Former Red Wings player bails on league as things turn sour
Photo credit: NHL.com
A former Red Wings player bailed on his league after a controversial stint in the KHL generated massive public backlash.
Teemu Pulkkinen was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the fourth round of the 2010 NHL Draft, but his North American journey finished a while ago, when he joined the KHL back in 2018.
He took part in 83 NHL games in his career, spending most of his time in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Iowa Wild, and Chicago Wolves. In addition to the Wings, Pulkkinen also wore the Minnesota Wild's and the Arizona Coyotes' uniforms.
He left North America to sign in the KHL, where he played until 2024.
His KHL stint was marred in controversy. He faced a lot of criticism for remaining in the Russian league when most European players left Russia for reasons we all know.
Last summer, he returned home to sign with Kiekko-Vantaa in Finland, but wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms, which forced him to bail on his team after only a few games.
Teemu Pulkkinen Leaves Team After Fan Backlash Due To Controversy
When he joined the team, he even had to share an official statement to apologize for staying in the KHL:
"I've made some bad choices in my career, and I regret them. I'm grateful for the opportunity to come back home and represent Vantaa. I'm very excited for this season."
But that wasn't enough for fans, who booed him every time he touched the puck. The team even lost three sponsorships with businesses due to Pulkkinen being on the team.
Now, it was confirmed that the player will pursue his career in Germany's second-division league.
In an official comment, the player expressed gratitude to the town, the teammates, and the community for how he was treated:
"I am truly grateful for the opportunity to return to the Finnish hockey map through Kiekko-Vantaa. The club, teammates, and the entire community treated me excellently from start to finish. This experience reignited the spark, and I am excited to move forward with the next challenges."
Pulkkinen, 33, scored seven goals and one assist in eight games this season before leaving for the Starbulls Rosenheim in the DEL.
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