Oskar Osala: I’m Headed To The KHL
by Cory Lavalette on May 25, 2011 3:41 PM EDT
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Carolina Hurricanes prospect and Charlotte Checkers forward Oskar Osala announced on his Twitter account that he is indeed heading back to Europe next season, ending months of speculation, reports and denials that those were his intentions. Osala will play for the KHL's Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk in 2010-11. Here are two tweets from his account, @OskarOsala:
@checkershockey and all my team mates for 3 fun & learning yrs. Im excited to move on but hope to be back one day. #newchapter
This time for real. I will be playing for Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk next season. I want to thank @washcaps @thehersheybears @NHL_canes
Speculation that Osala would head to the KHL began in early March when Urheilulehti, a weekly Finnish sports magazine, reported that the 23-year-old forward was poised to sign a one-year deal with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL, a story that Osala denied. The Hurricanes responded to those reports, saying that both Osala and his agent called it a false report and that Osala still wanted to play in the NHL. Osala is a restricted free agent, therefore still property of the Hurricanes but not bound to a contract. The Hurricanes have not addressed Osala's decision.
Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford addressed the rumors surrounding Osala at his end-of-the-season press conference, saying he was unsure of the forward's plans but that, with improved skating, he could be part of Carolina's continued youth movement and make it to the NHL.
Osala, a 6-4, 219 pound left winger, was acquired from the Washington Capitals at the 2010 trade deadline, coming to Carolina along with Brian Pothier and a second round pick in exchange for Joe Corvo, who, like Pothier, was set to be an unrestricted free agent. Pothier wound up in the Swiss league this season while Corvo ended up returning to Carolina. Osala played well down the stretch for the Albany River Rats, Carolina's then-AHL affiliate, last season, registering 10 goals and three assists in 16 games and another three points in eight playoff games. He also played one game with the Hurricanes, the third of his NHL career.
But Osala was unable to make the jump to the NHL this season and spent the entire season with Charlotte, Carolina's new top affiliate. In 59 games, Osala finished with 13 goals and 29 assists for 42 points, and added three goals and two assists in 15 games in the Checkers' run to the AHL Eastern Conference finals.
Osala was a fourth round pick (97th overall) to Washington in the 2006 Draft out of Mississauga of the OHL. He returned to his native Finland for the 2007-08 season, but returned to North America the following year and was part of the Hershey Bears’ Calder Cup championship team in 2008-09. Osala was in the final year of his entry-level deal that paid him $62,500 annually in the AHL. His NHL salary, had he made it full time, would have been $685,000 in 2008-09, followed by $735,000 in 2009-10 and $785,000 this past season.
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I commented a few times already in the FanPost where we were discussing the rumor before it became more official, but I’ll comment again here.
Oskar got a lot of attention and interest from many of us because 1) he’s big, 2) he’s Finnish, 3) he’s on twitter. We got to hear from him firsthand when he dispelled the earlier rumors, and then again today when he admitted the deal was done. He seemed genuinely grateful in this acknowledgement of the Canes and Checkers organization and his teammates.
As mentioned above, he needed to work on getting stronger and faster. He looked (to me) much improved in the playoffs. His goal celebration against the Bears was one for the ages.
I’m disappointed, and I personally think his decision is short-sighted. That being said, I’m American and he’s Finnish, he may have different regard for the KHL and what he can accomplish there that what he thinks he can accomplish here, especially if he felt that the chances of making the NHL roster would be slim.
I don’t know what effect this may have on the organization’s perception of him, or interest in bringing him back here at some point in time. I’m sure the bottom line will depend on his development. He is still an asset of the Canes organization, so if he decides he wants to come back, we still have his rights to sign or trade.
Phoblographer and Finn Aficionado
SISU
He may very well not feel comfortable in N. America and the decision was based not only on his concern for his spot in the prospects food chain but also maybe he just wants to play closer to home. I respect his decision but he did lose credibility by denying the rumors earlier only to have them be true. I am not sure how the team would have dealt with him had he admitted he was leaving straight away, but he was obviously concerned about something.
He can still come back.
We still have his rights and we don’t have to pay him.
Plus, I think he would benefit from the more open KHL. (If it is indeed “more open”, I’m not entirely sure). His defensive and athletic game are already NHL ready IMO, its just the offense and the physicality that he needs to work on.
by SouthernHockeyNutter on May 25, 2011 11:58 PM EDT reply actions
I don't blame him for leaving
there is a logjam in charlotte right now and the way mo plays young guys (4 min on fourth line) he wasn’t going to see regular NHL action anytime soon.
"We've got to look at this," Columbus general manager Scott Howson said Monday after exit interviews with the players. "Because whatever we have right now isn't working."
by Sergeant Stinky on May 26, 2011 7:43 AM EDT reply actions
I knew there had to be a way to blame Mo. Thanks for not disappointing.
Similarly, there’s a Caps blogger putting it all on Joe Corvo.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on May 26, 2011 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions
i’m sorry, but mo has a history of not playing younger players with the exception of #53. deal with it.
"We've got to look at this," Columbus general manager Scott Howson said Monday after exit interviews with the players. "Because whatever we have right now isn't working."
by Sergeant Stinky on May 26, 2011 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t really know why this is an issue because it’s true of a lot of coaches – Julien with Seguin, Lavi with JVR, ect. Young players are infamous for making detail type errors – not getting pucks out, coverage lapses, and not getting pucks deep; these can all be game changer type mistakes. Trust is usually given when the player buys in. It’s a tough balance between giving a player ice time to get experience and giving up costly goals.
I’m cool with it and It’s not an issue for me, but it from what I can tell, it is one of the top 5 reasons why some feel Mo must Go.
I don’t know why the case of Jamie McBain (who got tons of ice time in all situations and made so many mistakes and looked so lost at times, even always-generous Forslund wondered if he’d be better off in Charlotte) is so readily ignored. It feels like some prefer to discount facts that contradict their opinions.
But I’d love to hear from those who can explain it.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on May 26, 2011 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
well people tend to look at it in isolation and forget that a lot of coaches do it the same. Usually when you see a rookie or younger player given significant ice time it’s either out of necessity or they’ve earned it. With McBain I felt it was out of necessity because they bet on him and didn’t offer themselves any insurance for that position; with Skinner he earned it, they put themselves in a position where they no other option but to give him that ice time.
When I’m reading around the League about coaching moves, I frequently see some coaches either lauded or criticized for making moves for which Mo is vilified (line shuffling, rarely using 4th line are two that come to mind). How these coaching decisions are regarded is directly proportional to how successful the team’s season is.
Similarly, Pete Friesen took a lot of heat for the endless string of injuries suffered in 09-10. That seems kind of silly now (to me, just in my opinion), but at the time many were whole-heartedly on that campaign.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on May 26, 2011 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions
agreed it’s ridiculous which is why (it’s hard because I get offended) it has to be shrugged off as ignorance. It makes sense when you’re somewhat new to hockey and only watch one team. You watch enough and read enough you eventually come to the conclusion that talent really matters – coaching can only get you so far.
The ability to shrug off ignorance is a valuable skill to have. I wish I had more ability in that regard.
Phoblographer and Finn Aficionado
SISU
by Jamie Kellner on May 26, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Use of 4th Line
I am surprised any coach is criticized for using four lines on teams that have the ability to put four good lines on the ice. I guess NHL coaches can’t avoid being criticized except possibly in seasons during which they ultimately win the Stanley Cup.
I’m not clear what you’re saying – if I can follow up with:
Do you mean “same” when making team to team comparisons?
Or
Most coaches have their 4th line getting same ice time as the other 3 lines
or
Something else?
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on May 26, 2011 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I mean that when you look league wide (I haven’t checked the stats so I could be wrong) most coaches use their lines about the same based on what I’ve seen over the years. The deeper the team the more they can spread the minutes, but in close games 4th lines typically don’t see a lot of shifts in the 3rd period.
“The ability to put four good lines on the ice” is the key to those comments. I think the circumstances (game situation) are critical too
In do-or-die games most coaches shorten the bench, don’t they?, and understandably so. The most recent I saw was Vancouver rolling with 3 lines Tuesday night and Vignault was praised for understanding that was a game the Nucks needed to win and he didn’t mess around.
I immediately connected it to the Canes “game 82” when Mo did the same thing against an incredibly strong, inspired and poised Tampa Bay team at full-strength. This after he had played his 4th line a TON in the blowout in Atlanta the previous night, again a pretty obvious choice from what I see.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on May 26, 2011 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I think this goes back to AD’s theory that it’s possible to build a team with 4 scoring lines where you spread the minutes out pretty equally. I remember he was a proponent of the theory last summer.
Some things are easier said than done.
I don’t profess to be a hockey expert (more people should be willing to do that, lol) but I can do some math.
I guess I’m not afraid to say that I’d rather have Staal or Skinner with a few extra shifts when we’re behind, rather than what we’ve got on the 4th line.
I don’t think any team can (honestly) say they’ve got “4 scoring lines”. If you’ve got a strong 4th line, that’s great – but even if you roll 4 lines, you aren’t going to have 4 lines with balanced scoring.
Ya, in theory it has some merit, but the way teams structure their salaries it pays to give your top earners the bulk of the ice time, that’s the only way to justify it, plus your top earners are significantly better than everyone else with the exception of EL superstars and a number of RFA players. You compare our salary structure with that of the final 4 teams & it’s obvious how much more money these teams have invested througout their lineups, very few league minimum salaries, we had 5.
I think it is entirely feasible to have a fourth line that can contribute offensively as well as defensively; but no I don’t suggest there are many teams with so much depth they keep 30 goal scorers on their fourth line. I prefer seeing a fourth line that has talented, well-rounded, fast, physical players who hustle.
There is no reason a fourth line of Samson/Brett Sutter/Tlusty can’t play great defense, grind away, lay hits on people, cycle the puck, and also score goals. Over the course of a season, I’d rather Staal and Cole play a few less shifts each game and have their legs when they are on the ice.
I totally agree it is situational. My view, however, is that a fourth line of Samson/Brett Sutter/Tlusty, for example, is capable of playing more than 5 to 6 minutes a game. Similarly, LaRose/Brett Sutter/Dwyer could play more than 5 to 6 minutes. Over an 82 game season, there won’t be equal time for all four lines and the lines will get mixed and matched depending on the team and who has their skating legs.
I cannot envision a coach being criticized in general for using his fourth line more than 5 or 6 minutes a game if he can muster a credible fourth line except in situations of a must win game where logic dictates a coach throw out all stops.
I hate the way he buried Cole in 2003, too.
by Cory Lavalette on May 26, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Tlusty, Sutter, Skinner, McBain, Joslin, Bowman. All meet the criteria of being younger players who played regularly when in the lineup. Come on Captain…. you’re off your game. Agree or disagree with you, typically you have a more thought out way to get your point across.
btw…. Always easy for all of us to think we know what is going on with these players. In truth we know little. Big O was on a two way contract. Pays him likely about $80K at the minor league level. He may get 10 times that in the KHL. Maybe he has financial issues. Misses family. A serious relationship back in Finland. Family heath issues, etc. There could be many reasons for this decision, some of which have nothing to do with hockey.
www.hurricanesbeat.com has an interview with Osala that is well worth reading as to his thinking or at least what he is saying his thinking is.
Man, they just can’t let go of Corvo up there, can they? That’s funny.
And just to separate the fact from fantasy…
No one on the Canes roster averaged less than 6 minutes TOI/game last season with the exception of Brett Sutter who played 4:09 in one game. Jerome Samson averaged almost 7 minutes TOI/game, Zach Dalpe almost 8 minutes TOI/game, Drayson Bowman almost 9 minutes TOI/game, and Zach Boychuk at 10:43. Oh, and Jeff Skinner at 16:43.
Phoblographer and Finn Aficionado
SISU
by Jamie Kellner on May 26, 2011 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Speaking of young Sutters, Brandon Sutter averaged 16:30 to 16:45 the last two seasons. He just turned 22, and is the Alternate Captain, which was a bit of a slight to the 32 year old Erik Cole.
So, yeah, I can see why the younger prospects are discouraged about lack of trust from the coach based on nothing other than their age.
And the Caps fans scapegoating Corvo (still!) is humorous. They’re just different up there.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on May 26, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
There does appear to be a logjam, however, if playing in the NHL is his goal then as an individual why wouldn’t you fight harder to improve yourself? Persaonlly I think heading to the KHL is a cop out and is taking the easy way out. He is Europeon so it may work out for him playing outside of the States, but I don’t see him returning to the NHL.
by hotchipsnsalsa on May 26, 2011 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions
regardless of what we fans think
of what the choice Double O made it is/was still his choice…even if we as fans don’t agree with it…and LTD has it right in her discription of the situation…but again…it is his life his career…while i too don’t agree with it…I wish him the best and thank him for the efforts he gave for the Checkers and Canes organizations…
now about Brett Sutter & Fitz……
What did you do during the summer when the playoffs are over ?
Go Canes & Checkers !!
Yep
Given JR’s comments, his needs to still develop parts of his game, and the availability of more ready prospects in the Hurricane’s system, it was clear to me Osala wasn;t going to have much chance of making the NHL next year.
So as most big/power forwards need more time to develop, so does Osala. If he is serious about being in the NHL, and he does seriously intend to work on his game—conditioning, skating, consistency, his only decision was where best to put in the next year of work.
He believes he can do everything he needs in the KHL. It may be better for him than the AHL, I don;t know. But he’ll play against some older, bigger players, have the ability to develop his offensive skills alongside his NHL desired hitting and goal presence skills all while getting paid substantially more than in the AHL while being close to home.
The Canes lose nothing but an asset for Charlotte and the ability to call him up next year if needed. Not big losses in the scheme of things—we save budget, he gets another year of developement, we could get the benefit—and we get flexibility. We still own his rights—we can bringhim back or trade him depending on how he develops.
I hope he suceeds—for us going forward.
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