Here’s an idea for a new buddy movie script: two Finnish wingers who crossed paths in their teenage years land on the same NHL team thanks to separate shrewd acquisitions by a veteran general manager. They quickly strike up a friendship, and the player who has been with the team longer hosts the new player in his home and serves as the newcomer’s guide to help him navigate the challenges of a mid-season move to a new city—something the first player experienced himself two seasons earlier.
It so happens that this exact script is writing itself right now for Seattle Kraken forwards Eeli Tolvanen, 25, acquired off waivers from the Nashville Predators in the middle of the 2022-23 season, and Kaapo Kakko, 23, snagged in a surprising trade with the New York Rangers on Dec. 18.
“It’s always nice to have another Finn,” Tolvanen said. “You can talk Finnish, and right now, I’m just trying to make him feel comfortable here. When I got here, everybody was so nice and helped with everything, so I try to give that back to him. Just coming into a new city, the first trade [of his career], it’s always tough.”
Although Tolvanen was surely welcomed upon his arrival by his Kraken teammates two seasons ago, he is now going above and beyond to pay it forward to his fellow countryman and help him acclimate to his new surroundings. Not only is Tolvanen showing Kakko the ropes, but he and his girlfriend have also gone so far as to welcome Kakko into their home as a temporary roommate.
“It’s nice of them,” Kakko said. “I can stay there until I find a place. They’re helping out all the time, even going to look at apartments and everything.”
A friendship seven years in the making
Before the trade, Tolvanen and Kakko were already acquaintances, having played on a line together at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver. Tolvanen was two years older than Kakko, but Kakko—destined for the top of the NHL Draft later that year—had earned a spot on Team Finland as an underager. The duo helped their country win its fifth WJC gold medal, a feat Suomi has not accomplished since.
After that successful tournament, and before Kakko got traded to Seattle, the two didn’t go out of their way to keep in touch, but they remained friendly when they played against each other with their respective NHL teams.
“We played World Juniors together. It was a long time ago, but that’s how we met, played one tournament,” Kakko said. “And then always when we’re playing against each other here [in the NHL], we’re kind of asking, ‘How are you doing? How’s everything?’ Just saying hi. That’s what I try to do with all the Finnish guys I play against. It’s a small country, and there’s not too many [Finnish] players here.”
The Finns in the league carve out an even smaller sliver of an already small hockey world, and the connection Kakko formed with Tolvanen seven years ago is now easing his transition into life in the Kraken organization.
“It helps a lot. It’s a lot of good guys in this locker room also, but… to speak the same language [with Eeli, who I] knew before, it’s just so easy, you know?” Kakko said. “I mean, staying with them and coming to the rink with him, you just have to follow. There’s a lot of things, like if you don’t know how it goes, what time the meeting is, or something like that, just follow him.”
Tolvanen is enjoying reconnecting with his old teammate and compatriot, too, and he had a big smile on his face when talking about Kakko, who now also occupies the stall next to his in the Kraken dressing room.
“It’s been fun just to get to know him better,” Tolvanen said. “It’s been five, six, seven years since we actually hung out last time. So, [we’ve been able to] catch up and all that. It’s been a lot of fun, making dinners together every night and just sitting on the couch.”
Kakko especially appreciates that, in a time when he could be feeling isolated—dropped into a brand-new city that’s about 2,400 air miles from his previous city and about 4,800 air miles from home—he’s been welcomed with open arms by a familiar face.
“You know, there was Christmas, and I think it’s kind of sad to stay by yourself in a hotel, so that was nice [to spend it with them],” Kakko said. “They let me stay there, and we had a good time.”
For all the warm hospitality that Tolvanen and his girlfriend have shown, Kakko is also cognizant of potentially overstaying his welcome. “I think they need some time also together, but I hope I can find a place soon.”
“I love Finns” – Dan Bylsma
While the move to Seattle is going swimmingly off the ice for Kakko, he’s also making a positive impression on the ice. Tolvanen said, “He’s a big boy. He shoots the puck well, protects the puck well. I think he has a really good offensive game and defensively too. I think he’s a smart guy. He’s one of those Finnish guys that— I think he’s pretty good at everything, and I think he’s helped us a lot.”
Head coach Dan Bylsma seems to like what he is seeing from the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder as well. Before Seattle’s 5-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club on Monday, a game in which Kakko had two dazzling assists, Bylsma was asked about Kakko in his pre-game presser. Bylsma replied using the phrase, “I love Finns.”
“I think, as you’ve seen [Kakko] in four games now, he’s just getting better and better and better with what kind of player he is,” Bylsma said. “There’s a lot of positives there. He’s a big body, can skate, hold onto pucks, make plays, be a presence at the net, and the last two games in particular, that line [with Jaden Schwartz and Matty Beniers] has been our most positive line.
“I love Finns because it’s— Tolvy’s a lot the same way, big-bodied, physical, can be a presence in the offensive zone, he’s got a big shot, and Kakko’s been showing that the last couple games, and that’s encouraging to see.”
As a reminder, these sentiments were uttered by Bylsma before Kakko’s outstanding performance against Utah.
The Finnish way
Bylsma likely is not the only NHL coach who appreciates the way Finnish players go about their business. When they were told by Sound Of Hockey that Bylsma had said, “I love Finns” in his presser, Tolvanen and Kakko helped shed some light on why the Finnish mentality works so well in North American professional hockey.
“I don’t think it’s anything we do; I think it’s just the Finnish personality,” Tolvanen said. “If somebody says to do something, I think we’re pretty much open to change our game style a little bit and learn the game here.
“So I think for me, ever since I got here, I’ve gotten more physical every year, and I think that every Finn is the same way. I think we’re pretty soft when we play in Finland, but when we come over here, we learn to play the North American style, so I think it’s just how we adjust our game.”
Kakko said the first time he spoke with Bylsma, his new coach reminisced about seeing him play for Team Finland in the past and other Finnish players from his past teams.
“There’s just a lot of good players, and I think it’s kind of an honest game, also,” Kakko said. “I think the mindset in Finland, even in juniors, it’s defense first and things like that, so maybe that’s something he wants to see.”
Beyond being willing to learn and adjust, Tolvanen also said there’s a certain effort level that comes from Finns that helps earn the trust of their coaches.
“Most of the Finnish players are like that. They work hard, they battle every night, and I feel like maybe that’s the way coaches like [us to play]. We’ll try to give you our best every night, and I think that might be the Finnish way.”
