First Finnish NHL player on each franchise

by SharksAttack - 32 cards (Last updated on Oct 12, 2021)

The First Finnish citizen to play a NHL game on each franchise history.

1924-26 Paulin Chambers (V128-1) #21 Albert Pudas Front

1. 1924-26 Paulin Chambers (V128-1) #21 Albert Pudas

Toronto Maple Leafs

Albert Pudas 1926-27

Juho Albert Putaansuu was born in the Grand Duchy of Finland but moved to Canada at the age of 18 months. He was still citizen of now independence Finland when he played his 4 NHL games with Toronto. He later got Canadian citizenship and coached Team Canada in 1936 Olympics.

2. 1951-52 Parkhurst #31 Alexander "Pentti" Lund

Boston Buins

Pentti Lund 1946-47

Pentti Alexander Lund was born in Finland and moved to Canada as a kid. He was still Finnish citizen when he played his first NHL game with the Bruins in 1947 playoffs.

1944-64 Bee Hive Hockey Photos (Group 2) #NNO Pentti Lund Front

3. 1944-64 Bee Hive Hockey Photos (Group 2) #NNO Pentti Lund

New York Rangers

Pentti Lund 1948-49

Lund was still Finnish citizen while winning the Calder Trophy as a rookie of the year in 1948-49. He later got Canadian citizenship to make it easier to cross the border while playing in the NHL.

1979-80 Coca-Cola Atlanta Flames #NNO Pekka Rautakallio Front

4. 1979-80 Coca-Cola Atlanta Flames #NNO Pekka Rautakallio

Atlanta Flames (Calgary Flames)

Pekka Rautakallio 1979-80

"Rocky" stayed with the Flames when team moved to Calgary.

1980-81 O-Pee-Chee #315 Risto Siltanen Front

5. 1980-81 O-Pee-Chee #315 Risto Siltanen

Edmonton Oilers

Risto Siltanen 1979-80

Risto "Rike" Siltanen played 1978-79 season WHA-Oilers. Hannu Kamppuri also played on WHA-Oilers.

6. 1979-80 Washington Capitals #NNO Antero Lehtonen

Washington Capitals

Antero Lehtonen 1979-80

Lehtonen had 21 points in 65 games on his only NHL season.

1980-81 O-Pee-Chee #394 Markus Mattsson Front

7. 1980-81 O-Pee-Chee #394 Markus Mattsson

Winnipeg Jets (Arizona Coyotes)

Markus Mattsson 1979-80

Mattsson played on WHA-Jets 1977-79 before team moved to the NHL. Veli-Pekka Ketola and Heikki Riihiranta also played on WHA-Jets (1974-77).

8. 1972-73 Williams Jaakiekko (Finnish) #307 Jari Kaarela

Colorado Rockies (New Jersey Devils)

Jari Kaarela 1980-81

Kaarela played 5 games with the Rockies in 1980-81.

9. 1980 Mallasjuoma (Finnish) #105 Kai Suikkanen

Buffalo Sabres

Kai Suikkanen 1981-82

Suikkanen played one game with the Sabres on 1981-82 season.

1982-83 Post Cereal #NNO Ilkka Sinisalo Front

10. 1982-83 Post Cereal #NNO Ilkka Sinisalo

Philadelphia Flyers

Ilkka Sinisalo 1981-82

Sinisalo played 9 season with the Flyers and worked as Flyers scout from 2004 until he passed away in 2017.

Comments

Oct 13, 2021 - 3:30PM
fedoratipper

Nice list. Doesn't surprise me only three Fins have played for the Wings. They prefer Russians and Swedes.

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This list was created by site member SharksAttack. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Trading Card Database.