Teemu Pulkkinen

Teemu Pulkkinen
Pulkkinen with Schwenninger Wild Wings in 2024
Born (1992-01-02) 2 January 1992 (age 32)
Vantaa, Finland
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Right
team
Former teams		 Free agent
Jokerit
Detroit Red Wings
Minnesota Wild
Arizona Coyotes
Dinamo Minsk
Dynamo Moscow
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Traktor Chelyabinsk
Kunlun Red Star
National team  Finland
NHL draft 111th overall, 2010
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 2009–present

Teemu Pulkkinen (born 2 January 1992) is a Finnish professional ice hockey left winger who is currently an unrestricted free agent who most recently played with Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Pulkkinen was drafted 111th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

[edit]

Jokerit

[edit]

Pulkkinen made his first appearance for Jokerit on 5 December 2008, at the age of 16.[1] Before joining the team, he was an integral part of Jokerit's Junior-B club, scoring 36 goals and a total of 60 points in 32 games during the 2007–08 regular season. His team went on to win the Finnish championship, and Pulkkinen finished as the top scorer in the playoffs with 17 points in just six games.[2]

During the 2010–11 season, in his rookie season with Jokerit, Pulkkinen played in 55 games, recording 18 goals and 36 assists. He broke Teemu Selänne's 20-year-old single-season record for assists by a rookie, with 36.[3]

Professional

[edit]

On 29 May 2012, Pulkkinen signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings.[4] During the 2012–13 season, he was assigned to the Red Wings' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, in April 2013 following the completion of his third season with Jokerit in Finland. He scored his first North American goal in a Calder Cup playoff game on 1 May against the Houston Aeros. Pulkkinen played in 14 playoff games for the Griffins, recording three goals and two assists during the team's run to the Calder Cup.[5]

During the 2013–14 season, in his first full season with the Griffins, Pulkkinen led the team in scoring, finishing with 31 goals and 28 assists in 71 games.

On 14 March 2014, Pulkkinen made his NHL debut for Detroit in a game against the Edmonton Oilers.[6] At the time of his call-up, Pulkkinen was the Griffins' leading scorer and ranked second among all AHL rookies with 51 points in 60 games. He also led AHL rookies in goals (26), shots (175) and plus-minus rating (+20).[7]

On 8 January 2015, Pulkkinen was recalled by the Red Wings.[8] At the time of his call-up, Pulkkinen was the Griffins' leading scorer and ranked first in the AHL with 20 goals and second with 39 points in 33 games. He was also on an eight-game goal scoring streak for Grand Rapids, which tied the franchise record set by Donald MacLean during the 2005–06 season. It was the longest goal-scoring streak in the AHL since Drayson Bowman recorded a goal in eight-straight games early in the 2012–13 season.[9] On 20 January, Pulkkinen scored his first career NHL goal against Devan Dubnyk of the Minnesota Wild.[10]

On 29 January, Pulkkinen recorded his first career hat-trick, all on the power play. He became just the second player in Griffins franchise history to record three power play goals in one game, following Joe Murphy in 2001.[11] On 15 February, Pulkkinen recorded his AHL-leading 30th goal of the season, becoming the first player in franchise history to record back-to-back 30-goal seasons.[12] Pulkkinen finished the 2014–15 season recording 34 goals and 27 assists in 46 games for an AHL-best 1.33 points per game. He finished second in points recorded for the Griffins, and was the leading goal-scorer in the AHL, winning the Willie Marshall Award despite the fact that he played in at least 27 fewer games than the three next-highest goal scorers. Additionally, in 31 games played with the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL, Pulkkinen recorded five goals and three assists.[13][14]

On 6 May 2015, Pulkkinen scored his first career Calder Cup playoff hat-trick, and the seventh playoff hat-trick in Griffins history. He also became the Griffins' all-time leading post-season goal scorer, with 17 goals, surpassing Derek King and Tomáš Tatar's tally of 16 goals.[15][16] During the 2015 Calder Cup playoffs, Pulkkinen was the leading scorer for the Griffins, and led the AHL in goals, recording 14 goals and four assists in 16 games, while helping the Griffins reach the Western Conference Finals for the second time in three seasons.

On 21 July 2015, the Red Wings signed Pulkkinen to a one-year contract extension.[17]

On 13 July 2016, the Red Wings signed Pulkkinen to another one-year contract extension,[18] however on October 11, 2016, before the beginning of the 2016–17 season, Pulkinnen was waived by Detroit for the purpose of assignment to Grand Rapids, and was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Wild.[19] He appeared in 9 games with the Wild, contributing 1 goal, before he was waived and assigned to AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild. In 47 games with Iowa, Pulkkinen lead the team with 18 goals and produced 36 points to earn a selection to the 2017 AHL All-Star Game. Unable to earn a recall to Minnesota, Pulkkinen was placed on waivers on 26 February 2017, and traded the following day to the Arizona Coyotes for future considerations.[20] Pulkkinen played out the season with the Coyotes, scoring a lone goal in 4 games.

Having been left exposed by the Coyotes at the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, Pulkkinen was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights on 21 June 2017.[21] As a restricted free agent, Pulkkinen agreed to a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Golden Knights on 6 July 2017.[22] He was assigned by Vegas to AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, for the duration of the 2017–18 season. He continued his offensive dominance at the AHL level in scoring a personal high of 65 points in 75 games.

As a restricted free agent from the Golden Knights, Pulkkinen opted to pause his North American career in agreeing to a one-year contract with Belarusian club, HC Dinamo Minsk of the KHL on July 18, 2018.[23]

On August 5, 2019, Pulkkinen was offered a PTO contract through September 8 by Lausanne HC of the National League (NL).[24] Lausanne HC decided to end his try-out on August 29, 2019, allowing him to return to HC Dinamo Minsk of the KHL.[25]

In the midst of his final year under contract in the 2020–21 season, Pulkkinen added 9 goals and 14 points in 22 appearances before he was traded to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in exchange for Magnus Pääjärvi on 30 November 2020.[26]

At the conclusion of his contract with Lokomotiv, Pulkkinen signed on the opening day of free agency, agreeing to a two-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk on 1 May 2021.[27] Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, he decided to participate in the 2021-22 KHL postseason, despite the exit of the majority of Finnish players and two of the KHL's non-Russia-based teams.[28]

Following two seasons with Traktor Chelyabinsk, Pulkkinen remained a free agent leading into the 2023–24 season. On 29 September 2023, Pulkkinen was signed to a one-year contract with Chinese based KHL club, Kunlun Red Star.[29]

International play

[edit]
Medal record
Representing  Finland
Ice hockey
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2016 Russia
World U18 Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Belarus
Bronze medal – third place 2009 United States

Pulkkinen represented Finland at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships in the United States, where he recorded 13 points in six games to finish third in tournament scoring, behind teammate Toni Rajala and Russian Vladimir Tarasenko, helping lead Finland to a bronze medal. With 28 points, Pulkkinen currently ranks second all-time in IIHF World U18 Championship scoring.[30]

In the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships, Pulkkinen recorded ten goals and five assists in six games to become the tournament's leading scorer; he was also selected as the tournament's best forward.

Pulkkinen was part of the Finnish national team for the 2012 World Junior Championships. In a game against Denmark on 30 December 2011, Pulkkinen scored four goals in the third period, part of a five-point game for him; this tied a record for most goals in a period during a World Junior game, first set by Ján Vodila of Czechoslovakia during the 1980 World Juniors.[31]

Pulkkinen represented Finland at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded two assists in eight games and won a silver medal.

Career statistics

[edit]

Regular season and playoffs

[edit]
Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2007–08 Jokerit FIN U18 23 23 17 40 8 6 11 6 17 6
2008–09 Jokerit FIN U18 4 6 7 13 2 — — — — —
2008–09 Jokerit FIN U20 24 15 13 28 12 — — — — —
2008–09 Jokerit SM-l 3 0 0 0 6 — — — — —
2009–10 Jokerit FIN U20 17 20 21 41 41 4 3 3 6 0
2009–10 Jokerit SM-l 12 1 2 3 6 — — — — —
2010–11 Jokerit SM-l 55 18 36 54 32 3 0 1 1 0
2011–12 Jokerit SM-l 56 16 21 37 41 4 0 1 1 2
2012–13 Jokerit SM-l 59 14 20 34 49 6 2 3 5 22
2012–13 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 2 0 1 1 2 14 3 2 5 10
2013–14 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 71 31 28 59 34 10 5 6 11 10
2013–14 Detroit Red Wings NHL 3 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2014–15 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 46 34 27 61 30 16 14 4 18 22
2014–15 Detroit Red Wings NHL 31 5 3 8 10 — — — — —
2015–16 Detroit Red Wings NHL 36 6 6 12 14 — — — — —
2016–17 Minnesota Wild NHL 9 1 0 1 2 — — — — —
2016–17 Iowa Wild AHL 47 18 18 36 36 — — — — —
2016–17 Arizona Coyotes NHL 4 1 0 1 4 — — — — —
2017–18 Chicago Wolves AHL 75 29 36 65 44 3 1 0 1 4
2018–19 Dinamo Minsk KHL 50 15 14 29 26 — — — — —
2019–20 Dinamo Minsk KHL 33 17 10 27 26 — — — — —
2019–20 Dynamo Moscow KHL 17 6 6 12 14 3 0 1 1 2
2020–21 Dynamo Moscow KHL 22 9 5 14 16 — — — — —
2020–21 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL 24 7 9 16 16 11 7 2 9 8
2021–22 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 49 22 12 34 22 10 1 2 3 2
2022–23 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 63 15 12 27 24 — — — — —
2023–24 Kunlun Red Star KHL 37 5 8 13 23 — — — — —
Liiga totals 185 49 79 128 134 13 2 5 7 24
NHL totals 83 13 9 22 32 — — — — —
KHL totals 295 96 76 172 167 24 8 5 13 12

International

[edit]
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2008 Finland U17 6th 5 5 3 8 10
2009 Finland WJC18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 7 6 13 4
2010 Finland WJC 5th 7 0 8 8 6
2010 Finland WJC18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 10 5 15 10
2011 Finland WJC 6th 6 3 6 9 6
2012 Finland WJC 4th 7 6 4 10 2
2016 Finland WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 8 0 2 2 2
Junior totals 37 31 32 63 38
Senior totals 8 0 2 2 2

Awards and honours

[edit]
Award Year
AHL
All-Rookie Team 2013–14 [32]
First All-Star Team 2014–15 [33]
Willie Marshall Award 2014–15 [34]
International
IIHF World U18 Championship First Team All-Star 2010 [35]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Vuorio, Jukka (12 June 2008). "Kokemusta ja nuoruutta areenan jäällä" (in Finnish). jatkoaika.com. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
  2. ^ Teemu Pulkkinen
  3. ^ "Wings in Waiting: Teemu Pulkkinen". Detroit Red Wings. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  4. ^ Roose, Bill (29 May 2012). "Wings sign Pulkkinen to entry-level deal". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Almquist's Late Goal Gives Griffins Game 3 Win". Grand Rapids Griffins. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  6. ^ Roose, Bill (12 March 2014). "Pulkkinen to make debut for injured Wings". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Red Wings Firsts: Teemu Pulkkinen". Detroit Red Wings. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Red Wings recall Teemu Pulkkinen". Detroit Red Wings. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Eight Is Enough?". Grand Rapids Griffins. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  10. ^ "Pulkkinen hammers first NHL goal past Dubnyk". Detroit Red Wings. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Pulkkinen Drives Iowa Wild with Hat Trick". Grand Rapids Griffins. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  12. ^ "Grfiffins 5, Wolves 1: Teemu Pulkkinen picks up 30th goal in win". MLive. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  13. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (24 April 2015). "Red Wings return Pulkkinen to Griffins". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Just in Time". Grand Rapids Griffins. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  15. ^ "Pulkkinen's Hat Trick Powers Game 1 Win". Grand Rapids Griffins. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  16. ^ Cleves, Randy (6 May 2015). "Pulkkinen tricks Rockford in Game 1". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  17. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (21 July 2015). "Wings agree to terms with Pulkkinen". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  18. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (13 July 2016). "Detroit re-signs Pulkkinen for one year". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  19. ^ "Minnesota Claims Teemu Pulkkinen off Waivers". wild.nhl.com. 11 October 2016.
  20. ^ "Coyotes acquire Pulkkinen from Minnesota". Arizona Coyotes. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  21. ^ "Coyotes lose Teemu Pulkkinen to Vegas Golden Knights". AZCentral. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  22. ^ "Golden Knights sign Teemu Pulkkinen to one-year contract". Vegas Golden Knights. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  23. ^ "Teemu Pulkkinen in Dinamo Minsk" (in Russian). HC Dinamo Minsk. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  24. ^ "Lausanne HC signs Teemu Pulkkinen to a try-out". www.swisshockeynews.ch. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  25. ^ "After try-out with LHC - Teemu Pulkkinen returns to the KHL". www.swisshockeynews.ch. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  26. ^ "Paajarvi-Svensson in Dynamo Moscow" (in Russian). HC Dynamo Moscow. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  27. ^ "Pulkkinen joins Traktor" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  28. ^ "Jälleen kolme suomalaista jätti KHL:n – ainakin yksi jäämässä loppuun asti?". Iltalehti (in Finnish). 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  29. ^ "Teemu Pulkkinen signs a 1-year deal with Kunlun Red Star". Kontinental Hockey League. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  30. ^ "QuantHockey - IIHF WJC-U18 records". Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  31. ^ Podnieks, Andrew (30 December 2011). "Finland's rout sends U.S. down". IIHF. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  32. ^ "2013-14 AHL All-Rookie Team announced". AHL. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  33. ^ "Notes: Pulkkinen receives AHL honors". NHL. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  34. ^ "O'Neill, Pulkkinen win scoring races". AHL. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  35. ^ 2010 U18 WJC All-Star Team
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