Featured Article
Finnish overagers for the 2004 draft
Written by: Pekka Lampinen on 06/16/2004 
6'0", 195 lbs
Born: 2/13/1978
| Season | Team | Pos | GPI | Min | GAA | SV% | W | L | T | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-01 | SaiPa, SM-Liiga | G | 49 | 2826 | 2.55 | 0.924 | 21 | 24 | 3 | 2 |
| 2001-02 | AIK, Elitserien | G | 40 | 2186 | 3.05 | 0.897 | 13 | 22 | 5 | 1 |
| 2002-03 | Karpat, SM-Liiga | G | 36 | 2136 | 2.16 | 0.929 | 16 | 9 | 8 | 4 |
| 2003-04 | Karpat, SM-Liiga | G | 43 | 2572 | 2.03 | 0.936 | 24 | 8 | 9 | 7 |
Backstrom was Mika Noronen's backup on the Finnish team that won the World Junior Championship in 1998. Originally a junior player of the HIFK organization, he wasn't quite brought up properly there and left to seek success elsewhere. He soon broke out with SaiPa in 2000-01, facing numerous shots behind the weak team. A move to Stockholm and AIK turned out to be a disappointment, as the club crashed and burned under new Finnish management. Backstrom did what he could, but AIK was relegated to the second tier league. When given a decent chance to become a starter in Karpat, he took the opportunity and doesn't need to regret it.
In 2002-03 they nearly made it all the way and Backstrom put up a decent fight for the goalie of the year award. The 2003-04 season looked even more promising until a teammate fell on him in a national team game in February and Backstrom was diagnosed with a serious knee injury. Karpat staggered without a proven goalie, but he returned for the playoffs after a minor surgery. Despite some setbacks the team would not lose a series again. Once the season was over and Karpat was celebrating the championship, it was revealed that Backstrom was rushed back and he played the entire campaign with a torn ACL. Later he was awarded as the goalie of the year and the playoff MVP.
Backstrom has slowly but surely altered his style and developed his technique over the years. Once primarily a stand-up goalie, he has integrated more and more butterfly aspects into his game, although he still clearly plays a hybrid style favored by many Finnish goalie coaches. The five-hole used to be a problem for him, but with improved quickness he has patched up his weaknesses. Effortless saves indicate good positioning. His arms are quick enough to guard the net from high shots, and he can often make the big save when needed. All in all, he is now a complete goalie.
For some reason Backstrom's performances in national team games have always been sub-par. Whether this is a combination of a couple of consequences or an alarming sign of vulnerability against greater opposition remains a mystery. If he stays in Europe, he will surely be given more time to become Finland's top European-based goalie, until the end of days if need be. Backstrom's situation much resembles that of Pasi Nurminen three years ago: the same age, roughly the same level of talent and still a long conditioning period to go through. That didn't stop Nurminen from crossing the pond and it won't stop Backstrom either if an NHL organization has enough desire to welcome him. Teams have less need for goalies now than back then, but if a European veteran looks like a good option, he is the man.
Janne Niskala, D
6'0", 198 lbs
Born: 9/22/1981
| Season | Team | Pos | GP | G | A | P | ± | PIM | GWG | GTG | S% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-01 | Lukko, SM-Liiga | D | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | - | - | - |
| 2000-01 | Manchester Storm, BISL | D | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | 8 | - | - | - |
| 2001-02 | Lukko, SM-Liiga | D | 55 | 7 | 13 | 20 | -25 | 81 | - | - | - |
| 2002-03 | Lukko, SM-Liiga | D | 46 | 4 | 5 | 9 | +5 | 40 | - | - | - |
| 2003-04 | Lukko, SM-Liiga | D | 55 | 21 | 15 | 36 | +13 | 73 | - | - | - |
Niskala has represented Lukko throughout his career in Finland. His road to become an SM-Liiga regular was bumpy as he couldn't lay a solid foundation for his game due to being a defensive liability. In 2000 he moved temporarily to England for some fresh air with the Manchester Storm. Once back in Finland, he had more maturity to help him develop. Despite promising numbers in 2001-02, he couldn't get it all together until 2003-04. Suddenly he was a valuable asset even in the defensive zone. Offensively the speedy defenseman took the largest step as his contribution elevated the team's power play to a higher level. He never hesitated to draw and fire a slapshot, and that shows in the statistics. The bottom line, he developed into a top ten defenseman in SM-Liiga.
Niskala's athletism is extremely impressive. He has the strength to wrestle with bigger opponents in explosive pulses and the stamina to keep it up throughout the game with lots of ice time. The necessary tools of an offensive defenseman are there, puck poise and impeccable skating. With a killer slapshot and a powerful wrist shot, he boasts more firepower than any other defenseman in the league. Despite his vision and hockey sense not being anything special, he still gets close to an ideal power play quarterback. However, you can only become so solid in one year. Niskala's defensive and neutral zone play is still questionable, especially when planning a jump onto a higher level. At the age of 22 there is still time for him to mature. He doesn't have to be considered an immediate addition if and when drafted. Niskala can eventually reach his peak as the artillery piece of a second power play unit.
Toni Soderholm, D
6'2", 190 lbs
Born: 4/14/1978
| Season | Team | Pos | GP | G | A | P | ± | PIM | GWG | GTG | S% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-01 | UMass-Am, NCAA | D | 24 | 1 | 7 | 8 | - | 23 | - | - | - |
| 2001-02 | UMass-Am, NCAA | D | 33 | 2 | 15 | 17 | - | 28 | - | - | - |
| 2002-03 | HIFK, SM-Liiga | D | 52 | 8 | 15 | 23 | +7 | 49 | - | - | - |
| 2003-04 | HIFK, SM-Liiga | D | 56 | 16 | 21 | 37 | +21 | 72 | - | - | - |
Let it first be known that Soderholm doesn't need to be drafted in order to sign him thanks to his NCAA career. It is still possible that a team could still pick him to secure his rights and contract negotiations, and prospect-wise his status doesn't make a difference. The cosmopolitan native of the capital city area has spent a total of six seasons in North America, not appearing in spotlights until after four years in the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He quickly worked his way from the third pairing all the way to the first with HIFK in his rookie season in 2002-03, earning the Jarmo Wasama Memorial Trophy as the SM-Liiga rookie of the year. After the season Soderholm was expected to sign with an NHL team, but he decided to stay in Helsinki. Later he stated that he felt like owning HIFK at least another season for giving him a chance - a season in which the sophomore would wear the C on his chest. He developed still and got his name on an even nicer trophy, the defenseman of the year.
Soderholm is a surprisingly flashy player for someone with such a calm and well-rounded style and no skills that stand high above the rest. If successful, he could resemble Toni Lydman on NHL level: A two-way defenseman with shifty offensive and defensive biases. He is simply adept at many aspects of the game, but his smooth skating deserves a mention. However, his physical play is a notable question mark. During his two years in Finland he hasn't added any mass and he didn't have the strength to always succeed in what he wanted to accomplish, namely taking the body, which he does like to do. In the NHL this would naturally be even more of a problem. How much he can still improve is a mystery. Nevertheless, Soderholm seems bound to sign an NHL contract when the time is right.
Elitserien statistics contributed by Johan Nilsson.
Copyright 2004 Hockey’s Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.
HF Quick Navigation
