Tag: Liiga

Leo Komarov Still Weighing His Playing Future

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Leo Komarov has not made a decision on whether to continue his playing career. The 39-year-old forward is without a club but says he is still training and has energy left for the game.

Komarov has not begun searching for a new team at this stage of the autumn, though he says he remains ready should circumstances change. He added that he feels no stress about what comes next.

The Finnish veteran last played for Kiekko-Espoo, appearing in 17 regular-season games and four play-off games last season.

Key Facts

  • Leo Komarov, 39, is currently without a club and has not decided whether to continue his playing career.
  • Komarov says he is continuing to train and remains ready, despite not seeking a new team at this point in the autumn.
  • He played 17 regular-season games and four play-off games for Kiekko-Espoo last season.
  • Komarov played 491 NHL regular-season games.
  • He has played 320 Liiga games including the play-offs, and recorded 228 KHL regular-season appearances before moving to the NHL.
  • His honours include World Championship and Olympic gold, plus two KHL titles.

IHM Discussion

Komarov’s position is one of deliberate openness rather than a retirement announcement or a confirmed move. He is keeping himself in condition while leaving the larger decision unresolved.

That distinction matters. A player training without actively pursuing a club is not necessarily preparing for an immediate return, but Komarov has made clear that he has not closed the door on further playing time. His long record across the NHL, Liiga and KHL underlines the experience he would bring if he chooses to resume his career.

Why It Matters

Komarov’s NHL career included 491 regular-season appearances, placing this update in context for NHL followers as well as Finnish hockey audiences. His status remains unconfirmed beyond his own intention to train and stay ready.

For now, there is no transaction, timetable or final career decision to report. The significant point is that the veteran forward has retained the option of playing on.

Coach Mark Comment

Keeping training standards in place is the practical foundation for any player who wants to preserve an option late into the off-season. Komarov’s stated readiness does not confirm a return, but it means the physical preparation is continuing while the career decision remains open.

Jussi Markkanen Steps Down as Liiga Sports Director

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Jussi Markkanen has stepped down as Liiga’s sports director with immediate effect after three full seasons in the role. He will continue to assist Liiga’s office on sporting matters in a background capacity until his successor is chosen.

Markkanen began as Liiga sports director in August 2023. He said the time had come to move aside and described the league-format reform as being in a good position for the next office-holder to begin with a clean slate.

Liiga chief executive Mikko Pulkkinen will take on the sports director’s duties alongside the management group during the transition. An open recruitment process for the new sports director is due to begin later, with the aim of making an appointment after the turn of the year.

Key Facts

  • Jussi Markkanen has left his role as Liiga sports director with immediate effect.
  • Markkanen will remain available in a background role to support Liiga’s office on sporting matters until a successor is selected.
  • He completed three full seasons as sports director after beginning the role in August 2023.
  • Mikko Pulkkinen, Liiga’s chief executive, will handle the sports director’s responsibilities with the management group during the interim period.
  • Liiga plans to launch an open search for Markkanen’s successor later, with the target of selecting the new sports director after the turn of the year.
  • Pulkkinen credited Markkanen’s tenure with reforms to Liiga’s officiating and situation room, new monitoring systems, and the integration of data and technology into daily work.

IHM Discussion

This is a leadership transition rather than a complete immediate departure. Markkanen has relinquished the formal sports director position, but his continued background involvement gives Liiga a period of continuity while it recruits.

His three-season spell covered substantial work on the league’s sporting structures. Markkanen pointed in particular to the state of the league-format reform, while Pulkkinen identified changes in officiating, the situation room, monitoring systems, and the use of data and technology as areas of progress.

The interim arrangement places responsibility with Pulkkinen and Liiga’s management group until the recruitment process reaches a conclusion. It also allows the incoming sports director to take over an established portfolio rather than arriving during an abrupt vacancy.

Why It Matters

The sports director’s remit sits at the heart of Liiga’s sporting administration. With league-format reform and operational changes already under way, the next appointment will inherit responsibility for work that Markkanen and the organisation say has been developed across the past three seasons.

For now, Liiga has set out a defined bridge: Pulkkinen and the management group will oversee the duties, while Markkanen remains available to assist on sporting matters. That structure is intended to cover the period before the new appointment is made.

Mini Q&A

Why has Jussi Markkanen left the Liiga sports director role?

Markkanen said the time had come for him to step aside. He added that the league-format reform was in a good position and that his successor could start with a clean slate.

Who will run Liiga’s sporting director duties in the interim?

Liiga chief executive Mikko Pulkkinen will handle the responsibilities together with the management group until a successor is found.

Will Markkanen remain involved with Liiga?

Yes. He will continue in a background role, assisting Liiga’s office on sporting matters until his successor is selected.

What Comes Next

Liiga is set to open its recruitment process for a new sports director later. The organisation’s stated target is to have Markkanen’s successor selected after the turn of the year.

Five CHL Fixtures Shape the Play-off Picture

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Five Champions Hockey League games are scheduled for Game Day 5 as clubs pursue points in the Regular Season standings and the 16-place play-off line-up takes shape.

Tappara Tampere host Storhamar Hamar in the opening fixture at 17:30 CEST. Two German-based games follow at 19:30 CEST, with Adler Mannheim welcoming Polish champions GKS Tychy at SAP Arena and Kölner Haie hosting Danish newcomers Herning Blue Fox at LANXESS Arena in Cologne.

Bordeaux Boxers then face Czech Extraliga champions Dynamo Pardubice at Patinoire Mériadeck at 20:15 CEST. The programme concludes five minutes later when Red Bull Salzburg meet reigning DEL champions Eisbären Berlin in an Austria-Germany match-up.

Key Facts

  • Tappara Tampere host Storhamar Hamar at 17:30 CEST.
  • Adler Mannheim play Polish champions GKS Tychy at SAP Arena at 19:30 CEST.
  • Kölner Haie welcome Herning Blue Fox, Danish newcomers to the competition, at LANXESS Arena in Cologne at 19:30 CEST.
  • Bordeaux Boxers host Czech Extraliga champions Dynamo Pardubice at Patinoire Mériadeck at 20:15 CEST.
  • Bordeaux conceded 10 goals when a Czech side last visited Patinoire Mériadeck.
  • Red Bull Salzburg face reigning DEL champions Eisbären Berlin at 20:20 CEST.
  • The league’s Regular Season standings will determine a 16-place play-off line-up.

IHM Discussion

The schedule offers a broad cross-section of the competition: Finnish, Norwegian, German, Polish, Danish, French, Czech and Austrian clubs are all involved, while Eisbären Berlin bring the status of reigning German champions into their meeting with Salzburg. Every fixture carries the same basic value in a Regular Season format where the available places are limited to 16.

The evening also places established domestic champions on the road. Dynamo Pardubice travel to Bordeaux as Czech Extraliga champions, while GKS Tychy visit Mannheim as Polish champions. Herning Blue Fox’s trip to Cologne gives the Danish newcomers another opportunity to test themselves in the competition.

Why It Matters

The slate contains several cross-border tests between clubs from different domestic leagues, including Salzburg against Berlin and Bordeaux against Pardubice.

Mini Q&A

Which teams play in the opening Game Day 5 fixture?

Tappara Tampere host Storhamar Hamar at 17:30 CEST.

What are the two 19:30 CEST fixtures?

Adler Mannheim host GKS Tychy at SAP Arena, while Kölner Haie play Herning Blue Fox at LANXESS Arena in Cologne.

Which game closes the schedule?

Red Bull Salzburg face Eisbären Berlin at 20:20 CEST.

IHM Final View

Game Day 5 presents five fixtures across four start times, beginning in Tampere and ending with Salzburg against Berlin. The immediate focus is straightforward: collect Regular Season points and strengthen a club’s position in the chase for a place in the 16-team play-offs.

Brad Marchand suffers fresh injury for Florida

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Brad Marchand suffered a fresh injury during the Florida Panthers‘ game against the Los Angeles Kings after his left leg twisted awkwardly in a collision with the net.

The experienced forward lost his balance near the Kings’ goal and crashed into the post. He was seen holding his knee in discomfort before being helped from the ice and taken to the dressing room.

The incident came moments after Marchand had been struck in the face by Brandt Clarke’s stick. The Kings defenceman received a four-minute penalty for that play.

Marchand had only returned in Florida’s previous game following a long spell out. He missed the final 19 games of last season as well as the entire opening portion of this season after undergoing surgery for a lower-body injury in August. The Panthers have not disclosed what procedure he underwent.

Key Facts

  • Brad Marchand left the Panthers’ game against the Los Angeles Kings after his left leg twisted in a collision with the goalpost.
  • Marchand was holding his knee before being helped from the ice and taken to the dressing room.
  • Brandt Clarke was assessed a four-minute penalty after striking Marchand in the face with his stick shortly before the collision.
  • Marchand had returned in Florida’s previous game after missing the final 19 games of last season and the start of this campaign.
  • Marchand underwent surgery for a lower-body injury in August, although Florida has not disclosed the procedure.
  • Florida captain Aleksander Barkov is also sidelined with a knee injury, with the club estimating a six-to-eight-week absence in its Tuesday update.

IHM Discussion

The timing is particularly difficult for Florida because Marchand had only just resumed playing after a substantial absence. The immediate concern is not a diagnosis but the sequence of events: a facial stick incident was followed by an awkward fall into the post, after which he required assistance to leave the ice.

Florida have provided no update on Marchand’s condition or availability. That leaves the visible nature of the incident separate from any formal medical assessment. The club are already without Barkov, whose knee injury has been given a six-to-eight-week timetable by the Panthers.

Why It Matters

Marchand’s return had restored an experienced forward to Florida’s group after he missed significant time either side of the off-season. A further absence would come while Barkov is already out, reducing the established options available to the Panthers’ forward group.

For now, the only confirmed development is that Marchand left the Kings game following the collision. The severity of the injury and any timescale for his return have not been announced.

Jukurit report €434,000 loss but restore equity

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Mikkelin Jukurit have disclosed a €434,000 loss for their most recently completed financial year, despite turnover at their operating company rising to €4.9 million.

Jukurit HC Oy increased turnover by 5.2 per cent, but the result remained clearly negative. The loss was also larger than the €415,000 deficit recorded in the previous financial year.

The club said it entered the period from a difficult position, still carrying the costs of two head-coach contracts while NHL development compensation that had provided significant additional income in the prior year was no longer received.

Jukurit, who missed the play-offs last season, strengthened their cash position through player sales. After the balance-sheet date, the organisation also completed further financial arrangements, including the sale of arena-company shares to Mikkeli city property company Naistinki, the conversion of existing investor loans into equity, and new investors joining the company.

The club said those measures returned Jukurit HC Oy’s equity to positive territory by the end of August 2026 and significantly strengthened its cash position. On the ice, Jukurit are second in the Liiga table.

Key Facts

  • Jukurit HC Oy posted a €434,000 loss for the most recently completed financial year.
  • The company’s turnover rose 5.2 per cent to €4.9 million.
  • The previous financial year ended with a €415,000 loss.
  • Jukurit said it remained responsible for the costs of two head-coach contracts during the latest financial year.
  • NHL development compensation received in the previous financial year was absent in the latest period.
  • The club strengthened its cash position through player sales after missing the play-offs last season.
  • Jukurit said its equity had returned to positive territory by the end of August 2026 following financial arrangements.
  • Jukurit are second in the Liiga standings.

IHM Discussion

The figures show the distinction between Jukurit’s completed financial result and its subsequent financial position. The annual accounts contain a sizeable loss, following another substantial deficit the year before, but the club says later ownership and financing measures materially improved its balance sheet and liquidity.

The turnover increase did not prevent the loss, with the club identifying the continuing cost of two head-coach contracts and the loss of NHL development compensation as part of the financial backdrop. Player sales also formed part of the club’s effort to strengthen cash resources after last season’s failure to reach the play-offs.

Why It Matters

Jukurit’s disclosure puts a financial context around a notably stronger sporting start. Sitting second in Liiga does not erase the loss recorded in the accounts, but the club’s statement that equity is again positive is significant after consecutive annual deficits. The financial measures described by Jukurit concern the company behind the team, rather than a change to the current league table, yet they provide important context for the organisation’s position off the ice.

Mini Q&A

How large was Jukurit’s latest loss?

Jukurit HC Oy reported a €434,000 loss for its most recently completed financial year.

What changed after the balance-sheet date?

Jukurit said arena-share sales, investor-loan conversions and new investment returned the company’s equity to positive territory by the end of August 2026 and strengthened its cash position.

Jokerit facing HIFK derby with five injured players

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Jokerit are preparing for an important Liiga week with five players absent through injury, including star forward Teemu Turunen.

Turunen was injured in Jokerit’s third regular-season game and is expected to remain out for a further three to five weeks. Defenceman Olli Juolevi, who has been recovering from injury throughout the early part of the season, is also not expected to return for another two to four weeks.

Jokerit host HIFK in the Stadin Derby on Thursday before league leaders Ilves visit Helsinki on Saturday.

Key Facts

  • Teemu Turunen is expected to be sidelined for a further three to five weeks after being injured in Jokerit’s third regular-season game.
  • Olli Juolevi has a recovery estimate of two to four weeks.
  • Kristo Pitkänen’s situation is being monitored day by day.
  • Miro Nalli and Oskari Manninen became Jokerit’s latest injury absentees last week.
  • Nalli is being assessed day by day, while Manninen is still undergoing examinations and has no confirmed return timetable.
  • Jokerit will host HIFK on Thursday and Liiga leaders Ilves on Saturday.

IHM Discussion

The absence list leaves Jokerit short-handed for two demanding home fixtures. Turunen’s expected absence is the longest stated timetable among the group, while Juolevi’s recovery also extends into the coming weeks. The status of Pitkänen and Nalli remains less certain, and Manninen’s timetable cannot be set until his examinations are complete.

Thursday’s Stadin Derby against HIFK arrives before Jokerit have clarity on several of those cases. Saturday then brings Ilves, who are identified as the Liiga leaders.

Why It Matters

Jokerit’s immediate challenge is the volume of unavailable players rather than a single late fitness concern. Five injury absences are in place as the club prepares for consecutive home games against HIFK and Ilves, with no confirmed return dates for Pitkänen, Nalli or Manninen.

Joona Lehmus signs with Kiekko-Pojat for season

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Kiekko-Pojat have signed defenceman Joona Lehmus to a contract covering the rest of the season. The 24-year-old arrives in Joensuu after beginning the campaign without a club.

Lehmus’s agreement includes options allowing him to move to a Liiga club or abroad during the season. He is set to be available immediately for Kiekko-Pojat, who host KeuPa on Thursday.

The signing gives the Mestis side a player with 78 Liiga appearances, including spells with JYP and HIFK. Last season, Lehmus played 29 Liiga games for JYP, recording one goal and six assists.

Key Facts

  • Joona Lehmus, 24, has signed with Kiekko-Pojat until the end of the season.
  • The contract contains options for a move to Liiga or an overseas club during the season.
  • Lehmus started the season without a club before joining the Joensuu-based Mestis team.
  • He played 29 Liiga games for JYP last season, posting 1+6.
  • Lehmus also recorded 4+15=19 in 19 Mestis games for KeuPa HT last season.
  • Across his Liiga career, Lehmus has played 78 games and registered 3+13=16.
  • He spent the previous two seasons with JYP and two seasons before that with HIFK.
  • Lehmus has 66 Mestis appearances across three seasons, representing KeuPa HT and Kiekko-Vantaa as well as Kiekko-Pojat.

IHM Discussion

This is a straightforward addition of a defenceman with substantial experience at both of Finland’s top two levels. Lehmus brings recent production from Mestis as well as a longer Liiga record, having accumulated 16 points in 78 games in the top flight.

His 19 points in 19 Mestis appearances for KeuPa HT last season stand out in the context of his new league assignment. Kiekko-Pojat are at the bottom of Mestis, and Lehmus has made clear that he wants to help the club turn towards wins.

The Liiga and overseas clauses are an important part of the arrangement. They offer Lehmus a route to change clubs during the season while Kiekko-Pojat gain a player who is available now and familiar with the level.

Why It Matters

For Kiekko-Pojat, Lehmus adds a defenceman with recent Mestis scoring and prior Liiga experience at a time when the club are trying to improve their position. For the player, the deal ends a period without a club and creates an immediate playing opportunity in Joensuu.

The contract’s options also mean the agreement does not rule out a later move if a Liiga or overseas opportunity arises. Until then, Lehmus is available to Kiekko-Pojat under a deal running through the end of the season.

Mini Q&A

How long is Joona Lehmus contracted to Kiekko-Pojat?

His contract runs through the end of the season.

Can Lehmus leave Kiekko-Pojat during the season?

Yes. His agreement includes options for a move to a Liiga club or abroad during the season.

What did Lehmus produce in Mestis last season?

He recorded four goals and 15 assists for 19 points in 19 games with KeuPa HT.

What Comes Next

Lehmus is available when Kiekko-Pojat host KeuPa on Thursday. It will be his first opportunity to make his Kiekko-Pojat debut after signing for the remainder of the season.

Ässät lose Anttalainen and Klingberg to absences

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Ässät have suffered two further absences, with defenceman Aleksi Anttalainen and forward Carl Klingberg dropping out of the squad.

Anttalainen is expected to be unavailable for three to five weeks. He had already missed Ässät’s previous two matches and has one goal in eight Liiga appearances this season.

There is no detailed timetable yet for Klingberg. Ässät have said the length of his absence will be clarified later. Klingberg was last in the line-up against Lukko on Friday, but did not finish that match.

Key Facts

  • Defenceman Aleksi Anttalainen is expected to miss three to five weeks for Ässät.
  • Anttalainen had missed Ässät’s previous two matches before the latest absence update.
  • In eight appearances this season, Anttalainen has scored one goal.
  • Forward Carl Klingberg is also unavailable, with no timetable for his absence yet confirmed.
  • Klingberg was last in Ässät’s line-up against Lukko on Friday, but left that game before its conclusion.
  • Arttu Alasiurua and Nestor Noiva are being assessed day by day.
  • Eemeli Heinilä is expected to be out for two to four weeks, Feetu Knihti for three to five weeks and Valtteri Lipiäinen for three to four weeks.
  • Lasse Boelius and Miro Karjalainen remain out indefinitely.
  • Forward Peter Tiivola is no longer listed among Ässät’s injured players and is fit to play again.

IHM Discussion

The update adds pressure to Ässät’s available depth across both the blue line and forward group. Anttalainen’s absence removes a defenceman who has featured in eight games, while Klingberg’s status remains less clear after he was unable to complete the Lukko match.

The wider list is significant because several players have separate timelines, ranging from day-to-day assessments to absences of several weeks and two players out indefinitely. Tiivola’s return to fitness is a positive counterpoint, but it does not remove the uncertainty surrounding Klingberg or the number of players still unavailable.

Why It Matters

Ässät are managing a substantial group of unavailable players, including contributors at both defence and forward. The immediate issue is not only Anttalainen’s three-to-five-week absence, but also the lack of a confirmed timeframe for Klingberg. With several other players sidelined for weeks or without a return estimate, the club’s injury situation remains an important Liiga roster concern.

Mini Q&A

How long will Aleksi Anttalainen be out?

Ässät estimate that Anttalainen will be absent for three to five weeks.

What is known about Carl Klingberg’s absence?

Klingberg’s absence has been confirmed, but Ässät have not yet provided a timetable. The club says more detail will follow.

Which Ässät player has returned to fitness?

Forward Peter Tiivola is no longer on the injured list and has returned to playing fitness.

What Comes Next

The next formal checkpoint is Ässät’s promised clarification of Klingberg’s expected absence. The club is also continuing day-to-day monitoring of Alasiurua and Noiva.

Aaltonen doubts KooKoo can attract reinforcements

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Juhamatti Aaltonen believes KooKoo may need to change head coach Jouko Myrrä as the Liiga club attempts to arrest a historic losing start.

KooKoo have lost each of their first 10 Liiga matches, equalling the league record for consecutive defeats at the beginning of a season. Aaltonen said Myrrä was likely to be behind the bench against Jukurit on Friday, but felt the club’s office would need to consider its position closely if there were no points over the weekend.

Aaltonen also questioned whether KooKoo could find substantial help in the player market. In his view, an unclear coaching situation, intense pressure for results and limited financial power would make the club a less attractive destination than teams nearer the top of the league.

Karri Kivi likewise said changes were necessary, describing KooKoo’s play as unusually disorganised and pointing to struggles in special teams as well as at both ends of the ice.

Key Facts

  • KooKoo have lost all 10 of their opening Liiga games, equalling the league record for consecutive defeats to start a season.
  • Juhamatti Aaltonen said he expected Jouko Myrrä to coach KooKoo against Jukurit on Friday, while suggesting the position could be reconsidered next week if the team do not take points over the weekend.
  • Aaltonen calculated that even an average of two points per game across KooKoo’s next 10 matches would still leave the club bottom of the Liiga table.
  • Aaltonen believes coaching uncertainty, results pressure and KooKoo’s financial position could hinder attempts to recruit a proven player.
  • KooKoo have been actively monitoring the player market.
  • Karri Kivi said KooKoo’s special teams, goals scored and goals conceded were all at the bottom of the league, and called the team’s on-ice structure deeply confused.
  • KooKoo are due to play a Champions Hockey League game in Klagenfurt, Austria, before facing Jukurit at home and HPK away in Liiga.

IHM Discussion

The immediate issue is not simply the length of KooKoo’s losing run, but the pressure it places on every possible remedy. Aaltonen’s view is that a coaching decision could become unavoidable, yet he also doubts that a change alone would make the club an easy sell to outside players.

His calculation on the next 10 games underlines the scale of the deficit as he sees it: a strong points return would not necessarily lift KooKoo from the foot of the table. That makes the coming fixtures important as immediate opportunities to alter the mood around the club, rather than as a basis for broader forecasts.

Kivi’s assessment adds a hockey-specific concern. His criticism was not limited to finishing or goaltending; he described a side struggling in special teams and in its basic organisation. Those are areas where clarity, communication and execution must improve regardless of any eventual personnel decisions.

Why It Matters

KooKoo’s 10-game losing streak has reached a league-record level for the start of a Liiga season. Aaltonen’s comments show how the poor run is now shaping discussion around both the coaching staff and the club’s ability to strengthen its squad.

If the team remain without points over the forthcoming weekend, Aaltonen believes scrutiny of Myrrä’s position could intensify. At the same time, KooKoo’s reported activity in the player market comes with the practical challenge identified by Aaltonen: persuading meaningful reinforcements to join a team under heavy pressure.

Mini Q&A

What record have KooKoo equalled?

By losing their first 10 Liiga games, KooKoo have equalled the league record for consecutive defeats at the start of a season.

What did Juhamatti Aaltonen say about Jouko Myrrä?

Aaltonen said he expected Myrrä to be behind the bench against Jukurit on Friday, but felt the club could reassess the situation next week if KooKoo do not take points over the weekend.

Why does Aaltonen doubt KooKoo can recruit a proven player?

He cited coaching uncertainty, heavy results pressure and KooKoo’s inability to compete financially with other teams.

What Comes Next

KooKoo’s next stated checkpoints are a Champions Hockey League match in Klagenfurt, followed by Liiga fixtures against Jukurit at home and HPK away. Aaltonen identified the weekend’s points return as the immediate measure that could affect discussion around the coaching position.

IHM Final View

KooKoo’s opening 10 defeats have created pressure on several fronts at once. Aaltonen sees a potential coaching decision ahead and doubts the club’s current circumstances will make recruitment straightforward, while Kivi has highlighted fundamental problems in the team’s play. The forthcoming schedule provides the next factual test of whether KooKoo can begin to change the direction of its season.

Report: Jokipakka accepts lower-value Tappara deal

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Tappara defenceman Jyrki Jokipakka has reportedly accepted a contract below his market value to remain with the Liiga club. The 35-year-old’s newly announced two-year extension is said to pay €170,000 per season from next season, with performance bonuses also included.

Esko Seppänen said Jokipakka negotiated only with Tappara and did not test the wider market. Seppänen attributed the reported discount to the player’s desire to continue playing for Tappara and live in Tampere.

Jokipakka was among Liiga’s leading defencemen last season, recording 13 goals and 31 assists in 67 combined regular-season and play-off appearances. He has one goal and two assists through seven games this season.

Key Facts

  • Jyrki Jokipakka’s reported two-year Tappara extension was announced on Friday.
  • The deal is reportedly worth €170,000 per season from next season, plus performance bonuses.
  • Esko Seppänen said Jokipakka negotiated exclusively with Tappara rather than inviting offers from other clubs.
  • Seppänen said Jokipakka accepted less than his market value because he wants to play for Tappara and live in Tampere.
  • Jokipakka posted 13 goals and 31 assists in 67 regular-season and play-off games last season.
  • This season, the 35-year-old defenceman has three points, consisting of one goal and two assists, in seven games.

IHM Discussion

The reported terms place the focus on continuity rather than a bidding process. Jokipakka’s production last season was substantial for a defenceman, while his early return of three points in seven games shows that he remains involved offensively this term.

The important qualification is that the financial detail and the account of negotiations are reported rather than confirmed by Tappara in the available information. Still, Seppänen’s account presents the extension as a player-led choice to stay with the club, not the result of competing offers.

Why It Matters

Keeping Jokipakka on a two-year agreement would give Tappara continuity around a defenceman who delivered 44 points across last season’s regular season and play-offs. The reported salary structure also includes performance bonuses, linking part of his earnings to future results.