Pitkanen is doing it right
I know a lot of my followers here are not into sports, so this will go under a cut, but I had to just write about Joni Pitkanen, Finnish D-man on the Carolina Hurricanes.
Joni Pitkanen sometimes looks like he sees something shiny out in the crowd and misses the puck. He's taken a lot of punishment from the fans for not paying attention during games. But he is a premier defender on the penalty kill. He shoots the puck. He's a big body out there and can pass like a madman, tape to tape, especially on a breakaway with one of his fellow countrymen, Jussi Jokinen or Tuomo Ruutu.
AND he's on a three game point streak.
The 2011-12 season has just started, but already Joni has six points (2G, 4A) in as many games. He may have a -3 rating, but that doesn't begin to show what he's bringing to the table this season. He's concentrating, taking pucks away, making good passes, watching for openings. He is one of the leaders in TOI, but he's working harder than he ever has with the Canes. The minutes are worth it.
Last year, Joni finished with a -2 rating and 35 points in 72 games, but the fans were angry. He would "drift off to Joni-land" and miss keeping the puck in the zone. He wouldn't skate down pucks. He just wasn't playing like we knew he could. The year prior, his second full season in Carolina, he had 46 points and a -11 rating. The 46 points matched his career high with the Flyers in his third NHL season. He was +22 and in only 58 games. The very next season, he was -25 with 43 points, but I'm sure the rating was why the Flyers traded him to Edmonton.
I have a feeling that if Joni keeps up this kind of work ethic, he's going to smash that 46 point record. He is concentrating. He's doing everything right. Of course, not having a contract negotiation coming up helps. His baby boy will be a year old in January. He has a new coach, who I feel has really helped him to get back on track. Joni has no outside worries anymore (other than the anti-Pitkanen camp), so now he can fully concentrate on hockey. And doing that will make this Caniac very happy.
Joni Pitkanen sometimes looks like he sees something shiny out in the crowd and misses the puck. He's taken a lot of punishment from the fans for not paying attention during games. But he is a premier defender on the penalty kill. He shoots the puck. He's a big body out there and can pass like a madman, tape to tape, especially on a breakaway with one of his fellow countrymen, Jussi Jokinen or Tuomo Ruutu.
AND he's on a three game point streak.
The 2011-12 season has just started, but already Joni has six points (2G, 4A) in as many games. He may have a -3 rating, but that doesn't begin to show what he's bringing to the table this season. He's concentrating, taking pucks away, making good passes, watching for openings. He is one of the leaders in TOI, but he's working harder than he ever has with the Canes. The minutes are worth it.
Last year, Joni finished with a -2 rating and 35 points in 72 games, but the fans were angry. He would "drift off to Joni-land" and miss keeping the puck in the zone. He wouldn't skate down pucks. He just wasn't playing like we knew he could. The year prior, his second full season in Carolina, he had 46 points and a -11 rating. The 46 points matched his career high with the Flyers in his third NHL season. He was +22 and in only 58 games. The very next season, he was -25 with 43 points, but I'm sure the rating was why the Flyers traded him to Edmonton.
I have a feeling that if Joni keeps up this kind of work ethic, he's going to smash that 46 point record. He is concentrating. He's doing everything right. Of course, not having a contract negotiation coming up helps. His baby boy will be a year old in January. He has a new coach, who I feel has really helped him to get back on track. Joni has no outside worries anymore (other than the anti-Pitkanen camp), so now he can fully concentrate on hockey. And doing that will make this Caniac very happy.