Oskar Osala Joins KHL?

by Caniac1026 on May 25, 2011 10:37 AM EDT

Saw this just now, can anyone confirm?

This actually got me thinking as I was looking at KHL signings this morning: it seems pretty darn shady that KHL teams can make offers to players this early in the off-season. Then again, it's the KHL I'm complaining about...

Can anyone share a link to the upcoming NHL off season contracts/signing schedule?

OMG, 75 words? Really? Hmmm, what to say. What can I do to fill the void?

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sorry for the ugly post: copy and paste fail.

by Caniac1026 on May 25, 2011 10:40 AM EDT reply actions

is this true?

by Go_Shelf on May 25, 2011 11:20 AM EDT reply actions

was confirmed on Twitter. not confirmed by team yet.

Editing Manager of Canes Country.com

by Bob Wage on May 25, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

In response to my own comments in the article about the KHL, I guess it’s a moot point if other players are signing elsewhere in Europe.

by Caniac1026 on May 25, 2011 11:33 AM EDT reply actions

Osala and the KHL

Yes, it appears to be true. It was reported a couple of weeks ago or so by a very respected Finnish hockey commentator Juha Hiitelä. His twitter account is @jhiitela. Other Finnish hockey reporters also reported the story. I think Osala will have to work extremely hard on this KHL team because the coach is a disciplinarian. To me the irony is that if Osala had made the type of commitment to conditioning that it will take on the KHL team, he’d likely have made the Hurricanes roster. Also, in the KHL contracts are usually not guaranteed. Under most KHL contracts, a player can be fired at the team’s pleasure.

I personally doubt the Hurricanes will re-sign Osala at any point. It seems Jim Rutherford prefers not to keep players on his team that have left to go to the KHL. I think the trade of Anton Babchuk was somewhat illustrative of that approach.

by abramsdoug on May 25, 2011 11:56 AM EDT reply actions

I honestly don’t know what to think of it except to say I am disappointed.

Obviously like you I’ve seen the rumblings from Juha and others coming out of Finland and you kind of assumed where there’s smoke…

In a way, I can understand Osala’s position if in his exit meetings he got the feeling he was low on the totem pole in terms of making the Canes squad, and if he feels that a year in the KHL will bring him more value than another year in the AHL. Personally, I think that’s short-sighted, but then I’m a North American and not a Finn. The KHL probably has a different reputation there than it does here. I also read somewhere (Hurricanes Beat I think) that Oskar and Tuomo are pretty close, so you have to suspect they had some conversations, and Ruuty probably would know more than we did about Babchuk’s relationship with the team going to the KHL and back and the potential repercussions and probably advised his friend accordingly.

What this doesn’t have is the whole distaste of the Babchuk relationship where he refused to be sent down to the AHL and was suspended from the team, and then joining the KHL after already having earned a position on the Canes roster.

If nothing else, we still own his rights, correct? So if Oskar does come back to the NHL, he’s still ours, correct? If so, best case scenario he grows from his experience (as Babchuk did) and can make an impact on the Canes roster. Worst case scenario, he’s an asset to be used for trade.

Phoblographer and Finn Aficionado
SISU

by Jamie Kellner on May 25, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

As I understand the situation, the Canes will continue to own Osala’s rights and to return to the NHL he has to do so just as Babchuk did. The situation doesn’t appear to have the antagonism that seemed to be present with Babchuk; but in other cases where AHL players bolted for the KHL, the Hurricanes didn’t re-sign them. Osala’s age is starting to work against his returning to the NHL. On the other hand, Osala’s size, speed, and hands give him an advantage. I see him as an asset to be traded if he ever decides to return to the NHL. The KHL structure is such that he could be booted at any time. His KHL team is far less player friendly than the Hurricanes/Checkers organization. I wish him well and hope it all goes great for him.

by abramsdoug on May 25, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Personally, I think that’s short-sighted

Agreed, it’s definitely the easier route that pays better. He’s closer to home playing a style of hockey he’s more familiar with, it makes sense.

by Go_Shelf on May 25, 2011 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Google Translate

Use Google Translate…according to that it’s in Swedish. I can’t get the English only version to copy but if you go there and plop in the URL you can get the story translated to English.

Riding the Cole-train.

by Esbee on May 25, 2011 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

Imperfect, but perhaps good enough, copy/paste of the translation (from Google Translate):

Hockey player Oskar Osala from Vaasa leaving the AHL for the Russian league KHL. It became clear on Monday. 23-year-old’s new club address is Neftekhimik Nizjnekamsk.

“It feels really good and I see the next adventure in Russia as a major challenge, says Osala, which confirmed the transfer of Vasabladet at 14 o’clock on Wednesday.

Persistent rumors have already for some time placed Osala in the KHL, but he himself denied the information.

“It is true that I have through my agent negotiated with several clubs, but the transition to Neftekhimik Nizjnekamsk became due until Monday.

The contract with Neftekhimik Nizjnekamsk is for one year and the agreement means that he leaves the AHL team Charlotte Checkers. Ultimately, the aim is to return to North America to seriously compete for a spot in the NHL.

NHL is my biggest goal and I still dream of playing there. So yes, it is disappointing that I did not manage to take a place in the NHL, but I have not given up. I think one to two years in another league can develop me as a player and we’ll see what happens after that.

Some time ago it became clear that Ville Nieminen also join Neftekhimik Nizjnekamsk. That there is a Finn on the team is positive, according Osala.

“I’ve always looked up to Ville Nieminen and like his style. That he plays in the same team is good for me and I think I can learn a lot from him.

Oskar Osala got back to Vaasa on Tuesday and plan to have vacation in a few weeks. Summer training starts, he after midsummer.

-Then it becomes more stamina than before. In Russia, they are training harder, but I look forward to. I like to train hard and will go there with an open mind.

Phoblographer and Finn Aficionado
SISU

by Jamie Kellner on May 25, 2011 12:58 PM EDT reply actions

I wouldn't believe it until you heard it from the checkers.

He posts all the time on twitter that he wants to stay in charlotte and all the articles about him leaving are untrue. He also recently tweeted things like " does anyone know where i can keep my car for the summer?" and things like that.

by Elliott Farrell on May 25, 2011 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

Although Oskar tweeted about some other stuff earlier this morning, he has been silent on this subject today, contrary to his past very quick denials when the story was previously rumored, including one on a playoff game day. Nothing so far reported from either Canes or Checkers.

I’m more inclined to believe this because 1) the Finnish media hasn’t been making this stuff up, although previous rumors have come from KHL sources 2) the Checkers season is now over, and 3) there are direct quotes from Oskar in his hometown paper.

He had a Finnish friend keep his car for him. A situation easily remedied if he needs to sell/turn over a lease.

Phoblographer and Finn Aficionado
SISU

by Jamie Kellner on May 25, 2011 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Hereyago:

@OskarOsala This time for real. I will be playing for Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk next season. I want to thank @washcaps @thehersheybears @NHL_canes

And Paul Branecky has retweeted on behalf of the Canes.

Phoblographer and Finn Aficionado
SISU

by Jamie Kellner on May 25, 2011 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Ambivalent

It seems clear to me from JR’s comments Osala is not mentioned as being ready to step up to the NHL. I tend to agree having watched him play. He is close, but not consistent enough in physicality, net drive, and back checking (Prospect standards) to move up next year.

I believe he has that potential if he really wanted to do the offseason work and commit to goiing fore bore each game. But given what he was probably told at exit interviews, he’s probaly thinking another whole year in the AHL. I’d bolt for the KHL and the money as well in his shoes. It doesn’t hurt his desire for NHL notice—and if he follows through with the conditioning and on ice play, he’s still able to come back and make an NHL career a reality. But he gets paid more while he’s waiting.

The problem will be with how JR sees it, and if JR’s willing to understand and let things go if Osala looks to be a good NHL prospect after playing in the AHL…

…but there goes our only big forward in the system…

sigh

by Squeaky83 on May 25, 2011 2:54 PM EDT reply actions