FIN: Young Trio Taking Charge

The three highest picks from Finland in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft were goalie Tuukka Rask, center Perttu Lindgren, and defenseman Teemu Laakso. Merely a year later, all three are taking big roles in their SM-liiga teams.

While both Rask and Lindgren were already in big roles last season with Ilves, Laakso was struggling for ice time with IFK Helsinki. Now Laakso has entered the season with improved strength and especially with more speed in his game. As a result, there has been a more confident Laakso on the ice this fall.

HIFK's ex-NHL coach Bob Francis has found Laakso to be reliable in defensive zone and productive in offensive zone. So far, Laakso has collected three goals and two assists in 13 games. After some injuries to other defenseman, Laakso has found himself playing over 25 minutes a night.

Known simple as Perttu the Phenomenon in Tampere, Perttu Lindgren caught fire last season after New Year, and is now expected to carry the first line of Ilves. Lindgren was already signed by Dallas Stars this summer and visited the team's training camp. Lindgren scored a goal in his only preseason game, but was returned to Ilves to play the rest of the season.

Lindgren has so far recorded four assists in six SM-liiga games, but a lot more is expected from the 19-year-old. So far, the whole Ilves team has been struggling to score goals, and Lindgren's playmaking ability is much needed in the upcoming games.

The other young star in Tampere, Tuukka Rask, whose biggest assets are quickness and flexibility has not been affected too much by the new, smaller goalie gear used now in Europe too. Rask is now considered to be among SM-liiga's top-5 goalies and some believe he might be the best goalie in the league.

Rask has carried a heavy workload with Ilves and has started nine consecutive games from the start of the season. He has been a key player in all four Ilves victories, which is obvious when the team has scored less than two goals per game. So far, Rask has posted a 2.36 goals against average. It will be a good sign if the young goalie can handle the over 40 league games and national team games without losing his good form.

Finnish U20 national team coach Jarmo Tolvanen should be happy to see his key players doing well in SM-liiga. When the puck drops in Sweden to start the 2007 World Junior Championships, Finland should have a very solid goalie-defenseman-center trio to build its roster on. Last season Rask was already selected as the top goalie of the tournament and Laakso was Finland's top defenseman.

Since the new NHL CBA gives team only two years to sign their European draftees, the whole trio is going to play in North America next season. All three are also preparing to leave Finland next summer: they are all now completing their military service while playing in SM-liiga. This tough schooling should serve the players well when they move on in their careers.

NEWS AND NOTES: Jokerit defenseman and Washington Capitals draftee Sami Lepistoö is out with a broken collarbone for the rest of the calendar year. Lepistö was expected to be among the top defenseman in the league ... Tampa Bay Lightning first round selection from last years draft, Ilves backup Riku Helenius will be out for four months after a shoulder surgery. Helenius will miss the World Junior Championships.