Pelicans 12. KooKoo 12. Lukko 11. Lynx 9.
There are some examples of the number of foreign players in the hockey SM league clubs. Sports expert Jesse Saarinen there are far too many foreign players in the clubs.
– I wouldn’t like to be negative, but this has gone in the wrong direction for many years. There are good foreigners, but not of such high quality. Finnish players should find a bigger screen more, Saarinen declared at ‘s Ice Hockey Tour last Friday.
In the Norwegian Hockey League, the foreigner quota was removed in 2013. In the 2017–2018 season, 14 percent of foreign players were represented in all teams. Now that reading is already 25 percent.
Saarinen, who represented five clubs in the SM league, reminds that 11 years ago there were 13 teams in the SM league. Now 16.
In recent years, there has been a lot of relevant discussion about whether there are enough high-quality players in the SM league for so many teams.
– In 2013, the foreigner quota expired. Since then, the number has increased all the time, as has the number of teams. Almost 75-80 more players.
– There won’t suddenly be so many league-level players in Finland. They are sought elsewhere. There are too many teams, and the places have to be filled with foreign players, Saarinen adds.
Foreigner quota
So there are no less than 12 foreign players at Koovola’s KooKoo. Jesse Saarinen, who learned puck at Lahti’s Kiekkoreippaa, made his debut in the SM league with Pelicans as an A-junior in the 2003–2004 season.
If Pelicans had had the same number of foreign players 20 years ago as KooKoo and Sport have now, young Saarinen would hardly have debuted in the league at that time.
– Absolutely not. There was a foreigner quota then. Sports managers might not want so many foreigners, but when there are no quotas, you can get people who have already played abroad somewhere else for relatively cheap.
20 years ago, the SM league had a foreign quota and a few foreign players per team. More than ten years ago, teams could have a maximum of three players from outside the EU.
For example, Switzerland currently has a quota in place, where one team can have a maximum of five foreign players in the lineup playing at the same time.
Saarinen would like something similar in Finland.
– I like it. We would have to buy quality, but also pay Finnish players to stay here and not run away to Switzerland or Sweden.
Saarinen says that many former NHL players go to Switzerland. The Swiss and Swedish leagues are attractive because of the salary, but it’s also about the status.
– When players of a certain status come here, it also brings players of a certain status for the following years.
– NHL players are flowing to Switzerland. If they sometimes also chose Finland, similar players could become interested in this series. You have to choose Switzerland or Sweden, because the career is short and the pay is higher elsewhere.
For the logo?
KooKoo has experience with good foreign players. Six years ago, a Swede Malte Strömwall scored 30 goals and a total of 57 points in the regular season. When KooKoo reached the semi-finals two years ago, a young Czech-American goalkeeper played a big role Nick Malik.
– There have been good foreign players in the corner positions who have brought playoff spots to Kouvola and have been popular players. There may be such a frenzy that such players are needed. Is Kouvola the kind of place that a Finnish player would ever choose?
Oulu’s Kärpi has several foreign players in big roles, such as Reid Gardiner and Michael Kovarcikwhich are ranked 2–3 in the points exchange.
Kärpät has scored a lot of goals since the beginning of the season, but on the other hand, he has also conceded a lot. Attackers Austin Rueschoff and By Josh Melnick the defense is not necessarily at its best, as both are on the side of freezing in the plus-minus statistics.
– The logo is perhaps not the matter of the heart for people from Oulu who were born there. It is secondary what the structure of the team is. We are satisfied with our own points, Saarinen reflects.
Saarinen reminds that Kärpi has often had good foreign players, but in addition to them, there are also good players from Oulu.
– When there were four good Czechs, it came together well. If the entire first field is foreigners, I don’t know what to think. I would hope that the players from Oulu would be able to carry that team.
Kudos to HIFK
There are also differences. For example, SaiPa had only one foreign player in the rink against Lukko on Friday.
Saarinen has made an interesting observation about HIFK, which leads the series. The Helsinki team is considered to be a team that uses big money to bring in tough players and also a lot of foreigners.
However, the team currently has five foreign players in its ranks. In Saarinen’s opinion, HIFK is a good example of what kind of foreign players should be acquired for the team instead of filler players.
Was in a point per game pace Petr Kodytek is a strong second center. Luke Martin is, on the other hand, one of the best puck defenders in the series.
On the other hand, junior players in the team get good responsibility. Former NHL players Jori Lehterä, Iiro Pakarinen mixed Kristian Vesalainen on the other hand, they are responsible for the point being sharp.
– This is what I would like to see in many more teams. Three 190-centimeter, almost 100-kilogram players who are dominating at the moment. I think this is what people ultimately want to see. There is style, power and edge.
– At the same time, there are four junkies in the lineup and a few foreigners. The structure is good, Saarinen praises.
The latest episode of Paasi and Nättinen: 5 minutes is below.