -0.7 goals is the third lowest rating in the entire league.
– The best play in the NHL, and there are no useless idiots when it comes to Finnish goalies. We have a couple of top players (Saros, Husso) and some are part of a tandem. Many are in a potential situation. Steps can be taken, but they must also be taken, ‘s hockey expert, former NHL goaltender Karri Rämö says.
– But if you think about the time when they played there Tuukka Rask, Pekka Rinne and Miikka Kiprusoffso there is still a long way to go.
Is there a reason to worry about the Finnish goalkeeper’s production?
– There was a time when Finland was at the top of the list of where the best goalkeepers come from. Now Russia has taken our place. The know-how has not disappeared, but the know-how has gone elsewhere and then we have been driven past.
In order to remedy the situation, Rämö looks at the clubs.
– We should rethink the valuation of goalkeeper coaching. It can’t be the case that at some league level, the goalkeeper coach has to handle the team manager’s duties in addition to coaching. Or that koutsi feels he has to do it to make enough of a living, Rämö says.
– Many coaches think they don’t know anything about goalkeepers, even though the importance of the veskari game is understood. When we draw the training, do we think about what the coaches get out of it. You don’t have to think about everything through them, but now you don’t think at all. At the same time, Veskarikoutsi calls hotels and buses for the next game trip, the expert laughs in frustration.
In the latest episode of the Ikan änäri podcast, the topic of the week was Pekka Rinne’s incredible legacy for Nashville, Finnish goaltenders and things outside of hockey.
Rämö’s assessments of Finnish goaltenders in the regular season in the NHL
Justus Annunen, Colorado 1-1-0, 85.4%, 3.58 PMK
Eetu Mäkiniemi, San Jose 1–0–1, 90.6%, 2.13 PMK
– The boys gained experience. Annunen got to play a couple of games again and Mäkiniemi got his first game. When thinking about the future, these are of course significant issues. Annusta Colorado definitely wants to slowly start moving in, so next season there could be a little more NHL games in the best case scenario.
Kevin Lankinen, Nashville 8-7-1, 91.7%, 2.84 PMK
– I won’t give praise for the season, but we are on the good side. He has won half of his games, so his performance is quite good. The club wanted him to be Saros’ second man for next season as well. Lanki has the conditions to develop further. For him, 30-40 games as the second member of the goalkeeping tandem is completely realistic, even 50 games as the first.
– We should get more games next season. If Nashville commits to Saros, and there’s a youngster from there Yaroslav Askarov coming from the farm, then Lankinen pops out. Considering the next contract, next season is important.
Antti Raanta, Carolina 17–2–3, 91.0%, 2.22 PMK, 4 clean sheets
– Injuries overshadow the season once again. He has performed excellently while playing and accumulating such a winning balance is not easy in any team. What kind of question marks do clubs consider injury history to be? Without them, he would be taken off the market immediately.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buffalo 17–11–4, 89.2%, 3.61 PMK
– The number of games even came as a nice surprise. Gets a clean sheet from the season and has moved forward again, but at the same time he is by no means ready. There is a lot of potential, the techniques and skills are there, but you would have to find a certain kind of plan for playing, so that you don’t try to play the situation in a new way every day. I can see him quickly carrying a lot of responsibility as part of a tandem, up to 50 games.
Joonas Korpisalo, Los Angeles 16–13–4, 91.7%, 2.84 PMK
– Before the season, there were a lot of question marks after a major hip operation, but Jarmo Kekäläinen knew the potential and offered a contract. Korpisalo took the opportunity and earned a transfer from Columbus. Now there are signs that this season could very well end. Nobody knew how to draw this story. A very athletic and technically high-quality goalkeeper who has proven that he belongs in the NHL. There is a big opportunity at hand and the important games at the end of the regular season still determine the grade a little. All the conditions to be the number one goaltender in the NHL.
Kaapo Kähkönen, San Jose 9–18–6, 88.0%, 3.83 PMK
– Kaapo has taken a big hit. The trade to San Jose came at a really bad place for him, because he was already in Minnesota, as if making his breakthrough. Now San Jose has hit the gloves on the counter and it’s a really difficult place for the goalkeeper. The team loses and the coach’s statistics are really ugly.
– I still wouldn’t write him out of anything for the future. You can’t give him a good grade for the season, and yes, there is also a renovation with the game. It feels like changes have been made to his game that have only made things worse. Fortunately, he has a contract for next season. Surely now he just wishes that the season would be over soon and all the numbers could be removed from the statistics. There is only one direction from the bottom and next autumn the situation will be completely different again.
Ville Husso, Detroit 25-19-6, 89.9%, 3.01PMK, 3 shutouts
– I already talked during the season about whether Detroit plays Husso too much. Now the season seems to end with an injury. Ville clearly moved on and played well in many places, but I still give a fairly neutral rating, because in terms of potential, he is not yet at a commendable level. He still needs to improve in finding pucks when shots are coming from further away, as well as moving long for cross passes. We are talking about hundredths, but it gives a little more time and makes the defense more balanced. If we are talking about the goalkeeper of a playoff team, the position of the flipper is also one thing. Goals cannot be scored because the hands are behind the back. Took steps, but steps are still to be taken”
CLIPS: VS COL AND FLA (END OF MARCH) 1-0 VS COL AND 3-1 VS FLA
“According to Rämö, Husso can still improve in looking for shots when the shots come from further away”
Juuse Saros 30–21–7, 91.8%, 2.72 PMK, 1 zero
– Juuse’s physique and athleticism play a big role, as does his understanding of the game. The technique is polished to the end, the use of the blade and everything. You can see from everything that a lot of work has been done. He has found his own way of doing things and is the best in the NHL.
– Juuse’s career development has been great, as has the environment where he has been allowed to develop. It is a model for others how to bring a goalkeeper to the front row. Hardly going to win the goalkeeper of the year award because it goes For Linus Ullmarkbut peak season anyway.