December 31st 2024.
The Colorado Avalanche School for Wayward Hockey Players had just welcomed a new student into their program. The team had made a trade, giving up a third-round pick in 2027 and player Ondrej Pavel to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Juuso Parssinen and a seventh-round pick in 2026. The 23-year-old Parssinen had only scored two goals and five points for the Predators this season, but the Avs coach Jared Bednar saw potential in him.
Coach Bednar acknowledged that Parssinen had a tough year, and the team as a whole had not been playing well. However, he believed that Parssinen had shown promise in his previous season and had the ability to play both center and wing. Bednar hoped to get Parssinen back to playing at the same level he had in his rookie year, and then work on improving from there.
Parssinen had been a seventh-round pick by Nashville in 2019, and he had surprised everyone with his performance in the 2022-23 season. He had scored six goals and 25 points in 45 games as a rookie, despite having no prior experience playing in North America. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 214 pounds, Parssinen had eight goals in 44 games the following year, but his overall performance was not as impressive. This season, he had been in and out of the lineup for the Predators, who had high expectations after a big offseason but were struggling in the league standings.
According to Bednar, there was still room for growth in Parssinen, and the Avs were determined to help him get back to his previous form. They had a track record of helping players who had struggled at other teams, and Parssinen was being dropped into a great environment with the Avs.
The Avalanche had already played 23 different forwards in just 38 games this season, partly due to injuries but also because of the fluidity of their forward group. Eight of those forwards had also played in the AHL, and rookie Ivan Ivan was now out with an injury. Parssinen would have the opportunity to secure a spot in the Avs' lineup and prove himself as a reliable two-way player.
Excited to join the team, Parssinen described himself as a good puck-handler, strong on the boards, and able to play both wing and center. He was also impressed by the Avs' talent and believed they could go far in the season. He was looking forward to getting to know his new teammates and playing in such a great city.
One interesting fact was that the Avs would be dressing five Finnish forwards in their next game, which tied the record for the most Finnish players in an NHL game. Parssinen would be starting on the fourth line with another Finnish player, Jere Innala, who was also trying to establish himself on the team. They would join three other Finnish players who had already been making a significant impact for the Avs this season.
Coach Bednar had encouraged Parssinen to use his fellow Finnish teammates as a sounding board and learn from their experience with the team. He wanted Parssinen to feel comfortable and confident in his new environment and believed that the other Finnish players could provide valuable insights into the team's playing style and expectations.
Wanting to stay updated with all the latest Avalanche news, fans could sign up for the Avalanche Insider to receive in-depth NHL analysis. With Parssinen now on board, the Avs were hoping to continue their success and make a strong push towards the playoffs.
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