San Jose Sharks European prospects Filip Bystedt and Valterri Pulli say they like North American ice more.
San Jose Sharks European prospects Filip Bystedt and Valterri Pulli say they like North American ice more.
San Jose Sharks European prospects Filip Bystedt and Valterri Pulli say they like North American ice more.
One of the hardest things a young European player can do is transition to a smaller rink. At the Rookie Faceoff, both Bystedt and Pulli weren't shy about their feelings about it.
"It took a while for me to adjust to the game, but compared to last year's rookie faceoff, I feel easier on the ice," Pulli said. "I know how things go, so I'm a lot more confident on the ice."
That was on full display when Pulli showed no hesitation crashing the net in yesterday's game against the Colorado Avalanche.
Pulli even suggested that the European hockey leagues should change the rink size to match North America.
"[When the NHL is in Europe], you can also see the hockey is a bit different here," Pulli said when asked about what it's like to have international NHL games played in his native Finland. "I would hope the Finnish league also would take some notes play a bit faster."
"It's less thinking," Pulli said about what he liked more. "You're just kind of going more with your instincts. So that's why it took a while to adjust. Now I've gotten more used to it, so I like the way things go here."
Swedish centerman Filip Bystedt echoed the same feelings with his transition.
"[I] kind of like it more over here with the smaller ice. I think it's suits my game more," Bystedt said. "[I am] more of a threat in the offensive zone, and with my reach and defensive zone, I am closer to the opponent."
While Bystedt and Pulli aren't prominent NHL players yet, their words speak volumes about their development on the North American rink and what they feel should be the case in their home country's leagues.
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