1995 Scouting Report - 2 Miikka Kiprusoff

[Bob McKenzie]

2. Miikka Kiprusoff - Goaltender - Finland - TPS Jr. (Finland)

Miikka Sakari Kiprusoff, nicknamed Kipper, is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks during his National Hockey League (NHL) career. He was selected in the fifth round, 116th overall, by the Sharks in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, and has also played professionally for TPS of the Finnish SM-liiga, as well as for both AIK IF and Timrå IK of the Swedish Elitserien.



Kiprusoff represented Finland several times on the international stage, earning silver medals at the Ice Hockey World Championships in 1999 and 2001, as well as leading the Finns to a surprise second-place finish at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. He also helped the Finnish national hockey team win the bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.



Kiprusoff began his professional career with TPS in 1994, and was named the best goaltender and best player of the playoffs in 1999 as he led them to the SM-liiga championship. He then moved to North America in 1999, and after two All-Star seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL), made his NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks, where he served primarily as the team's backup. A trade to the Calgary Flames in 2003–04 brought Kiprusoff into a starting role, and he set a modern NHL record for lowest goals against average (GAA) at 1.69 as he helped the Flames reach the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. He won the Vezina Trophy as the best goaltender in the NHL in 2006 along with the William M. Jennings Trophy for giving up the fewest goals in the League. He played in his first NHL All-Star Game in 2007 and is the Flames' franchise record holder in both wins and shutouts.



AWARDS AND HONORS

SM-LIIGA

Kanada-malja (Finnish Champion) 1995, 1999
Urpo Ylönen trophy 1999
Jari Kurri trophy 1999
SM-liiga All-Star Team 1999

NHL

William M. Jennings Trophy 2006
Vezina Trophy 2006
NHL First Team All-Star 2006

Calgary Flames

Molson Cup 2006, 2007, 2009



PROS AND CONS

PRO:





CON:

Kiprusoff is a spokesman for the Rainbow Society of Alberta, an organization that aims to grant wishes for children with chronic or life-threatening conditions. He donated $10 for each save he made in an NHL game, which totalled $18,720 in 2009–10.

Wait, that's not a con. Nothing. This man is a saint.

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

I also didn't know that this happened:

At the 2013 NHL trade deadline, the Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly attempted to acquire Kiprusoff, but he elected not to waive his no-trade clause amid speculation that he intended to retire at season's end.

Kipper didn't want to waive because he didn't think it was fair for someone to spend an asset on him when he was already in the mindset to retire.