4 Nations Face-Off Series: All Time NYR Team Finland Roster
The New York Rangers don't exactly have a ton of Finnish success stories in their history. But here's the best of them.
The Rangers have had just enough Finns (with some help from drafted prospects who haven't yet or never ended up playing for the Rangers) to make up a full 23-man roster.
First Line: Esa Tikkanen - Kaapo Kakko - Jari Kurri
One thing here is not like the others. Esa Tikkanen is a legendary five time Stanley Cup winner and perennial Selke finalist. He didn't spend terribly long with the Blueshirts, but he was here for their storied Stanley Cup year in 1994. Always a passionate guy, there’s a funny story about Tikkanen going up to Richter prior to the infamous Bure penalty shot trying to explain in broken English a bunch of different scenarios on how Bure might decide to shoot until Messier had to pull him away to let Richter do his thing. To be a fly on the ice for that conversation.
Jari Kurri was a trade deadline rental for the Rangers and while the team may have come up short that season, the lack of other Finnish Rangers and the Hall of Fame career he had made him a must add. A five-time Cup Champion, Lady Byng Winner, 85-86 league goal scoring leader, his number 17 hangs in the rafters of both the Oilers and Jokerit’s arenas. Without question one of the best to play the game.
Kaapo Kakko may have himself a legendary career as well, but he hasn’t yet and now it certainly won’t be with the Rangers. The former 2nd overall pick fell out of the Rangers graces and is now playing better and more meaningful hockey for the Seattle Kraken. In just 21 games with Seattle at the time of writing this, Kakko has 16 points which is five more than he had with the Rangers this season in 30 games played. Turns out a change of scenery was much needed as he's undoubtedly thriving in his new home, ain’t that the way it goes.
