Janne Niinimaa

Last updated
Janne Niinimaa
Janne Niinimaa 2016.jpg
Niinimaa in 2016
Born (1975-05-22) 22 May 1975 (age 48)
Raahe, Finland
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for NHL
Philadelphia Flyers
Edmonton Oilers
New York Islanders
Dallas Stars
Montreal Canadiens
SM-liiga
Jokerit
Kärpät
Elitserien
Malmö IF
HV71
Luleå HF
NLA
HC Davos
SCL Tigers
Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
Allsvenskan
Asplöven HC
National teamFlag of Finland.svg  Finland
NHL Draft 36th overall, 1993
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 19932013
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Olympic Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1998 Nagano Ice hockey
World Cup
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2004 Toronto Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1995 Sweden Ice hockey
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2000 Russia Ice hockey

Janne Henrik Niinimaa (born May 22, 1975) [1] [2] is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, Dallas Stars, and Montreal Canadiens. He also played in the Finnish SM-liiga, Swedish Elitserien, Swiss National League A, and Swedish Allsvenskan.

Contents

Playing career

Niinimaa was selected in the second round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, 36th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers. [1] [2] [3]

Following three seasons playing with Jokerit in Helsinki, Finland, [1] [2] Niinimaa made his debut with the Flyers in the 1996–97 NHL season, posting 44 points and a +12 rating, and being named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. [1] [2]

In the following 1998 season, Niinimaa was traded to the Edmonton Oilers, [1] [2] [4] [5] where he spent parts of six seasons. He earned himself an All-Star appearance in the 2000–01 NHL regular season. He was traded to the New York Islanders in 2003 [1] and then was traded to the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens. [1] During the NHL lockout, Niinimaa returned to play in his native Finland. Niinimaa has twice represented Finland at the Winter Olympics, winning a bronze medal in 1998, [6] and was on the national team when Finland won its first World Championship gold medal.

Despite these accolades, Ninimaa is perhaps best remembered for Darren McCarty's deke around him resulting in a goal in Game 4 of the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals, in which McCarty's Detroit Red Wings swept Niinimaa's Flyers. [7]

Niinimaa retired on 10 February 2014. [8]

Personal life

On 2 August 2008, Niinimaa married Jaana Kehusmaa, a model from Oulu, at Kiiminki Church. [9] Teemu Selänne, Saku Koivu, and Timo Jutila were among the invitees. They separated in July 2012. [10]

Transactions

Honours and accolades

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1991–92 Kärpät FIN U20 30004
1991–92 Kärpät FIN.2 41211134940000
1992–93KärpätFIN U2010391216
1992–93 KärpätFIN.22923514
1992–93KKP FIN.3 10222
1993–94 Jokerit FIN U201026841
1993–94 Jokerit SM-l 45381124121124
1994–95JokeritFIN U2031238
1994–95 JokeritSM-l4271017361014535
1995–96JokeritFIN U2023476
1995–96 JokeritSM-l4951520791102212
1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 774404458191121316
1997–98 Philadelphia FlyersNHL663313456
1997–98 Edmonton Oilers NHL1118961111212
1998–99 Edmonton OilersNHL81424288840002
1999–2000 Edmonton OilersNHL81825338950222
2000–01 Edmonton OilersNHL821234469060226
2001–02 Edmonton OilersNHL815394480
2002–03 Edmonton OilersNHL634242866
2002–03 New York Islanders NHL1315614501112
2003–04 New York IslandersNHL82919286451232
2004–05 Malmö Redhawks SEL 1003334
2004–05 KärpätSM-l263101330120558
2005–06 New York IslandersNHL41191062
2005–06 Dallas Stars NHL222462440118
2006–07 Montreal Canadiens NHL4103336
2007–08 HC Davos NLA 4892837127
2008–09 SC Langnau NLA208101820
2009–10 HV71 SEL434131724
2010–11 Luleå HF SEL4892130441115612
2011–12 Rapperswil–Jona Lakers NLA2003326
2012–13 Asplöven HC SWE.2 713410
SM-l totals162184361169452121459
NHL totals74154265319733593212460
SEL totals1011341541022718920

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1992 Finland EJC 64378
1992 Finland WJC 50002
1993 FinlandEJC611220
1994 FinlandWJC700010
1995 Finland WC 812310
1995 FinlandWJC72356
1996 FinlandWC510110
1996 Finland WCH 20002
1998 Finland OG 60338
2000 FinlandWC92138
2002 FinlandOG40332
2002 FinlandWC90448
2003 FinlandWC712312
2004 FinlandWCH30000
2004 FinlandWC70552
2009 FinlandWC601116
Junior totals31771446
Senior totals665212678

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Janne Niinimaa". ESPN.com. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Flyers A-Z: Niinimaa, Janne". Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  3. "TODAY IN FLYERS HISTORY: MARCH 22". flyersalumni.org. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  4. "Shining Stars". www.cbsnews.com. 16 May 1998. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  5. Elliott, Helene (31 March 1998). "Goaltender McLennan's Biggest Save Was His Life". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  6. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Janne Niinimaa Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  7. Leahy, Sean (November 6, 2019) "My Favorite Goal: McCarty shows off goal-scoring hands during 1997 Cup Final". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  8. "Former NHL defenseman Janne Niinimaa retires". NHL.com . 10 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  9. "Janne Niinimaa sanoo tänään tahdon". mtvuutiset.fi (in Finnish). 2 August 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  10. "Ilta-Sanomat: Janne ja Jaana Niinimaa eroamassa". Kaleva.fi (in Finnish). 9 July 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2020.