[News] Flames loan Valimaki to Tampereen Ilves (Liiga)

[FanIn80]

I know it doesn’t really balance out with the rest of the current distribution, but I want Valimaki and Andersson paired up as soon as possible. That’s gonna be out top pairing for years to come, and the sooner they start getting used to each other the better.

[Lil Pedro]

Originally Posted by Kidder

What’s crazy about his 8 playoff points is I can almost recount and replay in my head every single one.

I’m going to try now, even though it’s been a decade since I last thought about it.

I believe he had 4 goals, 4 assists that playoff run.

Goals.
The outwaiting Cujo in tight for our second in 18 seconds against Wings.
The no look shot on a two on one, against the Sharks I believe.

Assists
The spinorama assist to give Chris Clarke a tap to tie game 6 against TB.
The one touch tap back pass to a streaking Donovan for a breakaway goal against Sharks.

Oh another goal, he like took it from the boards near the blueline, and like drove the net from the outside, protected the puck and pulled it across the crease with him to tuck it around the goalie. Forget who that was against.

And not a point, but of course he took out cujo at the end of game 4 to earn a game suspension but get in the heads of the Wings.

So I can still recall 5, but I know for a while I could recount all 8, they were all memorable in some way.

He was one hell of a player.

What ever happened to him and the Flames? Didn't offer him a contract after the lockout?

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I know it doesn’t really balance out with the rest of the current distribution, but I want Valimaki and Andersson paired up as soon as possible. That’s gonna be out top pairing for years to come, and the sooner they start getting used to each other the better.

I think that Valimaki-Andersson are actually too stylistically similar to mesh well together. Maybe I am wrong there but they both do well in the same areas. I think it behooves us to keep them anchoring two top pairs for the foreseeable future. Also I really liked Hanifin-Andersson in playoffs, and if we keep Hanifin I think we should be trying that pairing out on a full time basis.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Kidder

What’s crazy about his 8 playoff points is I can almost recount and replay in my head every single one.

I’m going to try now, even though it’s been a decade since I last thought about it.

I believe he had 4 goals, 4 assists that playoff run.

Goals.
The outwaiting Cujo in tight for our second in 18 seconds against Wings.
The no look shot on a two on one, against the Sharks I believe.

Assists
The spinorama assist to give Chris Clarke a tap to tie game 6 against TB.
The one touch tap back pass to a streaking Donovan for a breakaway goal against Sharks.

Oh another goal, he like took it from the boards near the blueline, and like drove the net from the outside, protected the puck and pulled it across the crease with him to tuck it around the goalie. Forget who that was against.

And not a point, but of course he took out cujo at the end of game 4 to earn a game suspension but get in the heads of the Wings.

So I can still recall 5, but I know for a while I could recount all 8, they were all memorable in some way.

He was one hell of a player.

He scored a heckuva a goal against the Sens down the stretch - which sounds like the goal you described. Blew the lid off the Dome - I was at the game and it was the loudest I had heard the dome....and a taste of what was to come in the playoffs.

Best version I can find (from AC):
http://web.archive.org/web/201506112...se/yhooli.webm

[AC]

Looks like Kidder was just talking about Nieminen's playoff goals and assists, though that goal vs Ottawa was great.

The goal in question is likely this one from Game 6 vs Vancouver, which started with him crushing Salo and knocking the stick out of his hand before circling back with the puck and driving around the now-stickless defender:
https://streamable.com/y3cgms

The 4th goal that Kidder was trying to remember was against TB, game 2. Late when the game was out of hand and it was getting nasty Nemo collected a loose puck inside the blueline and ripped a slapper shortside to make it 4-1.

[albertGQ]

Hopefully Kidder was just auto correct for Kipper

[Kidder]

Wow thanks AC, as I described that 3rd goal I lamented I’d probably never see it again to confirm my memory, and there you go and deliver!

The description of the 4th goal does not jog my memory. But I appreciate knowing now!

Wonder if you have video of his “no look” 2 on 1 goal against Nabokov round 3. Such a clever player Nieminen was.

[AC]

Of course.

Here's his goal vs TB: https://streamable.com/9kefqr

Here's his no-look goal vs SJ: https://streamable.com/e1n5e5
Here's his beauty drop pass to Donovan vs SJ: https://streamable.com/enexup

Rewatching those clips I remembered that Greg Millen probably never once said Nieminen properly. It's always a different combinations of N's and M's.

[Traditional_Ale]

That no look shot, in a playoff game...damn, man. Dude has brass balls.

[JD]

Man I loved every single player on that team. No passengers.

[Unknown]

https://www.ilves.com/juuso-valimaki...isaatioihinsa/

Ilves' statement of Välimäki and Hayton going back to NA. Their Sports Manager said that there is simply no doubt that Juuso showed how exceptional player he is. He also told that Juuso is a natural leader and a competitor, which can be seen in his everyday life. Juuso himself thought that this short period in his career turned out very well. He was happy how he was able to play and compete, and also thanked Ilves' organization.

[Redrum]

Originally Posted by AC

Of course.

Here's his goal vs TB: https://streamable.com/9kefqr

Here's his no-look goal vs SJ: https://streamable.com/e1n5e5
Here's his beauty drop pass to Donovan vs SJ: https://streamable.com/enexup

Rewatching those clips I remembered that Greg Millen probably never once said Nieminen properly. It's always a different combinations of N's and M's.

Dammit, stop posting 04 highlights. I was about to post something in anger and forgot about it.

[DazzlinDino]

Thanks AC, those are some great memories. The compete level of that team set the whole city on fire.

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Thanks AC, those are some great memories. The compete level of that team set the whole city on fire.

One thing that stands out about that team in these highlights and is also true of the Hartley Flames is that what they lacked in skill, they made up for in team speed. Would love to see Treliving identify and address that with this team. Some of that has to do with systems and what I've heard from Ward this offseason makes me hopeful that next year's team will be a better transition team. Really hoping to see a quicker skating puck-moving team this season. Makes for a much more dynamic and exciting team.

[LIP MAN]

Originally Posted by Fan in Exile

One thing that stands out about that team in these highlights and is also true of the Hartley Flames is that what they lacked in skill, they made up for in team speed. Would love to see Treliving identify and address that with this team. Some of that has to do with systems and what I've heard from Ward this offseason makes me hopeful that next year's team will be a better transition team. Really hoping to see a quicker skating puck-moving team this season. Makes for a much more dynamic and exciting team.

100% agree. I do notice a lot of our prospects are drafted based on skill and hockey sense. Need some burners on the team. I really liked Reider based on his speed and transition game. Just an example of effective ways to build the team. Seems like a lot of our higher picks have a component of needing to work on foot speed. Part of that is probably where we end up picking.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Fan in Exile

One thing that stands out about that team in these highlights and is also true of the Hartley Flames is that what they lacked in skill, they made up for in team speed. Would love to see Treliving identify and address that with this team. Some of that has to do with systems and what I've heard from Ward this offseason makes me hopeful that next year's team will be a better transition team. Really hoping to see a quicker skating puck-moving team this season. Makes for a much more dynamic and exciting team.

Plus it'll unleash Gaudreau to play his game

[dino7c]

The 04 team had a couple quick guys but wasn't a fast team...the D was slow and hooked and held (although that was allowed at the time)

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Kidder

Wow thanks AC, as I described that 3rd goal I lamented I’d probably never see it again to confirm my memory, and there you go and deliver!

The description of the 4th goal does not jog my memory. But I appreciate knowing now!

Wonder if you have video of his “no look” 2 on 1 goal against Nabokov round 3. Such a clever player Nieminen was.

I always get a kick out of watching that highlight.

I play with a guy who tries that. Several times over the past few years. It is blatant and painfully obvious. Because nobody ever looks pass that long and hard. Worked once when the shot was really well placed (the guy dies have a wicked shot).

Kudos to Niemenin for that one, though. That was exciting

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by dino7c

The 04 team had a couple quick guys but wasn't a fast team...the D was slow and hooked and held (although that was allowed at the time)

Most jarring thing rewatching 2004 games was the obstruction and the faceoffs in no man's land (between the circle and blueline, lol I can't believe that was a thing).

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Plus it'll unleash Gaudreau to play his game

Cause let's face it: his game isn't built around the opposing team having its players back and in position.