Urheilucast: Jokers had enough – now preparing a radical solution

Helsinki Jokerit has started its SM-liiga season with two losses. On Saturday, the team suffered a humiliating 2–7 defeat to Lukko in Rauma.

The poor start for the Jokers has quickly brought head coach Tomek Valtonen into the spotlight.

Urheilucast’s Esko Seppänen considers it a certainty that Valtonen will be fired. According to Seppänen, the Jokers’ management is, in his view, already prepared for a coaching change.

– This story is ending at record speed, as the Jokers’ locker room wrote it in such a way that they have essentially put an exit sign on the door. The Jokers’ leadership knows how to slip out the door by giving Valtonen the boot. This has all been scripted in advance, Seppänen says in the broadcast.

Seppänen also highlights the Jokers’ player material and the expectations it sets.

– When you bring in million-dollar players, there are players whose paychecks are closer to 400 than 300, so that’s the Ferrari. That’s what is brought into the driveway, and you tell the coach, hey, don’t scratch our Ferrari. And then it crashes into the first tree.

According to Seppänen, Valtonen’s dismissal is an inevitable outcome in his eyes.

– Every day that passes without change for the Jokers is just keeping them on life support. As stated, this writing is already on the wall, and the inevitable outcome is that Valtonen will be fired.

The Jokers’ fans also expressed their dissatisfaction in Rauma. They waved shoes at Valtonen, which was a clear message of discontent directed at the head coach.