Jussi Markkanen

Jussi Markkanen
Markkanen during his time with the Oilers on March 9, 2007
Born (1975-05-08) 8 May 1975
Imatra, Finland
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 182 lb (83 kg; 13 st 0 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for SaiPa
Tappara
Edmonton Oilers
New York Rangers
Lada Togliatti
Jokerit
HC CSKA Moscow
EV Zug
National team  Finland
NHL draft 133rd overall, 2001
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 2001–2018

Jussi Markkanen (born 8 May 1975) is a Finnish ice hockey executive and former professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently the general manager for SaiPa of the Liiga. He also played parts of 5 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers. Outside of the NHL, Markkanen has played for SaiPa, Tappara, and Jokerit of the SM-liiga, Lada Togliatti of the Russian Superleague (RSL), HC CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), and EV Zug of the National League A (NLA).

Career

Before playing in the NHL, Markkanen played parts of two seasons with Tappara and four seasons with SaiPa of the SM-liiga. He had a successful time with his teams. He finished the 2000–01 season with a record of 30–17, a 2.09 goals against average, and a .923 save percentage. He was awarded the Urpo Ylönen trophy for being the SM-liiga's best goaltender of the season and was also selected to the SM-liiga All-star team.[1]

He was drafted 133rd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2001 NHL entry draft. He was immediately sent down to play for their AHL-affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs. On 28 November 2001, the Oilers called him up and Markkanen made his NHL debut, stopping 27 of 27 shots in a 2–0 win against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and earning his first NHL career shutout in the process.[2]

On 30 June 2003, the Oilers traded Markkanen along with a 2004 fourth-round draft pick to the New York Rangers in exchange for the rights to Brian Leetch.[3] On 17 July, Markkanen signed a contract to stay with the Rangers.[4] He played 26 games for the Rangers, recording a 8–12 record, with a 2.56 GAA and a .913 save percentage.

On March 3, 2004, the Rangers traded Markkanen along with Petr Nedvěd back to the Oilers in exchange for Steve Valiquette, the rights to Dwight Helminen, and a 2004 second-round draft pick.[5] On August 5, 2005, Markkanen signed a two-year contract to stay with the Oilers.[6] He played as the back up goaltender for Dwayne Roloson. He helped the Oilers during the playoffs. They defeated the Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. They were eventually defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes four games to three in the Finals.[7] During Game 2 of the Finals, Oilers coach Craig MacTavish chose Markkanen to start the rest of the season after Roloson was unable to play after an injury. Markkanen stayed on as the Oilers goaltender for the rest of the series. He earned his first playoff victory in Game 3 but the Oilers lost the series.[8]

The next season, Markkanen left the NHL and went back to Finland after signing a contract to play for Jokerit of the SM-liiga. After a season with Jokerit, Markkanen joined HC CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for a season. On 7 April 2009, Markkanen signed a contract to join EV Zug of the National League A (NLA).[9] He went on to play four seasons with Zug. He played four seasons with SaiPa and finished his career with them.

Markkanen retired from playing professional ice hockey in 2018.

Personal life

Markkanen is married to his wife Sanna. On 23 September 2008, Markkanen's son Olli-Matias was playing with his older brother, Juho when Olli-Matias fell out of a fifth-story window in their Moscow apartment and died.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Palkinnot | Liiga". Liiga. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Edmonton Oilers history: Jussi Markanen notches shutout in his first NHL start in win over Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Nov. 28, 2001". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Rangers Land Markkanen, Fourth Rounder from Oilers". New York Rangers. Archived from the original on June 20, 2004. Retrieved March 30, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ↑ "Rangers Agree to Terms with Jussi Markkanen". New York Rangers. Archived from the original on June 20, 2004. Retrieved March 30, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ↑ "Oiers Acquire Nedved and Markkanen". Edmonton Oilers. Archived from the original on June 20, 2004. Retrieved March 30, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ↑ "Allison a Maple Leaf". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 30, 2026. The Oilers agreed to terms with goaltender Jussi Markkanen (two years) and defenseman Igor Ulanov (one year)
  7. ↑ "Seeds of Hurricanes' Stanley Cup success were sown in a summer of uncertainty". The News & Observer. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Why the '06 Oilers still believe one key moment cost them the Cup". Sportsnet. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Ex-NHL-Goalie für den EV Zug". Blick.ch. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Markkanen's loss of young son breaks Oilers' hearts". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

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