Puckarinen

OULU, Finland – It’s been an eventful six months for Mikael Granlund, 17. First, the memorable debut in the Finnish SM-liiga with Kärpät Oulu, then a one-man strike due to “contractual reasons”, then signing with HIFK Helsinki, back to play the junior playoffs with Kärpät, the World U18 Championship, and now, the decision to sue Kärpät Oulu to get a court’s decision on the “junior contract” that he had with Kärpät.

The club says the four-year junior contract Granlund signed in 2007, as a 14-year-old, is a valid contract. The Granlund camp says that it can’t be valid because no real compensation is determined.

In the 2007 contract, Granlund is guaranteed six composite sticks per season, skates, and other equipment as needed. That contract was signed by Mikael and his guardian.

To be able to play his first SM-liiga games earlier this year, Kärpät had to get him sign a proper SM-liiga player agreement, approved by the league and the players association, and also get him an SM-liiga player insurance and during that process, something happened. Both parties have their versions, although, Kärpät has declined to comment the process outside the courtroom.

In his statement to the court, Granlund and his lawyer, write that the 2007 contract cannot be a binding contract because so many elements – like compensation – of a proper work contract are missing. On the other hand, they also claim that Kärpät had Mikael sign a contract that had several unfilled parts in it, and that he was rushed to do so to catch a plane to Helsinki, to join the team and play his first game against the Espoo Blues the same night.

Kärpät had not informed Granlund’s parents or agent of the signing. Granlund also says that when he signed the insurance application, the end date was in April 2009 and that Kärpät had afterwards changed it to April 2011.

To make the mess complete, Granlund signed with HIFK in March. The Helsinki team’s representatives said that they signed him under the condition that he’s a free agent. Also, the entire Granlund family has moved to Helsinki, where both parents now have new jobs.

Back in March, Kärpät said that “mistakes had been made”, but also said that the club’s representatives had acted in good faith, because everybody had been so anxious to get Mikael on the ice.

Regardless of what the court decides, it is obvious that the relationship between the Granlund family and Kärpät has been severed and the trust is gone. If it ever existed.

Most Finnish clubs sign their prospects to similar junior contracts both to make sure that they can hold on to them, but also to encourage them and give them something to strive for. The Granlund case will be an interesting precedent for the Finns.

Of course, what applied for Granlund, doesn’t apply for just any old junior player. Some would be happy with six sticks and free food on road trips.

What’s obvious in all this, is that Mikael Granlund is an exceptional hockey talent. Last season, he scored 21+36=57 points in 36 games for the Kärpät Junior A team, and seven points in Mestis, the second-tier league, playing for the U20 national team that was preparing for the World U20 Championship. In the World U18 Championship, he collected 2+11=13 points in six games.

Next season, he hopes to be lighting the red light for HIFK Helsinki.