Pittsburgh Penguins sign 26-year-old Finnish forward Janne Pesonen

by Stros Bro on Jul 7, 2008 8:21 PM EDT Comment 15 comments

The Penguins announced today the signing of forward Janne Pesonen to a one-year, two-way contract, as mandated by the NHL's transfer agreement with Finland.

Pesonen, 26, led the Finnish Elite League with 78 points (34 goals) in 56 games last season, and added 16 points (seven goals) in leading Oulu Karpat to its fifth league championship.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder -- a ninth-round draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2004 -- has spent his entire career in the Finnish Elite League, where he was named Rookie of the Year in 2004 and playoff MVP in 2007.

"Pesonen is a quick, skilled player that has had much success in the Finnish Elite League," Penguins general manager Ray Shero said in a released statement. "We look forward to watching him perform at his first NHL training camp."

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This is huge. Allegedly this guy is equal to or better than Hossa, and that is exactly what the team is going for. This is straight up sick.

I guess Shero realizes the team got so close yet lost in the Finals. I think he’s gunning for a Cup now more than ever.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Jul 7, 2008 8:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll have to see him play first

I’ve seen some youtube videos and he didn’t really do anything to knock me off my feet.

BTW, if anyone is wondering about the golden helmet… that is because he was the player of the year the year before… that is an award they have over there evidently

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 7, 2008 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve heard about that golden helmet thing. Kinda weird, but hey – whatever. Happy to see he was good enough to get it.

FYI – I’m going to compile a post tomorrow with some of his video highlights, just to spare everyone from the hunt.

And don’t be so cynical Stros! In Shero we trust.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Jul 7, 2008 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not really that cynical

I’m excited that we signed him… really excited to see what he can do in the NHL

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 7, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And not that it really matters all that much – but Bertuzzi signed with the Flames. Seems a team will always exist that believes he’s a critical part to their success.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Jul 7, 2008 8:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Found this

from here
Some awards from the Finnish League last season

ILTA-SANOMAT STAR PLAYER AWARD:
1. Ville Leino Jokerit 51 stars
2. Antti Niemi Pelicans 40 stars
3. Janne Pesonen Kärpät 37 stars

KEINONEN-AWARD (BEST PLUS-MINUS):
1. Janne Pesonen Kärpät +39
2. Ville Leino Jokerit +34
3. Hannes Hyvönen Kärpät +33

HONKAVAARA-AWARD (MOST GOALS):
1. Janne Pesonen Kärpät 34 goals
2. Tim Stapleton Jokerit 29 goals
3. Ville Leino Jokerit 28 goals

KETOLA-AWARD (MOST POINTS):
1. Janne Pesonen Kärpät 34+44=78 points
2. Ville Leino Jokerit 28+49=77 points
3. Hannes Hyvönen Kärpät 24+42=66 points

OKSANEN-AWARD (BEST PLAYER IN REGULAR SEASON):
1. Ville Leino Jokerit 226 (53-30-7)
2. Janne Pesonen Kärpät 212 (41-42-5)
3. Jarkko Immonen JYP 27 (3-4-10)

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 7, 2008 9:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe we should

go after that Ville Leino Jokerit as well… he looks to be pretty stout(at least when it comes to awards)

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 7, 2008 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

nevermind

HIs name is Ville Leino(he played for Jokerit) and the Redwings signed him on May 10th of this year… forget I mentioned it

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 7, 2008 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bah! I was going to say the same thing. Now seeing that Detroit has a claim on him, I’d rather he never leave the country.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Jul 7, 2008 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I want to hate the Red Wings so much . . . but then I remember their from Detroit, and I feel sorry for them.

by JDMaker1 on Jul 8, 2008 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i’d hoped the gratuitous, mindless Detroit bashing was limited to MHH, but I guess not…

by ahtrap on Jul 10, 2008 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

shhh go enjoy your Cup ahtrap and leave us to wallow away in our own cynicism ;-)

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Jul 10, 2008 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

don't mind me, just letting off steam

Crazy busy work week, and it doesn’t get much better next week….

It’s just a pet peeve of mine, partly ‘cuz I’ve lived in the city, partly because, yeah, Detroit has problems, but what major city doesn’t? I just hate the reflexive, “ha ha, you have to live in Detroit!” smack….

The other thing is….none of the players actually live in the city itself, so it doesn’t make sense, either. And when people bash on the fans and attribute their faults to Detroit? Yep, mostly suburbanites…not too many black faces in the stands at the Joe even before management started jacking up the prices.

anyway….

by ahtrap on Jul 10, 2008 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well I can sympathize – today during my lunch break I went for a walk. While standing at a crosswalk a woman who was clearly not in the right state of mind was screaming into her phone like it was a field phone in Vietnam, yelling, “YOU TELL THAT (expletive)THAT HE OWES ME $50 FOR MY CRACK.”

And no, it’s not Pittsburgh.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Jul 10, 2008 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry for poking fun at Detroit, but it is a pretty bad city as cities go. I go to school with 3 or 4 people from the Detroit area, and lets just say they’re not in a hurry to go back.

Other than that, I don’t really have anything against Detroit, the city or the hockey team. But I’m fairly certain Hossa didn’t go play hockey there because he liked the view on his drive to work every day.

by JDMaker1 on Jul 11, 2008 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs