Jokerit returns to the SM league with a bang – the expert raises the biggest question mark

Returning to the SM League after a long break of 12 years, Jokerit starts the new season with heavy investments. Jokerit has been roaming the player market with a thick wallet. Joker’s player budget is the top division of the SM league.

The Helsinki club has recruited several star-level league players who have proven their level.

Sanoma’s expert Top Nättinen sees the Jokers as a very striking team.

– The team has been built in the long term. I think the first construction phase in the winter was really strong, when they got e.g. by Patrick Curry and SaiPa players.

– Then came the acquisition wave in July, when Teemu Turunen kind of patted on the lap and Matt Caito came to the defense. When you look at this team on paper, the top nine of the attack can stand up to any SM league team, Nättinen says.

The toughest bets Jokerit has made to attack.

The famous attack is starred by Turunen, a joker who returns to the league from Sweden, Curry, who excelled in KalPa, and SaiPa’s golden helmet Maxime Fortier.

– Even without Turu, the attack would have been very high-quality, but Turunen crowned the whole. Turunen is a player who can play at the top level in any league team, says Nättinen.

The Jokerit, especially the last season’s sensational team, SaiPa, emptied its cache. As many as three of SaiPa’s top four scorers from last season moved to the Jokers.

In addition to Fortier, we can see the supporting forces of SaiPa in the tease Henri Nikkanen and Antti Kalapudas. Also Emil Kuusla back to Jokers.

The center forward trio of the Jokers consists of Curry, Nikkanen and Patrik Virta. Three result chains are built around the trio. A star beam has been sought for the attack.

– When you think about the Joker brand – and I’m not talking now Jari Kurrin or Harry Harkimon from the early use of money, although the comparison is understandable – the identity of Jokers includes showiness, cunning, winning offensive game and courage. It can be seen in this team as well. The attack has clearly been focused on, Nättinen says.

According to Nättinen, there are hardly any weaknesses in the attack.

– The whole looks very wild: the money has been spent on individual skills and big-name players. Something had to be saved in order for the tip of the attack to be this strong.

On paper The Jokers’ defense clearly pales in comparison to the attack.

– The defense withstands the comparison above all with the direction of the defense. Valtteri Pulli, winner of the Swedish championship Max Krogdahl, Olli Juolevi, Oliver Larsen and Aleksi Elorinne are strong defenders.

The biggest question mark in defense is related to offensive play.

– Caito is probably a sure scorer. Last season in the SHL was difficult for him, but you shouldn’t draw too far-reaching conclusions from it. He will probably score consistently and play in the number one position, says Nättinen.

– Behind him, the puck skills and performance is a bigger question mark.

The goalkeeper tandem of the Jokers is made up of the one who excelled in Mestis last season Wine Vehviläinen and the second goalkeeper of Björklöven, which has been promoted to the SHL Olle Eriksson Ek.

– I think the goalkeeping department is completely 50-50. I like Vehvilai’s reputation as a better goalkeeper and still a league-level goalkeeper. On his best day, he can play at a top level.

– That’s why it’s a good thing that Eriksson Ek is also there, who got valuable playing time in Björklöven last season.

However, the cashier department can be the Jokers’ Achilles heel.

– There is a chance that one of them will succeed or both will play at a good level. On the other hand, there is also a risk that neither game will go well. Then you can ask if the goalkeeper department was the right place to save.

Harden up despite the investments, Nättinen does not believe that the Jokers will compete for the top spots in the regular season.

– You have to get into the eight in the regular season. In the old league system, I would have talked about the top six, but in the current system, getting to the top four would be a no-brainer.

– According to the bets, the Jokers should be in the top bracket, but when 15 new players are brought in, the pressure and expectations are shocking, so the level of demand for the Jokers is extremely high, Nättinen reminds.

Nättinen sees it as a threat Tomek Valtonen the coaching group led by

– The reason why I don’t believe in the top four is related to coaching. If the head coach were, for example, Kari Jalonen, Jukka Jalonen or Jussi Tapolan coach like you, I would rate the team’s chances as clearly better.

– Now the head coach slightly reduces my faith in the team. Still, if the basic playing works, the team stays healthy and the players play at their own level, finishing in the top eight is a completely realistic goal.