Perspective: Could this man be the savior of the Jokers?
The Jokers’ start to the season has been a disaster. The team, assembled with a lot of money, has lost all five of its first matches. Worst of all, the team’s performance has not made any progress yet.
One of the problems for the Jokers has been the goaltending. So far, only Olle Eriksson Ek has shown performances that are sufficient for the Liiga level. With his injury, the Jokers are in desperate need of a new goaltending reinforcement.
One possible name could be Waltteri Ignatjew. The Linköping team he represents acquired NHL player Marcus Högberg last summer, and the Finnish player, who had a strong last season, is set to have a minor role in the club.
As early as March, the Swedish newspaper Expressen speculated that Ignatjew might want a transfer elsewhere.
– If Marcus Högberg decides to return home to Linköping, which is very likely, it could affect Waltteri Ignatjew’s future. The Finnish player wants a significant role next season, and that might be hard to achieve if Högberg joins the team, the newspaper wrote.
Ignatjew was clearly Linköping’s number one goaltender last season. He played 39 SHL matches with a save percentage of 89.4. He also played two matches for the national team.
The 26-year-old Ignatjew, who is 191 cm tall, could be the first step in turning the Jokers’ course around. Trust in the goaltender also makes it easier for the defense to work, but the Jokers’ gameplay issues cannot be solved with just one additional signing.
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