Depending on how you want to look at it, goaltender Juuso Riksman is a man without a hockey team right now -- or a man with three teams.
Riksman was signed by the St. Louis Blues in the offseason but quickly fell by the wayside in the competition for an NHL goaltending spot. The Blues sent him down to Peoria.
When Swedish team Färjestad recently lost its starting goalie, former Canadiens draft pick Christopher Heino-Lindberg, to injury they arranged for the Blues to loan Riksman to the club for one month while Lindberg is on the mend. Riksman was to have played for FBK in its home game today against Linköping.
One problem: Riksman still has one season left on his contract with Finnish team Jokerit Helsinki. Under the terms of the out clause he exercised to sign with the Blues, Riksman can play in the NHL or AHL this year but not for another team in Europe.
FBK general manager Håkan Loob says he was unaware of this stipulation when he arranged for Riksman to come to Karlstad.
Jokerit exercised its right to block Riksman from playing for Färjestad. As a result, rookie goalie Jonas Gustavsson started in FBK's 3-2 loss today.
Riksman's status for upcoming games remains unclear. Loob maintains that the goaltender should still be allowed to play for Färjestad since he was acquired on loan and not via a contract transfer for the remainder of the season.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
Join the Discussion:
»