Janne Niinimaa

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Janne Niinimaa
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 team  Finland
NHL Draft 36th overall, 1993
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 1993–2013
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Finland
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Nagano Ice hockey
World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2004 Toronto Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1995 Sweden Ice hockey
Bronze medal – third place 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.

Playing career[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Honours and accolades[edit]

Career statistics[edit]

Regular season and playoffs[edit]

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1991–92 Kärpät FIN U20 3 0 0 0 4
1991–92 Kärpät FIN.2 41 2 11 13 49 4 0 0 0 0
1992–93 Kärpät FIN U20 10 3 9 12 16
1992–93 Kärpät FIN.2 29 2 3 5 14
1992–93 KKP FIN.3 1 0 2 2 2
1993–94 Jokerit FIN U20 10 2 6 8 41
1993–94 Jokerit SM-l 45 3 8 11 24 12 1 1 2 4
1994–95 Jokerit FIN U20 3 1 2 3 8
1994–95 Jokerit SM-l 42 7 10 17 36 10 1 4 5 35
1995–96 Jokerit FIN U20 2 3 4 7 6
1995–96 Jokerit SM-l 49 5 15 20 79 11 0 2 2 12
1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 77 4 40 44 58 19 1 12 13 16
1997–98 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 66 3 31 34 56
1997–98 Edmonton Oilers NHL 11 1 8 9 6 11 1 1 2 12
1998–99 Edmonton Oilers NHL 81 4 24 28 88 4 0 0 0 2
1999–2000 Edmonton Oilers NHL 81 8 25 33 89 5 0 2 2 2
2000–01 Edmonton Oilers NHL 82 12 34 46 90 6 0 2 2 6
2001–02 Edmonton Oilers NHL 81 5 39 44 80
2002–03 Edmonton Oilers NHL 63 4 24 28 66
2002–03 New York Islanders NHL 13 1 5 6 14 5 0 1 1 12
2003–04 New York Islanders NHL 82 9 19 28 64 5 1 2 3 2
2004–05 Malmö Redhawks SEL 10 0 3 3 34
2004–05 Kärpät SM-l 26 3 10 13 30 12 0 5 5 8
2005–06 New York Islanders NHL 41 1 9 10 62
2005–06 Dallas Stars NHL 22 2 4 6 24 4 0 1 1 8
2006–07 Montreal Canadiens NHL 41 0 3 3 36
2007–08 HC Davos NLA 48 9 28 37 127
2008–09 SC Langnau NLA 20 8 10 18 20
2009–10 HV71 SEL 43 4 13 17 24
2010–11 Luleå HF SEL 48 9 21 30 44 11 1 5 6 12
2011–12 Rapperswil–Jona Lakers NLA 20 0 3 3 26
2012–13 Asplöven HC SWE.2 7 1 3 4 10
SM-l totals 162 18 43 61 169 45 2 12 14 59
NHL totals 741 54 265 319 733 59 3 21 24 60
SEL totals 101 13 41 54 102 27 1 8 9 20

International[edit]

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1992 Finland EJC 6 4 3 7 8
1992 Finland WJC 5 0 0 0 2
1993 Finland EJC 6 1 1 2 20
1994 Finland WJC 7 0 0 0 10
1995 Finland WC 8 1 2 3 10
1995 Finland WJC 7 2 3 5 6
1996 Finland WC 5 1 0 1 10
1996 Finland WCH 2 0 0 0 2
1998 Finland OG 6 0 3 3 8
2000 Finland WC 9 2 1 3 8
2002 Finland OG 4 0 3 3 2
2002 Finland WC 9 0 4 4 8
2003 Finland WC 7 1 2 3 12
2004 Finland WCH 3 0 0 0 0
2004 Finland WC 7 0 5 5 2
2009 Finland WC 6 0 1 1 16
Junior totals 31 7 7 14 46
Senior totals 66 5 21 26 78

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Janne Niinimaa". ESPN.com. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e "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.

External links[edit]