MTV: Siim Liivik's revelation about TPS's new powerhouse: "You could already tell then"

TPS has had a strong start to the league season, winning both of their matches in the opening week, defeating KooKoo 4-2 and HIFK 5-1.

The team’s first line, featuring Lukas Haudum, Lukas Wernblom, and Lars Bryggman, has been particularly impressive. Haudum has four points (1+3), Bryggman has six (4+2), and Wernblom has seven (1+6).

MTV Urheilu’s expert Siim Liivik highlighted Haudum in the Hockey Night Maanantai program. Liivik played with Haudum during the 2019-2020 season in Klagenfurt, Austria, under Petri Matikainen.

– Even then, you could tell that the guy is extremely skilled at passing, he has talent overall and is a good skater. But he might have had difficulties with understanding when to make that nice backhand pass and when it might be better to look for a deke between the legs, Liivik says.

Last season, the Austrian forward Haudum, 29, recorded 10+42=52 points in 46 regular season games with Graz99ers and 5+15=20 points in 12 playoff games. The season ended with a championship, and Haudum was awarded the most valuable player of the playoffs.

– By the way, the guy watches Connor McDavid in every game and every clip. The number says something about it, Liivik says, referring to the jersey number 97, which both McDavid and Haudum wear.

Liivik mentions that he has been in contact with TPS’s head coach Toni Söderholm when it became clear that Haudum would be moving to Turku.

– I sent Söder a message when he signed this guy, saying that if you can pump up his personality a bit, he will definitely surprise many, Liivik noted.