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Post by mscaniac on Jun 2, 2008 12:53:23 GMT -5
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Meltzer
Flyers winger Sami Kapanen has decided to end his NHL career, announcing his retirement with one season remaining on his contract with Philadelphia.
Kapanen, who will turn 35 on June 14, is the majority owner of KalPa Kuopio, a team in Finland's SM-Liiga. He will wind up his playing career with the club, where he also got his start in hockey. Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen, a Kuopio native who also got his start with KalPa, is a minority owner of the club.
A report in Kuopio-based newspaper Savon Sanomat quoted Kapanen as saying that he informed the Flyers yesterday of his decision. Kapanen confirmed the report via email today.
"It's true. I'm retiring from the NHL and planning to play for KalPa in Finland. ...I will miss the Flyers but it's time to move on," wrote Kapanen.
Kapanen was scheduled to make $1.25 million next season and his retirement will save the Flyers the same amount against their 2008-09 salary cap.
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Post by Melindaaaaaa [26] on Jun 2, 2008 16:21:09 GMT -5
But he... my Sami... I... AHHH!  I have no more reason to like the Flyers. |
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Post by mscaniac on Jun 2, 2008 16:58:57 GMT -5
I don't think I realized he was old enough to consider retirement..I know you will miss him Mel but at least that's one less team you have to be "torn" about! LOL
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Post by 300section on Jun 2, 2008 18:56:15 GMT -5
**goes off to the corner & cries**
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, SAMI, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
**sniffles**
Gimme a hug, Mellers. This is sad news indeed for the both of us.
**sob**
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Post by Melindaaaaaa [26] on Jun 2, 2008 22:29:11 GMT -5
I don't think I realized he was old enough to consider retirement..I know you will miss him Mel but at least that's one less team you have to be "torn" about! LOL I sure as heck didn't realize he was 35. He easily still had a couple more years in him if he wanted too. But hey, if he wants to call it quits now, I'll still be a fan of his, playing or retired.  |
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Post by Freaky for JWillie on Jun 2, 2008 22:36:35 GMT -5
Yea, I was so sad when I heard this news. I know Sami contemplated retiring during the lockout year, but he did come back. I guess they just want to be back in Finland.  I'll never forget the first time I went to a Flyers practice, Sami flew by down the ice and I was just blown away. He was so fast, you just don't realize how fast some of them are until you're up close like that. I will miss him. |
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Post by Melindaaaaaa [26] on Jun 3, 2008 20:25:12 GMT -5
^^^ Word on the speed thing. I remember going to a Flyers practice in December of 2006, and it's amazing how fast the small ones are.
I'm glad I met him that year.
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Post by Ells on Jun 5, 2008 22:09:26 GMT -5
Sami was only in Philly because Primeau asked him to play with him. Primeau is gone, I knew Sami was not far behind.
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Post by mscaniac on Sept 19, 2008 10:52:35 GMT -5
I thought Mel would be interested to read this.. it appears Sami is back in Finland and still going to play hockey!
Quote:
Happy homecomings for Kapanen
Bill Meltzer | NHL.com Correspondent
Sep 17, 2008, 11:12 AM EDT
For the last 12 seasons, Sami Kapanen plied his trade in the NHL. The forward's speed, hustle, fearlessness in traffic and ability to come through in clutch situations endeared him to fans in Hartford, Carolina and Philadelphia. His versatility and leadership earned him respect from teammates and coaches.
The 35-year-old Kapanen had one year remaining on his contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, but he was dissatisfied with his performance last season and uncertain about his role and ice time with the team heading into 2008-09. In June, he made the difficult decision to retire from the NHL and leave the Flyers after five seasons with the club.
But he hasn't retired from hockey altogether. Kapanen is the majority owner of KalPa Kuopio of Finland's SM-Liiga (elite league); he has returned to KalPa as a player to captain the team.
"It was a hard decision," Kapanen said. "I'm going to miss Philadelphia -- the area, the home my family had there and, of course, my teammates and everyone around the organization. But it was time to go back to Finland. At this point in my career this is the right decision. Hockey-wise, I felt it was time to focus on KalPa."
In returning to KalPa, Kapanen has brought his career full circle. He got his start with the team, saved it from bankruptcy years later by buying it and leading it back to the top league after the club was relegated to the minor-league Mestis level, and is now back to try to help the team improve its fortunes in the SM-Liiga standings.
"I've never been someone who is too concerned about (individual) statistics," said Kapanen. "At the end of the day, I just want us to win and feel like I contributed to the success."
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Post by Melindaaaaaa [26] on Sept 19, 2008 12:41:01 GMT -5
I was figuring he would have something to do with his Finnish team when he was done here.
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![Melindaaaaaa [26] Avatar](http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f379/erikcole26/Iconz/iconh.png)
I'll never forget the first time I went to a Flyers practice, Sami flew by down the ice and I was just blown away. He was so fast, you just don't realize how fast some of them are until you're up close like that. I will miss him. 
