Expert Pekka Virta analyzes the situation of the championship-seeking Ilves and especially the new luxury acquisition Adam Clendening.
– At this stage, every team would like a player like that. Right side puck kit with good movement and can defend. A rock-hard purchase.
That’s what Iltalehti’s expert says Pekka Virta.
Ilves made a really hard grab when last Sunday it announced the deal for the end of the season for the American defender by Adam Clendening with.
A puckish thirty-something righty with a strong NHL and AHL resume. A man who is not in Europe chilling. Usually, players like Clendening move to a more prosperous environment than Finland, Switzerland or Sweden.
– Says a lot about Ilves’ determination and ability to get a player of that level to Tampere.
During the fall of 2023, the sports directors of the league clubs have complained about the dry player market. In recent weeks, mainly veteran players have been attached to the domestic main league, of which at least a couple of men had previously ended their careers.
– Ilves sports director Timo Koskelan contacts, the club’s financial situation and Tampere’s suction, Virta bundles up.
– If you try to get the same player somewhere else, it’s more difficult. The new hall in Tampere and the overall package offered by Ilves are impressive. Players are always interested in the possibility of winning the championship, the expert adds.
Clendening, who was left without an NHL contract with New Rangers in October, says that Ilves contacted him in the middle of last week.
– There are a few Finnish agents working in my agency in North America, commented the American.
Ilves immediately made a contract offer.
– I had discussions with 3-4 other clubs, but no concrete offers. I knew that Ilves is a really good organization. Many players have left here for the NHL in recent years.
Crazy level
Adam Clendening made his debut in front of the home crowd on Friday, when Ilves beat Tappara 4–3. The Yankee pack scored Ilves’ third goal, sat one second, was one plus in the power statistics and played 20 minutes. Mika Kylmäniemi / AOP
Clendening made his debut in Ilves’ shirt on Wednesday in Kouvola, when the team from Tampere defeated KooKoo 4–0.
Virta watched every change of Clendening through the video service.
– A damn tough player – and this is not a status assessment, the expert states.
The defenseman has played 90 NHL regular season games and seven playoff games in his career. In the AHL, he has 512 games under his belt in the regular season and 42 in the playoffs. It is worth noting that Clendening has scored a lot of power points behind the bat: 4+20=24 in the NHL regular season and 49+269=318 in the AHL. The ice hockey boxes have also become familiar, as there are no less than 591 minutes spent sitting in the AHL.
– Good on the puck. Struggles and shows toughness and willingness. In Kouvola, it was still a bit lost with the stoppage and rhythm of the Finnish puck, but that side will surely improve with the additional games.
Even before the acquisition of Clendening, Ilves had possibly the strongest defense in the series. Les Lancaster and Arttu Pelli are high-quality circular packages. Dominik Masin is an excellent all-round defender. Niklas Friman is an Olympic champion and world champion. Jarkko Parikka has played EHT games in Leijon in the previous five seasons. Otto Latvala dominates the understrength and defensive play.
– Players who came in the middle of the season, who are good and help to succeed, get approval. The one whose role is reduced may take it in his beak, Virta estimates.
Only gold will do
Adam Clendening played for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL in the 2015–16 season. PDO
On Friday, Ilves defeated the reigning Finnish champion Tappara (4–3) for the second time this season. Ilves is second in the series: 17 games and 32 series points.
– The Ilves team is strong. Only the championship is sought. It is clear that a long project is not being built in Tampere, but the result is being sought now.
Is Ilves the champion?
It is still premature to judge, because the mammoth regular season has not even been played in the third.
The team is on the right track, even though its tactics have varied a lot during the fall. For example, last Sunday’s loss to Sport was an embarrassing blowout.
– In general, as coaches, we tend to act in such a way that after the summer there are a huge number of new ideas for the start of the season. Something new and wonderful should be produced for the game. Adopting new things takes time.
Pitfalls
The goalkeeping game is the biggest pitfall in Ilves’ gold hunt. Jakub Malek was about to win against Tapparaa on Friday, but the opening goal of kirvestorna would have been up for grabs. Mika Kylmäniemi / AOP
Ilves’ pitfalls are in the center game and especially between the pipes.
– If we talk about a perfect team, this is how it is. Of course, they have quite a lot of material to put in the middle. If you think of something to improve, then without a good goalkeeper you won’t win anything.
About Jonas Gunnarsson does not seem to be the number one of the team playing for the championship, but for example has knocked down Tappara twice Jakub Malek is potential. However, too many easy setbacks slip by him.