The league’s transfer deadline expires on the night between Monday and Tuesday.
The fly season has been disappointing. The team has given up a few of its players, but will not be active again on Monday night. TOMI NATRI / AOP
- Some of the clubs in the SM League are looking for reinforcements to their team until the last moment and strive to be successful this spring.
- Some teams give up their players mainly for economic reasons.
- HIFK, KooKoo and Lukko are no longer going to be active.
The solutions of the northern power team Oulu Kärppie have been awaited in various parts of Finland. The team has quality players on its roster, but the playoff spot is slipping away.
The team could play the role of a seller before the transfer deadline of the SM league on the night between Monday and Tuesday.
The organization made its decision already at the weekend. It might surprise you.
– Nothing can be expected from Kärpi during Monday evening. We have no sales force. We are not active. On Saturday night, the decision was made with the board that the players will not be moved abroad, sports director Kimmo Kapanen tells Iltalehte.
– Earlier, there is even discussion about whether there are some players to be taken in. We still have a chance to play in the playoffs, Kapanen continues.
Still an attempt
Roni Hirvonen was a hard acquisition from Kärpi for this season. Jussi Määtt / AOP
Kärpät is ranked 15th in the league table. It is not a flattering situation for a team with a big budget.
The difference to the last playoff spot is seven points, and Oulu’s men have six matches left. There are still up to 18 series points in the division.
– Let’s try to get some wins now, says Kapanen.
Kärppie’s next match is against KooKoo in Raksila on Wednesday.
Jukurit made an account
Jukurie’s sports director Mikko Hakkarainen has effectively revived the club’s finances over the past couple of weeks. TIMO KUNNARI
Mikkelin Jukurit, on the other hand, is ranked 14th in the series, one rank above Kärppie. Different conclusions were drawn in Mikkeli.
The team has already given up seven players. On Sunday, the Etelä-Savo team transferred American player Connor Ford to Lukko.
– There is no compelling need to do anything. We’ll see what the day brings. Our focus is on Wednesday’s game, says director of sports Mikko Hakkarainen.
Jukurit has acted financially wisely. It has already saved seven players in salary costs.
The club transferred defender Juuso Arola to Friborg of the Swiss league and defender Alberts Smits to Red Bull Munich of the German DEL league on a loan agreement.
Jukurit reportedly paid compensation of tens of thousands of euros for both players.
TPS is watching
Iltalehti also reached TPS sports director Mika Suoraniemi.
– At least we are not selling any players. The situation is on as long as the transfer back limit is open, that is, by Monday evening at 11:59 p.m., possible transfers must be reported to the SM league office, says the TPS boss.
TPS is 13th in the series.
Liigajumbo Vaasan Sport’s Simon Hjalmarsson, 37, has been a sought-after player in various hockey leagues. However, according to information received by Iltalehti, the attacker with a KHL background does not want to continue his season elsewhere, but will go on vacation when Sport’s season ends on March 17.
The lock is closed
Connor Ford moved from Mikkelin Jukuri to Rauma Lukko. Elmeri Elo / AOP
Rauma Luko’s office has a peaceful Monday evening.
– We have a ready team. There will be no more changes. Connor Ford was the last purchase, says sports director Kalle Sahlstedt.
Koovola’s KooKoo is a brilliant second in the series.
– At least we’re not wearing sales pants. Maybe not shopping pants either, probably the moves here have been made. There isn’t a lot of supply on the market there, says Kouvola sports director Antti Tuomenoksa.
Oversupply at HIFK
Sebastian Repo is a big player for HIFK. Vesa Pöppönen / AOP
There has been buzz around HIFK all season. In the early season, the team suffered from an unprecedented wave of injuries and was at the bottom of the series.
When the players returned to the grid, HIFK rose to fight for the playoff spot.
Because of the special season, there have been no less than 39 players on the roster of the Helsinki team. The club has paid wages to even more players, so the player budget for the season is already massive.
– The greater probability is that we will not do anything on Monday othersstates the CEO Ilkka Kortesluoma.
