Kari Makkonen -- Anyone remember him? (Finnish forward of the 1970s/80s)

[The Panther]

The existence (heretofore unknown to me) of Finnish forward Kari Makkonen came to my attention tonight for the simple fact that he played 9 games for the Edmonton Oilers in their inaugural season of 1979-80. Anyone remember this guy?

He had been drafted by the NY Islanders in the 12th round in 1975, but I've no idea if he ever tried out at their training camp or whatnot. He eventually signed as a free-agent with Edmonton in the summer of 1979.

Of his grand total of 9 NHL games, 7 were played in December 1979 (he scored all 4 of his career NHL points over a 4-game span). He then didn't play again until March 1st 1980 (his last NHL game), which suggests he either got hurt in December 1979 or Sather healthy-scratched him for a long time. He played 16 games that season with the Houston Apollos of the CHL, so it seems more likely that he was scratched, though maybe he was injured first and then assigned to the minors for a while.

Presumably frustrated or just unhappy with NHL life, he returned to Finland in 1980 and had a long and productive career as a scorer in the 'Finnish Elite-League'. He also played for Finland in the 1981 Canada Cup and appeared at the World Championships numerous times.

Makkonen was also a coach and assistant coach for several years in Finland.

Anyway, just a curiosity in Oilers' history, but I was wondering if anyone knows the story of how the Oilers even signed him (before they had ever played a game in the NHL), and how / why he left the NHL so quickly? Edmonton, as we know, was quite successful with Finnish players in their first few years in the NHL, and coach/GM Glen Sather was keen on European players in general. Makkonen would seem to have been quite a legit, talented forward who could have made a much longer 'go' of an NHL career if so inclined.

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[Gerulaitis]

I heard the name.

I think he played for Finland in the 80s

 

[Albatros]

Anyway, just a curiosity in Oilers' history, but I was wondering if anyone knows the story of how the Oilers even signed him

He scored against both Team Canada and Team USSR at the Canada Cup in 1976 which may have played a role.

During the NHL season his wife gave birth in December and he wanted to return back to Finland, he also didn't speak much English so staying was less of an option. I think the whole NHL experience was more of a spontaneous adventure than a thoughtful career move.

I don't know how his contract looked like in particular, but at the time it was sometimes actually quite popular among European players to be sent down to the farm team if with the NHL team they got paid the same sum in CAD and in farm in USD.

 

[Michael Farkas]

Quickly went back and watched him play in the '81 Canada Cup. He was shooting winger who didn't mind initiating contact, but wasn't a very good skater. I question his puck control through contact. Looks like sort of a grindy winger with some shooting preference/ability.

He was anointed "designated sitter" by Jim Matheson in this Feb 1, 1980 article.

He practices every day. Makes the road trips. Even skates in the pre-game warm-ups.

But former Finnish national team forward Kari Makkonen spends almost every night watching Edmonton Oilers from the stands or press box. As of the third week in January, the 25-year-old leftwing from Pori, has played in just eight of Oilers’ 43 games. Actually, that’s not wholly true. In four of those, he barely budged from the end of the bench.

Considering he’s making in the neighborhood of $40,000 to $50,000 on the first-year of a two-season pact, that’s pretty good money for R&R. About $5,000 a game and even league scoring leader Marcel Dionne doesn’t haul down that much per outing.

Unclear why he doesn't play....

To many it’s a mystery why he’s not. Especially on a club that isn’t endowed with shifty goalscorers. Makkonen, who scored 36 goals in as many games with his club team Assat last season, has a good touch around the net. But, he can’t seem to beat out Brett Caliighen, who plays leftwing on the team’s No. 1 line with Wayne Gretzky and Blair MacDonald; checking forward Dave Hunter; rugged Cam Connor or even police-man Dave Semenko.

On a 19-man roster, he’s firmly ensconced as the 20th man. Even as Oilers keep losing, he keeps sitting.

“I have not been told why I don’t play,” said Makkonen, who is one of four Finns (teammate Risto Siltanen, Washington’s Antero Lehtonen and Atlanta’s Pekka Rautakallio are the others) in the National Hockey League this season.

Didn't want to go back to the minors again...played with Gretzky briefly...

He hasn’t played since Dec. 21 in Colorado, however, as Sather’s enthusiasm for the winger waned. He’d like to maybe send him to the minors, but Makkonen has a clause in his contract that says he can veto that. He went once for two weeks but that was plen-ty.

“He played well for a few games,” said Sather, who inserted the winger in Callighen’s spot with Gretzky. “But…”

But the audition was shortlived.

DS...

All in all, it’s difficult to understand. Oilers are paying a salary, not to mention an additional $50,000 ($25,000 down and the additional when he plays 40 games in the NHL) to the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation for his services.

And all he is a DS.

Designated Sitter.

“I really think he can play,” admits Sather. “He’s not a waste of time.

Maybe not. But Makkonen must feel Oilers are wasting his.

 

[The Panther]

Quickly went back and watched him play in the '81 Canada Cup. He was shooting winger who didn't mind initiating contact, but wasn't a very good skater. I question his puck control through contact. Looks like sort of a grindy winger with some shooting preference/ability.

He was anointed "designated sitter" by Jim Matheson in this Feb 1, 1980 article.



Unclear why he doesn't play....



Didn't want to go back to the minors again...played with Gretzky briefly...



DS...

Amazing stuff there. Thanks a lot!