Best Finnish Hockey Players All Time
Ice hockey has always been a popular sport in Finland, with a number of players reaching the top level of international competition. Finnish hockey players are known for their speed, skill, and hard-working attitude, making them a force to reckon with on the ice. In this article, we will look at the best Finnish hockey players of all time, who have left an indelible mark on the sport.
1. Teemu Selanne
Teemu Selanne is perhaps the greatest Finnish hockey player of all time. He was a prolific goal scorer who played for 21 seasons in the NHL, scoring 684 goals and 1,457 points. Selanne was also an Olympic medalist, winning the bronze medal in 1998 and silver in 2006. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017.
2. Jari Kurri
Jari Kurri is another legendary Finnish hockey player who enjoyed great success in the NHL. He spent 17 seasons in the league, winning five Stanley Cup championships with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s. Kurri was also a two-time Olympic medalist, winning the silver medal in 1988 and 1994.
3. Saku Koivu
Saku Koivu was a highly skilled center who played for the Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks in the NHL. He had a successful career, scoring 255 goals and 832 points in 1,124 regular season games. Koivu was also a two-time Olympian, winning the silver medal in 2006.
4. Kimmo Timonen
Kimmo Timonen was a talented defenseman who played for the Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, and Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL. He was a four-time Olympian, winning the bronze medal in 2014. Timonen retired in 2015 after 16 seasons in the league, recording 571 points in 1,108 regular season games.
5. Miikka Kiprusoff
Miikka Kiprusoff was a standout goaltender who played for the San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames in the NHL. He won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender in 2006 and was a two-time Olympian, winning the silver medal in 2006. Kiprusoff retired in 2013 after 12 seasons in the league, recording 319 wins and a .912 save percentage.
6. Olli Jokinen
Olli Jokinen was a skilled center who played for eight teams in the NHL, including the Florida Panthers, Calgary Flames, and New York Rangers. He scored 321 goals and 750 points in 1,231 regular season games and was a two-time Olympian, winning the silver medal in 2006. Jokinen retired in 2015 after 17 seasons in the league.
7. Vesa Toskala
Vesa Toskala was a Finnish goaltender who spent most of his career with the San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL. He recorded 128 wins and a .902 save percentage in 266 regular season games. Toskala was also a two-time Olympian, winning the silver medal in 2006.
8. Jere Lehtinen
Jere Lehtinen was a skilled forward who played for the Dallas Stars in the NHL. He won three Selke Trophies as the league's best defensive forward and was a three-time Olympian, winning the silver medal in 2006. Lehtinen retired in 2010 after 14 seasons in the league, recording 514 points in 875 regular season games.
9. Sami Salo
Sami Salo was a reliable defenseman who spent most of his career with the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL. He recorded 365 points in 878 regular season games and was a two-time Olympian, winning the silver medal in 2006. Salo retired in 2015 after 15 seasons in the league.
10. Ville Peltonen
Ville Peltonen was a skilled forward who played for nine teams in the NHL, including the Nashville Predators, Florida Panthers, and Montreal Canadiens. He scored 177 goals and 418 points in 676 regular season games and was a three-time Olympian, winning the silver medal in 2006. Peltonen retired in 2014 after 25 seasons as a professional hockey player.
In conclusion, Finland has produced some of the finest hockey players in the world, with many contributing to the success of their respective teams in the NHL and on the international stage. These 10 Finnish hockey players have left an indelible mark on the sport, and continue to inspire future generations of hockey players in Finland and around the world.