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Rumor:Teams Chasing Fin 37 Goal Scorer Janne Lahti +No Hearing For Boychuk

June 14, 2011, 1:45 PM ET [ Comments]
Eklund
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Quick Update here during my Chicago layover...

Under-the-radar UFA getting tons of attention...

Every UFA period we get a guy from Europe who later becomes known as one of the best signings of the summer..This summer's impact player is Janne Lahti.

There is a June 15th European signing deadline looming, but I am told last year's Finnish League leading goal-scorer Janne Lahti is currently weighing out multiple offers from NHL clubs.

Frontrunners are NJ (e3) and Detroit (e3).

Lahti scored 37 goals this past season for Jokerit, topping the SM-Liiga. With 59 points, he ranked third overall in scoring to former Dallas Stars forward Perttu Lindgren (66 points) and veteran former NHLer Ville Peltonen (55 points). The soon-to-be 29-year-old Lahti may be this year's sleeper free agent depending upon where he goes and who he gets to play with on his line.

He took a shot at North American hockey three years ago, struggling in 65 AHL games with the Hamilton Bulldogs (9 goals, 18 points). But now he is older and more experienced. Lahti was a member of Finland's gold-medal winning team at the 2011 World Championships.

I expect we will all hear more regarding who wins the Lahti sweeps very soon...not many potential big goal scorers are available.

"37 goals in a Finnish league, comprised of strong defensive systems and teams is equal to at least 30-40 in the NHL." One scout noted.


Also...The NHL Not Holding a Hearing on Boychuk Hit.

The NHL will not conduct a hearing on Johnny Boychuk's check on Mason Raymond causing Mason to suffer a vertebrae compression fracture...an injury which will keep the young star out 4-6 months and everyone medical person involved with the hit last night is telling me Mason Raymond is "lucky it isn't worse." There was no penalty on the play. The Canucks appealed to the NHL but have been denied a hearing. How can this be?

If the NHL is to use the term "vulnerable position" when referring to the Rome suspension, and "due to a resulting inury" when referencing Horton, they need to use it here. Mason was in a vulnerable position. and is even more hurt than Horton....while I don't think Boychuk intended to "take this kid out for the next 6 months," I do feel the hit was malicious and the result was obvious.

Boychuk was playing out-of-control hockey...and has been at various stretches in this series...

Remembering back to game three, and the shifts immediately following the Horton injury, Johnny Boychuk was playing very reckless hockey. Obviously angered by the Horton hit, Boychuk took at least three runs at Canucks players, and had any of those attempts connected, the result could have been very dangerous.

I am not saying Boychuk should be suspended for this hit, I could see a case for either side there, but I am saying the NHL should give the Canucks and Raymond the courtesy to examine the hit.

It's the very least they should do.


More to come....
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