SM-liiga

PHT Morning Skate: Pens’ Payerl wants to be an NHL ‘beast’

By Joe YerdonJul 28, 2014, 8:00 AM EDT

PHT’s Morning Skate takes a look around the world of hockey to see what’s happening and what we’ll be talking about around the NHL world and beyond.

You may have missed Penguins forward Adam Payerl in the two games he played for Pittsburgh last season, but at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, Bill Guerin says he’s a “beast.” (Penguins)

P.K. Subban has been just about everywhere in Montreal over the weekend including on stage at Just For Laughs with Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. What a life! (Montreal Gazette)

Remember goalie Mark Dekanich? The former Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets farmhand is rocking it in the KHL playing for Medvescak Zagreb in Croatia and could be the Croatian National Team’s man in net, too. (IIHF)

The sons of former Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Steve Chiasson are getting their shot to follow in their father’s footsteps in Raleigh. (NHL.com)

Washington Capitals farmhand defenseman David Kolomatis is headed to Finland after striking a deal with Tappara in the SM-liiga. (Washington Post)

The battle amongst young players on the Buffalo Sabres blue line will be a tough one. (NHL.com)

Follow @JoeYerdonPHT

After a “weird” injury, Anders Lindback is done in Finland

By Joe YerdonDec 28, 2012, 5:05 PM EST

New Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Anders Lindback is done with his time with Ilves Tampere in Finland. While his contract is up there, it’s not without a little bit of added drama to the story.

Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times hears from Lindback about the “weird” injury he suffered abroad.

He said it happened at a morning skate during a three-on-two drill in which he “opened up” to make a save “and the puck hit my knee. I wear two sets of knee pads, so it was just one of those things. The puck just slipped through. I thought it was just going to be bruised and when I got into the locker room and took my gear off I was bleeding all over. It was really weird. It was a good shot, I guess.”

Well that sounds gross.

On the upside, it’s nothing serious and he’s hoping to get back on the ice in a couple days. As to whether or not he’ll go back to Finland, that all depends on whether or not the lockout is settled.

Stepan signs with KalPa in Finland

By Joe YerdonNov 11, 2012, 4:40 PM EST

Rangers forward Derek Stepan apparently isn’t eager to see how labor talks turn out today.

Courtesy of Twitter, Stepan announced he’s off to Finland to play in the SM-liiga for KalPa.

Stepan is the third Rangers player to head to Europe and the first in Finland. Rick Nash is with Davos in Switzerland, Ryan McDonagh is with Barys Astana in the KHL. Meanwhile Carl Hagelin was with Södertälje in Sweden until he hurt his shoulder and returned to New York.

KalPa doesn’t have a lot of familiar former NHL talent there, but he will get to help set up former Flyers and Hurricanes forward Sami Kapanen.

Is this a sign that negotiations are going poorly since Stepan waited until now to head abroad? Not exactly. He may be just looking to play in some actual games to be ready when/if the lockout ends.

Jets’ Miettinen signs with HPK in Finnish league

By Joe YerdonNov 4, 2012, 1:00 PM EST

1 Comment

Antti Miettinen is heading home for the lockout.

Matias Strozyk of EliteProspects.com reports the Winnipeg Jets forward has signed with HPK of the SM-liiga in Finland for the duration of the lockout. There he joins up with current free agent and former Jets and Capitals forward Eric Fehr. Seven Jets players are now in Europe during the lockout.

For Miettinen, HPK is a team he’s more than familiar with having played for them before arriving in the NHL in 2003-04.

Last season with the Jets, Miettinen had five goals and eight assists in 45 games after leaving Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL. Miettinen has played eight seasons in the NHL so far.

Turris signs lockout deal with Kärpät in Finland

By Joe YerdonOct 6, 2012, 4:15 PM EDT

2 Comments

After a handful of rumors about where he’s headed, Ottawa’s Kyle Turris has a team to play for during the lockout.

Turris has locked down a work-stoppage deal in Finland with Kärpät of the SM-liiga. There he’ll join up with Sharks defenseman Jason Demers and will essentially replace Carolina’s Jussi Jokinen. According to Finnish reporter Juha Hiitelä, Jokinen will head home next week due to tax rules in Finland.

Turris had a bit of a breakout season in Ottawa last year after being acquired from Phoenix scoring 12 goals and adding 17 assists in 49 games. Turris signed a five-year, $17.5 million extension with Ottawa back in August.