Story Summary
Kim Saarinen, Emil Kuusla and Lukas Haudum are the three players with the clearest early-season MVP cases in Liiga after five weeks of play.
HPK goaltender Saarinen has been the central figure in his team’s 13-point return from 10 games. His save percentage stands at 91.4, while he has stopped nearly eight goals above expected, the second-best figure in the league. That work has given HPK a chance to win on a nightly basis despite major defensive difficulties.
Jokerit forward Kuusla has produced 1+8=9 in eight games. His individual skill has repeatedly created scoring chances as Jokerit’s attack has struggled for fluency, even as the team’s defending and breakout play have improved under head coach Juuso Hahl.
TPS forward Haudum has made a fast start after arriving from ICEHL, scoring 5+8=13 in 10 matches. He sits third in the Liiga scoring race and has quickly become a major attacking contributor for TPS.
The three cases underline the different ways a player can shape a team’s opening stretch: Saarinen through preventing goals, Kuusla through creating offence and Haudum through sustained point production.
Key Facts
- HPK’s Kim Saarinen has posted a 91.4 save percentage and stopped nearly eight goals above expected, the second-best total in Liiga.
- HPK have collected 13 league points from 10 games, with Saarinen giving them a chance to win despite poor defensive play.
- Emil Kuusla has recorded 1+8=9 in eight games for Jokerit.
- Jokerit’s defensive and breakout play have improved since Juuso Hahl began as head coach, while the attack has continued to struggle.
- Lukas Haudum has scored 5+8=13 in 10 games for TPS.
- Haudum ranks third in Liiga’s scoring standings.
- Haudum produced exceptional results in ICEHL last season before joining TPS.
IHM Discussion
Saarinen’s numbers carry particular weight because they combine a strong save percentage with a goals-above-expected measure. A 91.4 save percentage is valuable in its own right; stopping nearly eight more goals than expected adds context to the degree of difficulty he has faced. For HPK, that has been the difference between simply absorbing defensive pressure and remaining competitive in individual games.
Kuusla’s contribution is different. His nine points are impressive, but the more revealing detail is that his chance creation has remained a feature while Jokerit’s attack has lacked consistency. Jokerit have made strides in their defending and puck exits under Hahl, yet their offensive game has not matched that progress. Kuusla has supplied individual invention within that uneven attack.
Haudum offers the most conventional high-scoring case, although 13 points in 10 games is still a substantial opening return. His 5+8 split shows that his influence has extended beyond finishing chances, and third place in the league scoring standings gives his output clear context. After his prolific ICEHL season, his early TPS production has carried into a new Liiga environment.
These are not identical MVP arguments. Saarinen’s case is rooted in limiting damage behind a struggling defensive group. Kuusla’s is built on creating when Jokerit have needed attacking solutions. Haudum’s is based on a scoring pace that has put him among the league leaders.
Why It Matters
Early-season individual form can shape a club’s margin for error. Saarinen’s goaltending has helped HPK turn performances marked by defensive problems into league points. Kuusla has provided a reliable attacking outlet while Jokerit seek greater offensive consistency. Haudum’s production has immediately placed TPS near the top of the league’s individual scoring conversation.
The wider significance is that all three are delivering in areas that are difficult to replace quickly: elite goaltending, individual chance creation and high-end points. Their teams may face different circumstances, but each player’s contribution has been tangible across the opening 10-game-or-fewer sample.
Mini Q&A
Why is Kim Saarinen in the early MVP conversation?
Saarinen has a 91.4 save percentage and has stopped nearly eight goals above expected, the second-best mark in Liiga. HPK have taken 13 points from 10 games despite defensive difficulties.
What has Emil Kuusla produced for Jokerit?
Kuusla has scored 1+8=9 in eight games and has regularly created chances through his individual skill while Jokerit’s attack has struggled.
How has Lukas Haudum started at TPS?
Haudum has recorded 5+8=13 in 10 games and sits third in the Liiga scoring standings after arriving from ICEHL.
Coach Mark Comment
The three profiles illustrate why raw points alone do not settle an MVP discussion. Haudum’s scoring is impossible to overlook, but Saarinen’s goals-above-expected figure indicates how much pressure he has absorbed for HPK. Kuusla’s value, meanwhile, includes the ability to generate chances when Jokerit’s collective attack is still searching for rhythm. Coaches will always value players who can influence games in more than one phase, whether that is stopping pucks, advancing them cleanly or creating a decisive opening.
IHM Final View
Saarinen, Kuusla and Haudum have each produced a compelling early-season body of work, but from sharply different positions. Saarinen has been HPK’s defensive backstop, Kuusla Jokerit’s creative driver and Haudum one of Liiga’s most productive forwards. Their starts have made them the leading individual stories of the opening weeks.