Vaananen Signs in Sweden
Ossi Vaananen has signed in Sweden with Djurgarden. I couldn't see any contract details on that site but I might not know it if I did!
I'm a bit surprised that Ossi couldn't find a home somewhere in the NHL. He wasn't a terrible defenseman by any means. I figured a club looking to round out their top-6 might snag him but maybe Ossi prefers being in Sweden and getting more ice-time per game.
Update: It sounds like Ossi did get a few offers from NHL clubs but decided to turn them down. I would guess it's a combination of money and proximity to his hometown of Vantaa, Finland. The Swedish Elite League is still an excellent hockey league and I hope Vaananen does well with them.
I'm a bit surprised that Ossi couldn't find a home somewhere in the NHL. He wasn't a terrible defenseman by any means. I figured a club looking to round out their top-6 might snag him but maybe Ossi prefers being in Sweden and getting more ice-time per game.
Update: It sounds like Ossi did get a few offers from NHL clubs but decided to turn them down. I would guess it's a combination of money and proximity to his hometown of Vantaa, Finland. The Swedish Elite League is still an excellent hockey league and I hope Vaananen does well with them.
2 comments:
perhaps the allure of playing alongside greats like Jiri Marusak and Edvin Frylen was just too great?
seriously, I don't know how long he plans to stay in Sweden, but I could see him coming back to the NHL some day. So many times he seemed really close to putting it all together, but couldn't quite get it done.
From what I understand about that league, Djurgarden is one of the better teams. So maybe missing the playoffs hit Ossi the hardest and he didn't want to end up on a non-contending team ;)
Yeah, he'll most likely find his way back at some point. Like you said, he seemed just about to crest the hill time and time again but never quite made it.
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