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***luke*** · 03-01-2024, 07:54 AM

Esa Anrikkanen
@Steelhead77

This was what O4L, the Calgary GM, said at the time of drafting Esa Anrikkanen 4th Overall in the S18 Entry Draft:

“Very excited to add what I consider a franchise player in Esa, can’t wait to find out what his future with the Dragons holds :D”

This turned out to be very prophetic, and what a franchise player he was! There are few players in the league who are synonymous with the teams they played for. When you think Esa, you think Dragons, and when you think Dragons you think Esa. He played 29 seasons for the team, won 5 Challenge Cups along the way, and earned himself a place in SHL history as the first player to hit 500 career goals and 1000 career points. He never had a particularly dominant season to win the big awards, but being able to be a top player on the same team for such a long stretch, winning Cups in multiple eras, becoming the face of a franchise - you can only look back now and recognize a career which became one for the ages.

Parm 1, The Early Years.

Anrikkanen’s career started as so many did at that time, as a true rookie joining the squad in S18. His first 2 seasons were rather inauspicious, as he collected 15 points in his first season, and only 13 in his sophomore run. But by his 3rd season he started showing signs of the player he would become, with 17 goals and 33 points. He continued to improve, expanding his skillset, adding a physical edge to his game. S23 was perhaps the peak of his early career, tallying 19 goals, 49 points, and a thundering 193 hits. He received a nomination for the Jeff Dar Trophy, the first time nominated for best two-way forward in the league.

For the next few seasons he was a reliable 40 pt, 100+ hit player, but he never really hit the heights of superstardom.

S27 was a moderate regular season for Esa and the Dragons. They were a middling team but good enough to make the playoffs. Esa himself had been seeing a steady decline in production, only breaking 20 goals once in his career. But in an unexpected turn of events, the Dragons went on a tear in the playoffs and won the Challenge Cup! This was a big win for a team which hadn’t won a Cup since their back to back championships in S8 and S9. It marked a turning point for the team and for Anrikkanen as a player. At a time when many players might be considering retirement, as 10 seasons was probably about an average career at that time, the second decade of his career ahead was his prime seasons.

Parm 2. Dynasty.

In S28 the Dragons were a solid playoff team coming off their Cup win, and Esa had his best scoring season yet, teamed up with his sidekicks Randy Randleman and Nicholas Pedersen, he tallied 23 goals and 48 points. This was his career high at that point for goals and he also added 179 hits, re-establishing himself as a premier power forward. A good season but the Dragons lost to the Blizzard in the first round.

S29 was a career year for Esa. He led the Dragons in scoring with his first point-per-game season with 53 pts. He also laid out 212 hits, second most in the league, and the highest amount in his career. His efforts in the regular season got him another Dar nomination and also earned his first All-Star nomination, named to the 3rd Team. The topper of the year of course was the Dragons winning the Challenge Cup again, the second in 3 seasons. Esa had a strong performance in the playoffs as well, scoring at a ppg pace.

In S30 the Dragons continued their strong play, finishing with the President’s Trophy atop the league in points. Esa had a monster season with a career high 55 points. He was a top 10 scorer and still a great two-way player. This earned him his second all-star nod as well, making the 3rd team again.

S31 was another good season, Esa tallied 45 points. Then in S32 Esa had a down year in the regular season, only scoring 34 points and mustering a measly 15 hits, by far the lowest of his career. The sports media were writing him off, saying he was washed up and time to retire. The Dragons barely made the playoffs due to a tie breaker and went in as the lowest seeded-team. Time to rebuild, they said. Time to cut loose the dead wood. There was not a lot of optimism in Dragonland. But then! Then another chapter of his storybook career unfolded. The Dragons were underdogs in every series but prevailed over everyone, topping off their Cinderella run by defeating the Manhattan Rage in the finals! Lifting his 3rd Cup in 6 seasons, Esa was already cementing himself as a premier player. His performance in the playoffs earned him his one and only Razov nomination as well.

For many players this would mark a Hall of Fame career. 15 seasons was a long time, very few players last that long. Wouldn’t be a shame to retire on top and let the Dragons rebuild. That’s what most people might think.

But Esa was only halfway done.

Parm 3 - Legend.

The Dragons didn’t slow down much at all, they went to the Finals again in S33, but couldn’t capture the back to backs. S34 Esa scored 24 goals, at that time his career high. He wasn’t slowing down. But the Dragons missed the playoffs. Time for a rebuild? Not quite. In S35 the Dragons won the President’s Trophy, and Esa had one of his best ever seasons. Scoring 28 goals was good for 4th in the league, and his 54 points was one shy of his career high. He earned his 3rd and final all-star appearance this season.

After this his scoring dropped off as he became more of a support player. S37 was his last time scoring 40+ points, but he wasn’t done by a long shot. After making the finals again in S38 the team was on the rise. In S40 Esa’s Dragons won their 4th Cup, and in S42 he achieved the crowning jewel, his 5th Cup! This is a really rare achievement and he did it playing in his 25th season.

There was only one milestone left to achieve. He was in a race with Kristian Eriksson to be the first to get 1000 points. Unfortunately, Esa could not reach that feat first. Getting to 1000 points in the 26th game of the season. Due to Eriksson's back to back 3 assist games at game 21 and 22, he overtook Esa and became the first person to get 1000 points. 2nd Place isnt bad however. The 2nd player to reach 1000 points in SHL history. In fact, only 3 players have ever reached 1000 points in purely STHS stats alone. In S45 he was the first to surpass a legendary milestone, scoring his 500th career goal. Only 5 players have accomplished this so far in the history of the SHL. For Esa to be the one to set this standard is a testament to unreal dedication to a team, giving his heart and soul until S46 when he finally couldn’t deny Father Time any longer. It finally happened, Esa Anrikkanen retired.

Looking at the career stats, Esa is top 10 in almost everything. Games played - check. Goals - check. Points - check. Shots - check.

His final career stats were 1458 games played in 29 seasons and he scored 514 goals, 549 assists for 1063 points. The first to get 500 goals, the first to get 1000 points. 5 Challenge Cups. There really isn’t any more to say.

The Big Parm is a Dragons and an SHL legend, and that is why he is ranked #17 in the top 75 SHL Players.

Written by @Muerto

[Image: 9zD0BAi.png]

***Muerto*** · 03-01-2024, 08:30 AM

Troy_McClure03 · 03-01-2024, 09:14 AM

The parm king!

Slappydoodle · 03-01-2024, 09:16 AM

Also arguably the best GM in SHL history. Five cups and numerous other deep playoff runs. Loved by everyone who played for him. A dominant figure in league history, deeply loyal and kind. A great player, great GM and truly good person.

Cheers

ACapitalChicago · 03-01-2024, 10:56 AM

GOAT

S66 Damian Littleton

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***Ohtaay*** · 03-01-2024, 02:29 PM

E S A !

kit · 03-01-2024, 03:52 PM

Not to mention he was (i believe) the first 2000 tpe player

raymond3000 · 03-01-2024, 04:28 PM

Legendary user and player! However, I feel obligated to mention that Eriksson went super saiyan at the start of S43 and pipped Esa by one day to get to 1000 points first

***luke*** · 03-01-2024, 04:50 PM

03-01-2024, 04:28 PMraymond3000 Wrote: Legendary user and player! However, I feel obligated to mention that Eriksson went super saiyan at the start of S43 and pipped Esa by one day to get to 1000 points first

Oh youre right. I mathed wrong. some reason I thought 994 + 4 at game 19 of the season was 1000. Thats on me, ill adjust accordingly. Also in my head canon I always though Esa got to 1000 first.

Bonk · 03-01-2024, 11:53 PM

goat

ToeDragon84 · 03-02-2024, 10:33 AM

spidey · 03-02-2024, 11:42 AM

What a player!

*Katth* · 03-04-2024, 06:37 AM

GOAT and he's one of the best guys you'll ever meet!

S50 Challenge Cup Finals Game 7
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