Teemu Hartikainen's harsh assessment – Karri Kivi on MTV: "A very challenging player"

Teemu Hartikainen‘s lackluster start to the season has become a major concern for KalPa. Karri Kivi assesses in MTV Liigaviikko that the star forward’s situation is the most crucial issue for the Kuopio team to resolve this entire season.

KalPa has lost four consecutive games and is currently in 14th place in the standings. The 36-year-old Hartikainen, who was among the team’s top players last season, has recorded 1+3=4 points in 12 games.

Kivi notes that the problems are also visible on the ice.

– The game has looked (like that) outwardly as well. Teemu Hartikainen plays about 13–14 minutes per game. He is also a very challenging player for head coach Sami Tervonen to manage at the moment, to get the experienced player more involved in the game, and to ensure that his role at least in the power play remains, and that there isn’t a total frustration.

– Teemu Hartikainen hasn’t been able to get his engines running this year, Kivi commented.

The experienced coach understands the challenges related to the star player’s role from his own career.

– It’s quite a battle to keep that player satisfied. It must never come before the team. And then there’s always that player’s own attitude towards it, whether he will accept a role on the fourth line if his ice time decreases, for example?

KalPa is also suffering from injuries to key players.

– This is the number one question for KalPa. Will Hartikainen’s season continue like this, or will they find a way for him to get even a little closer to last season, Kivi states.

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League | 26.10.2026 16:10