Devils Ink Forward Ilkka Pikkarainen

[Thrillhouse]

The New Jersey Devils announced Thursday that they have signed forward Ilkka Pikkarainen.

"Ilkka Pikkarainen is a forward who brings size, strength and toughness to our roster," said Devils' President/CEO/General Manager Lou Lamoriello. "We welcome him back to our hockey club."

Pikkarainen, 28, re-joins the organization after returning to HIFK Helsinki (Fin.) for the past three seasons. In 2008-09, he recorded 24 goals and 13 assists for 37 points, and 149 penalty minutes in 54 games. He led the team in goals and penalty minutes, while tying for third in points.

The 6-2, 220-lb. Finn spent three seasons – from 2003-04 to 2005-06 – with the Devils' AHL affiliate in Albany, compiling 29 goals and 33 assists for 62 points and 305 penalty minutes in 196 contests.

He was New Jersey's ninth choice, 218th overall, in the 2002 Entry Draft.

[Vasara]

Ilkka Pikkarainen, one of the biggest cheap shot artist in the Finnish league over the past 3 years.

Here's some of his fights and some other stuff:

A brawl between HIFK and Lukko. Mike Siklenka (yellow #10) destroys Pikkarainen (red # 36). There's also a fight between Doug O'Brien (yellow #18) and Ilkka Heikkinen (red #49). Happened Jan 4, 2008.

Lukko vs hifk joukkotappelu

Patrik Lostedt (blue #15) drops gloves against Pikkarainen (Red #36) after the opening face off. Happened dec 15, 2008.

15.12 Blues-HIFK Patrik Lostedt vs. Ilkka...

Some dirtier stuff against JYP, Pikkarainen wearing white #36. Happened Feb 26, 2009

Ilkka Pikkarainen Sikailee

[flyersrule]

if he tries any of that **** vs the flyers, he's gonna have a large group of players lining up to kick his ass.

[PotvinSucks]

Devils have not done anything except lose their core group of players so far this free agency period.

[Skorka85]

Originally Posted by flyersrule

if he tries any of that **** vs the flyers, he's gonna have a large group of players lining up to kick his ass.

That's what I'm hoping. Pikkarainen, Clarkson, Leblond, Salvador, hopefully Corrente vs. Asham, Carcillo, Cote, Lappy and Pronger. Bring it on baby!

Originally Posted by PotvinSucks

Devils have not done anything except lose their core group of players so far this free agency period.

Correction, they lost Rupp, no biggie since Rod Pelley can play the 4th line center and Leblond can fight, and they let an under achieving Gionta go who got vastly overpaid by Montreal. Madden's time was done. As good as he was on the PK he was bringing nothing else to the table, it was time for him to move on. They still have Parise, Langenbrunner, Zajac, Elias, Rolston Clarkson, Zubrus, Pandolfo. The core is still there and this is the time if ever for the Devils to get younger and see if some of these guys from Lowell have what it takes like the Rangers did with Dubinsky and Callahan.

[NJDevils17]

Originally Posted by PotvinSucks

Devils have not done anything except lose their core group of players so far this free agency period.

Really? What happened to Parise, Zajac, Langenbrunner, Elias, Martin, and Brodeur?

[Skorka85]

Originally Posted by NJDevils17

Really? What happened to Parise, Zajac, Langenbrunner, Elias, Martin, and Brodeur?

That's my boy, I have taught you well young Skywalker.

[nixu]

Im not sure what makes them think that Pikkarainen brings any toughnes? He doesnt fight that much and when he does he usually lose. He is more like agitator / rat type of player. Like to swing his stick way too much. Hopefully he can make some points at least. I dont understand that deal at all

[Skorka85]

Originally Posted by nixu

Im not sure what makes them think that Pikkarainen brings any toughnes? He doesnt fight that much and when he does he usually lose. He is more like agitator / rat type of player. Like to swing his stick way too much. Hopefully he can make some points at least. I dont understand that deal at all

I think that's exactly it. A little more snarl, some size and the ability to put the puck in the net. It had to be tough not technically being able to fight over there, hopefully he'll open up a little more here and drop the gloves a handful of times.

[Isles4life]

He definitely looks/sounds more like an agitator than a fighter. It could be interesting to see how he acts in a Devils lineup if he has Leblond and Clarkson around to protect him.

[Vasara]

Originally Posted by Isles4life

He definitely looks/sounds more like an agitator than a fighter.

That's exactly what he is, an agitator. In past 3 years in FEL he collected 389 PIM in 144 games with only 2 fights. And in the second fight he got only a 10 minute misconduct. On a Finnish hockey fight site Nyrkkiä Leukaperiin! he was chosen the sissiest player of the league as well as the dirtiest player of the league in 08-09.

[PotvinSucks]

[quote=NJDevils17;1727957]Really? What happened to Parise, Zajac, Langenbrunner, Elias, Martin, and Brodeur?[/QUOTE

Ok, and who have you signed to make up for losing Gionta, Madden, and Rupp? A pest like Ilkka Pikkarainen? Dont minimize losing solid hockey players!

Madden played his role extremely well shadowing guys and Gionta was a 20 40 60 point scorer last season.

True you still have Parise and Marty but at this point, I dont know id I'd get that excited over having Travis Zajac and Paul Martin.

[Skorka85]

[quote=PotvinSucks;1728134]

Originally Posted by NJDevils17

Really? What happened to Parise, Zajac, Langenbrunner, Elias, Martin, and Brodeur?[/QUOTE

Ok, and who have you signed to make up for losing Gionta, Madden, and Rupp? A pest like Ilkka Pikkarainen? Dont minimize losing solid hockey players!

Madden played his role extremely well shadowing guys and Gionta was a 20 40 60 point scorer last season.

True you still have Parise and Marty but at this point, I dont know id I'd get that excited over having Travis Zajac and Paul Martin.

Sorry, but you're way off base. Madden played his role shadowing guys well 5 years ago. This season when Sutter tried that stuff it back fired. The Devils lost offense trying to match Madden up against the 'Canes and it bit them in the ass. Madden's loss is not huge when Zubrus can fill the same role and rolling 4 lines will produce more than line matching with two 35 year olds in Madden and Pandolfo.

Gionta was priced out of coming back to the Devils. No way I would have wanted him and his 20 goals for 5 million a year. Clarkson had 17 goals playing on the 3rd line. Let's see what him, Bergfors and Halischuk have with bigger responsibility. You have to do it sooner or later.

Were they key parts? Yes they did their jobs well over the years, but you can't keep everyone forever. Rupp is not some devastating loss. Leblond will fight and Rod Pelley is a perfectly capable center. I'd have been more upset if they lost Johnny Oduya, and yes Devils fans should be excited about having Travis Zajac because he plays perfectly with Zach Parise. They have much the same chemistry that Jagr and Nylander had. I wouldn't want to break them up. As for Paul Martin, the Devils record with him and without him is a lot like the Rangers with and without Avery. He's another key component.

He was also one of three guys last year to finish with 30 points and a +20 rating. Not bad for a Dman that doesn't put up a lot of points.

Basically it comes down to this, and as a Rangers fan you should know it better than anybody. You can't keep burying your young players in the minors and signing big name free agents every time someone leaves your team.

[hazard5]

Originally Posted by PotvinSucks

Madden played his role extremely well shadowing guys and Gionta was a 20 40 60 point scorer last season.

Madden blew it on the same break away three times in a row during the playoffs. You don't know what the hell you are talking about.

Are you seriously in here trying to denigrate a trade the day it was made on July 2nd?!?
What kind of a stalker/loser are you that you lunge into the first trade thread involving the Devils to try and cast your petty(and woefully uninformed) aspersion on the rival team to your underachieving Rangers.

How'd Gomez work out for you?
Yeah. Wonderful job on that. I'm sure signing a 38 year old Brahsear will make up for losing Orr in his prime as well.

You lose.

[chilly666]

potvin you are so far out there on this you should just stop. madden has been one of the top defensive forwards in the game over the last 10 years, while the rags keep going from the next big overpriced name to the next and still havent done jack****. so they lose gionta and rupp, leblond can fill that role and save them some cap space as well (compared to rupp's cap hit), also travis zajac is alot better than you are giving him credit for. he had 62 points, was a +39 and won 53% of his faceoffs he did all that while being on possibly the second best shut down line in the league that can score frequently.