Big Finnish forward turning heads in bid to make Jets

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This article was published 28/09/2022 (1075 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Saku Maenalanen was supposed to be up in the Canada Life Centre press box on Tuesday night, eating popcorn with the rest of the Winnipeg Jets scratches.

Instead, the big Finnish forward found himself skating on the ice surface below, getting a second straight look by a clearly intrigued Rick Bowness. The veteran bench boss liked what he saw from Maenalanen in Sunday’s pre-season debut in Edmonton to the point he changed his roster plans.

“The more we watch him, the more we like,” Bowness said prior to puck drop against the Ottawa Senators.

That has to be music to the ears of Maenalanen, who is back on North American soil for the first time in four years trying to earn a full-time NHL job. At the age of 28, he knows time isn’t necessarily on his side, certainly not the way it used to be.

“This is my last chance,” he told the Free Press following morning skate. “This is a good chance for me. A good challenge. I just have to keep going.”

It’s true Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff had a rather quiet summer, making no trades and not dipping his toes very deep in free agent waters. Maenalanen could end up being one of those sneaky good acquisitions if he can pan out. His one-year, two-way contract pays the league minimum of US $750,000.

There’s plenty to like about the player. His 6-4, 207-pound frame certainly stands out, especially on a Winnipeg roster that doesn’t have a ton of size up front. He’s versatile, a left-hand shot who can play any forward position. He’s also hungry, after getting a taste of the NHL in the form of 34 games during the 2018-19 season in which he scored four goals and added four assists with the Carolina Hurricanes. He believes he can be an effective two-way player, something the Jets tried to get a closer look at Tuesday night.

“He’s a good skater with good skills. He can move out there. We’re going to use him as a penalty killer (against Ottawa),” said Bowness.

It says here 10 forward jobs are likely spoken for: Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Blake Wheeler, Adam Lowry, Mason Appleton, Jansen Harkins, Sam Gagner and Cole Perfetti are sure bets. That leaves just a trio of spots up for grabs. Maenalanen is very much in the mix along with the likes of Dominic Toninato, Morgan Barron, David Gustafsson, Kristian Reichel, Kevin Stenlund, Jeff Malott and Mikey Eyssimont.

It’s not a coincidence Bowness put Maenalanen on left wing Tuesday night, on a line with Toninato and Eyssimont. Nor is it that all three of those men were appearing in a second straight game. Perfetti, who missed the last half of last season, is the only other player to suit up for both.

“He’s more comfortable on the left side, but if you have a chance to play in the National Hockey League and the coach says you may have to play right wing — figure it out, as quick as you can,” said Bowness. “He can play. He played right side last game and didn’t look out of place at all. I know he’s more comfortable on the left side and we’ll try to get that. But if you’re going to make our team, and your versatility helps, then it’s a good thing for you.”

Maenalanen was a one-and-done player, going back to Europe after that big league debut. He spent two years in the KHL (64 games, 9 goals, 12 assists), then skated last year with Karpat of SM-liiga where he had a breakthrough season offensively (47 games, 13 goals, 28 assists).

“I’m a much better player now. That’s why I went back to Europe, to play games. Now I’m ready,” he said of his decision to take another shot at the NHL. “I think I’m a lot stronger, can skate faster. And am smarter. Because I’m stronger, I can keep the puck better. That’s my game. I want to be good in the offensive zone, and the defensive zone. I’m more physical now, I can do more of that.”

Maenalanen would have to be placed on waivers if the Jets can’t find a spot for him on the 23-man roster. He didn’t know much about Winnipeg, or the hockey club, prior to signing this summer, but had a conversation with fellow Finn Kristian Vesalainen.

“He told me this is a good organization and good guys here,” he said. Ironically, Vesalainen’s decision to go back to Europe is one of the reasons there’s a potential job to be won for Maenalanen. Winnipeg also lost forwards Paul Stastny and Evgeny Svechnikov to free agency, and didn’t re-sign depth forwards Adam Brooks, Zach Sanford, Austin Poganski and C.J. Suess.

Maenalanen is currently living with another countryman, Ville Heinola, who is also fighting to crack Winnipeg’s roster.

“That’s good. He helps a lot,” said Maenalanen, who appreciates the clean slate a new coaching staff provides.

“It’s a good thing. Every player is like same level. You just have to show every day what you can do.”

First cuts of camp: The Jets have started trimming the roster. Forward Danny Zhilkin, defenceman Dmitry Kuzmin and goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis were all returned to their Ontario Hockey League teams on Tuesday. Zhilkin will skate this year with the Guelph Storm, Kuzmin with the Flint Firebirds and DiVincentiis with the North Bay Battalion.

Winnipeg now has 47 skaters remaining in camp (27 forwards, 15 defencemen, five goaltenders). They must cut down to a maximum of 23 prior to the season-opener on Oct. 14 against the New York Rangers.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg