GM: Jukka Tuominen
Coach: Brent Sutter
Last season: 3rd overall. In playoffs, defeated Stockholm; defeated Belfast; defeated Paris; defeated Munich to win the EURO Cup
Ins and Outs
(Season 18 to Season 19)
In: Sam Reinhart (trade), Juuse Saros (trade), Eli Sherbatov (trade), Filip Sveningsson (free agent), Nail Yakupov (free agent), Jonas Brodin (waivers), Casey Cizikas (free agent), T.J. Sherwood (free agent), Donovan Sebrango (free agent), Vladislav Kolyachonok (free agent)
Out: Patrik Laine (trade), Andres De La Garma (trade), Ryan Strome (trade), Anthony Mantha (trade), Sean Couturier (free agent),
Potential Lineup
Brock Boeser/Connor McDavid/Sam Reinhart
Eli Sherbatov/Jesperi Kotkaniemi/Filip Sveningsson
Nail Yakupov/Casey Cizikas/Mikko Lehtonen
Connor Zary/Stanislav Vrhel/Jakub Vrana
Jacob Moverare/Alexei Bereglazov
Noah Dobson/Henri Jokiharju
Cam York/Jonas Brodin
Juuse Saros/T.J. Sherwood
A Question
Can Helsinki be the first team to ‘Three-peat?’ Helsinki won it all in Season 18 for their second consecutive Cup and third in four seasons. Remarkably, the championship run might not have been the most memorable aspect of Season 18. Munich’s end of the regulation season might be. But the Jokerits provided hockey fans with such a magnificent year. It was tremendous and everyone is grateful. It will go down in history as the year Connor McDavid shattered records like Wayne Gretzky used to. But his 71 goals and 165 points – as astounding as they were – were only part of the story. This team set EURO records for goals per game, shots per game and fewest shots allowed per game. If you were going to fantasize about putting together the perfect season, attaining those two shot records and then skating around with the Cup at the end would definitely be a big part of your fantasy. Helsinki should be the team to beat again this season because five-sixths of their outstanding defense is back, as are McDavid, two-time 40-goal scorer Brock Boeser and supreme passer Jesperi Kotkaniemi. We figured in the off season that General Manager Jukka Tuominen would have to find three more high-level forwards and a goalie, but not many Finnish fans were worried that the GM will fail to do that. The man knows how to “rebuild.” During the draft, he traded with Tallinn to get Juuse Saros at half his salary. Now we’re down to just getting three more high-level forwards. The acquisition of Sam Reinhart takes care of one of those spots. How Finnish star Patrik Laine could even consider leaving this team is a mystery, but his agent wanted him with Igor Kirunov in Minsk for some reason. His departure leaves open the possibility that Kotkaniemi might join Boeser as McDavid’s wingman this season, so get yourself prepared for another eye-popping season from the 27-year-old whose point total went from 58 to 105 last year … while NOT playing alongside McDavid. But it’s just as likely that Reinhart, acquired in a trade with Tallinn, will be the recipient of McDavid passes as his new right wing. Either way, that top line will again be a nightmare for opposing teams.
Rose’s Focus
“We’re in another one of those stretches, ladies and gentlemen, where one franchise is on a hot streak. First it was Belfast collecting EURO Cups like Steve Yung collects vintage milk bags, with only Minsk able to break up a chain of Giant wins by earning two of their own. Then, the Copenhagen machine rattled and hummed to three Cup wins with those bourbon-breathed Berlin Smurfs claiming 3 of their own at around the same period. Now, it’s Helsinki. Boring, old Helsinki. I imagine GM Jukka Tuominen’s closet is filled with only jeans and white shirts that all look similar. Such a boring guy. Not like Shalom Connell. Shalom has floral shirts, striped shirts, polka dot shirts … you name it. Oh poop. Please don’t ask me how I know that. But at least Jukka knows he’s boring and has shown he is willing to fix himself. He went out and got the most exciting player on the planet in Connor McDavid and that fellow kind of helped the team last season. The important thing to remember is that McDavid is still a part of this Helsinki team and even if he is half the player he was last season, he’s still be a point-per-game player.”
