r/hawks 7d ago

NHL alignment chart: Central division edition. John Klingberg is the best Swedish player in Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars history. Now, who is the best Finnish player in Chicago Blackhawks history?

/r/AlignmentChartFills/comments/1vx4dyf/nhl_alignment_chart_central_division_edition_john/
5 Upvotes

42 comments sorted by

51

u/Lionheart1224 7d ago

...Teuvo Teravainen? I literally cannot think of anyone else.

24

u/jd_077 7d ago

Turbo i guess, even if his best years were in carolina

5

u/lethargytartare 7d ago

yeah. only others that come to mind for me are Niemi and Ruutu, and they don't come close to Teuvo's performance even just looking at time with the Hawks.

27

u/edeeds91 7d ago

It’s definitely Teravainen, that’s kinda it. Tuomo Ruutu wasn’t bad and played here when nobody else wanted to, Timonen was fun but was already old as hell, and one season of Olli Maatta doesn’t cut it. Shouldn’t sleep on Niemi either, they don’t win the 2010 cup with just Huet, that’s for sure. It’d probably be him if he was around a few more years.

8

u/Bicktacular 7d ago

I never truly realized how few good Finns we’ve had. Shoutout Tony Salmelainen, 4th highest scoring Finn in franchise history. Had tremendous wheels and absolutely nothing else.

6

u/proxycor 7d ago

Antti Niemi on this one for me

5

u/HappyHockeyHiker 7d ago

Turbo, but don’t sleep on Tuomo Ruutu. Would have been better if Hawks had more help with him.

18

u/Top_Kale_8880 7d ago edited 7d ago

Antti Niemi was in net for the 2015 Cup and was the first Finnish-born goaltender to win one.

EDIT: Thanks to the commenter below who corrected my brain fog. 2010, not 2015, obv.

Also recall that *NIEMI* is why we should view SJ as a rival. Recall they stole him by offer sheeting Hjalmarsson.

13

u/marshmellow1328 7d ago

Niemi was 2010 cup just to clear that up.

2

u/Top_Kale_8880 7d ago

D'oh. I knew that - synapses not all firing.

2

u/marshmellow1328 7d ago

I figured as much. Happens to the best of us

6

u/OwenD66 7d ago

Eh regarding the SJ offer sheet, I’d much rather have Crawford than Niemi so I’m willing to let that slide

2

u/Top_Kale_8880 7d ago

In hindsight, yes. More importantly, I'm glad they kept Hammer. But at the time, it was kind of rare offer sheet fuckery. Or at least it seemed like it.

2

u/Effective-Elk-4964 7d ago

Better to keep Hjammer, for sure.

3

u/Tonylegomobile 7d ago

You owe us for that one lol

Niemi was one of the worst goalies imaginable

5

u/Talo101990 7d ago

I'd go with Niemi over Teuvo as well

2

u/ajwalsh213 7d ago

And hammer over niemi all the way

2

u/Effective-Elk-4964 7d ago

Yeah, even on the short time line, I’m taking Niemi here.

6

u/HappyHockeyHiker 7d ago

Stan Mikita was literally from Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). This is crap.

3

u/Effective-Elk-4964 7d ago

Stan moved to Canada when he was 8 played his international hockey for Canada.

2

u/HappyHockeyHiker 6d ago

Even if that is the “reason” …Doesn’t change the fact he’s not the best player from Canada to ever play for the Hawks.

1

u/MatticusGisicus 5d ago

IMO it’s pretty obviously Tazer or Kieth

3

u/rhinosaur- 7d ago

Tuomo Ruutu

3

u/user_nameisinvalid 7d ago

Niemi for the 2010 Cup and Turbo #2

4

u/Electronic-Fondant62 7d ago

Kimmo Timonen! but probably Teuvo

2

u/Brave_Mess_3155 7d ago

Chico Maki

2

u/Effective-Elk-4964 7d ago

Yeah, Niemi has all 16 wins in the 1st cup run in about 50 years.

I don’t love it, but I’m taking his Hawk career over Teuvo’s, even in the one season.

1

u/itsalwaysbeen 7d ago

Taco for sure

1

u/Wildpuck 7d ago

Regarding the Wild/Klingberg claim, Joel Erickson Ek would like a word.

1

u/WilditariusAstar 7d ago

I’d take Jimmy Brodin every day of the week and twice on Sunday over Klinger.

1

u/AnxietyExact4710 6d ago

I'll always say it's Tuomo Ruutu.

My heart will always belong to Ruutu

1

u/Old_Share_8657 4d ago

Christian Ruutu

1

u/Cautious-Moose9180 7d ago

Christian Ruuttu

2

u/HappyHockeyHiker 7d ago

You mean Tuomo…

0

u/AnxietyExact4710 6d ago

Two different guys, not even spelled the same. Christian played for Chicago in the 90's

but he wasn't very memorable lol. If he had been related to Tuomo, he'd have been the third best Ruutu brother.

1

u/HappyHockeyHiker 6d ago

Christian Ruutu over Tuomo is bizarre man.

Tuomo’s brother might have been better.

0

u/AnxietyExact4710 6d ago

That's what I'm saying. Jarko was better lol Not sure why that's getting me downvoted...

0

u/HappyHockeyHiker 6d ago

Your reading comprehension is almost as bad as your ability to evaluate talent. 🤡

0

u/AnxietyExact4710 6d ago

I'm not the one who said Christian though. I just mentioned that Tuomo and Christian's last names were spelled differently.

0

u/HappyHockeyHiker 6d ago

I see you’re still very confused.

G-d speed Internet stranger.
https://giphy.com/gifs/XHeLeuirRbwptHhSWd

0

u/AnxietyExact4710 6d ago

Spell it out for me then, since I literally said Tuomo and Jarko were better than Christian.