In recent years, players from northern Europe have flocked to Switzerland. One of those was Finnish winger Henrik Haapala, who signed last September in Genève-Servette under unusual circumstances. Nine months later, he’s signed a one-year deal with the Malmö Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League.

“I am very happy to have signed with Malmö. We also talked last year and now it was the right timing for both parties,” said Haapala 30, to the club's website. “I have spoken to players from Finland who previously played in Malmö and they have only said good things about the club. I have been to Malmö once before and I really like the arena and the city.”

His reference to the arena is interesting – Haapala was a member of the Finnish team that won the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship, defeating host Sweden in the final 3-2 in overtime at Malmö Arena.

A product of the famous Tappara club in Tampere, Haapala played part the 2017-18 season in North America after signing with the Florida Panthers. He played five NHL games that season, recording one assist, and 20 more in the AHL before heading back to Tappara to finish the season. Since then he’s bounced around to HC Lugano, Jokerit Helsinki and Ilves Tampere before spending last season in Switzerland.

Signed to a one-month contract when the team needed an injury replacement, Haapala had 10 points in nine National League games with Genève-Servette but the club chose not to keep him beyond that for financial reasons. He finished the season with Lausanne HC, limited to just 18 games in the regular season and one in the playoffs due to injury.

“Henrik will add a lot with his experience and winning background,” said Redhawks sports director Björn Liljander. “In Henrik, we get an intelligent player who is good with the puck. Thanks to his quick actions out on the ice, Henrik can find good plays and create a lot of trouble for the opponents.”