Hockey Why doesn’t the Star of the Lions play in the NHL? Direct words from Jukka Jalonen: “You can be a pretty unhappy expert if you can’t see”

If is Marko Anttila always in a tight spot at its best, the same can be said for the Lions ’number one center in recent years About Sakari Manninen.

Manninen scored the Lions victory goal in the semi-finals and once again rose to prominence against the United States in the semi-finals.

Manninen just demanded the disc for himself and tucked it in the very back corner. With that goal, Lions moved to a 2-1 lead after a difficult start.

Head coach of the lions Jukka Jalonen did not spare his overtones after winning the semifinals from Mannis.

“Manninen is an NHL class player, that’s pretty clear. There has to be a pretty unhappy expert if you haven’t seen it so far, ”Jalonen said after the U.S. match.

“We’ve been playing really good NHL players here for years, and Manninen has been our number one center on all these winning teams. You can compare anyone in this tournament, [Mikael] Granlundin or anyone, Manninen is just as good a player. ”

30 year old Manninen has never played in the NHL or in North America at all. According to Jalonen, the player’s observers have stared too much at Manninen’s length (172 cm).

“That’s because Manninen is short,” Jalonen said, not saying that Manninen has not been seen in the league league.

“It simply came to our notice then. If Manninen were 180-centimeter, he would have been playing in the NHL for a few years now. That’s what it’s about. ”

Jalonen emphasized that despite his small size, Manninen is an excellent fighter.

“He can solve games and play both ways. Skating power … You can look for another guy who would be as skating resistant as Manninen, ”Jalonen praised.

In the World Cup tournament Manninen has played together in the lion’s fist Teemu Hartikainen and Mikael Granlund.

Granlund, who has already played a meritorious NHL career so far, agreed that Manninen could just as well play behind the scenes.

“With that movement and the head of the game, you could definitely play. Why not? Sake has all the lunch. He can skate and fight and is a gambler. ”

Sakari Manninen is the first center of the Lions Picture: Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP

Manninen has been a player familiar to Granlund since his junior years in Oulu. In addition to his little brother Markus Granlund played in the same chain with Manninen for a long time in KHL.

“That’s why I’m not at all surprised by Manninen’s grips. I’ve known him since he was little and I know what kind of player he really is, ”Granlund says.

“Of course, everyone goes through a different career path. As a young man, he was small in size, and has grown a little later. Zakari has taken longer to rise to the top, but the skills were known. ”

Manninen has no contract for anything for next season. He has been rumored to be in the Swedish main league for the Örebro team.

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