Tuomaala Learning from Adversity

The 2021-22 season did not go the way Samu Tuomaala envisioned it. Heading into the campaign, the Flyers' 2021 second-round pick 46th overall, hoped to play in the American Hockey League for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

The Oulu, Finland, native showed flashes of promise in training camp with the Flyers and Phantoms .His speed, finishing touch and ability to handle the puck stood out at times. Most notably, the speedy winger scored a spectacular end-to-end goal during a Phantoms preseason game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Tuomaala earned an opening night roster spot with the Phantoms. However, it was quickly apparent in two games that he was physically overmatched and struggling to adapt to the smaller-rink game. He appeared to be overwhelmed.
There were also off-ice adjustments to daily life. Tuomaala was the only Finn on the Phantoms. He could understand spoken English reasonably well but his ability to communicate in the language was -- and, to a somewhat lesser degree, still is -- fairly limited. Over time, he is likely to attain fluency but he's not there yet.
Rather than having the teenage player continue sitting out as a healthy scratch in Allentown, the Flyers organization elected to have Tuomaala play at a lower level. The player's CHL rights belonged to the Ontario Hockey League's Sudbury Wolves. However, Tuomaala prefered to return home to Finland for the rest of the season.
Initially, Tuomaala landed with Sport Vaasa in Finland's top league. Things did not go particularly well there, either. The team had an extremely veteran-oriented roster, which included 11 regular starters who were 30 years of age or older and 13 regulars who were 27 or older.
Playing time for Tuomaala was sparse. He dressed in only 13 games, typically on the fourth line, and produced one goal and one assist. After dominating the Under-18 World Championships for Finland one year earlier (five goals and 11 points in seven games) and averaging a little more than a point per game in the domestic under-20 league, Tuomaala did not earn a spot on Finland's under-20 team for the World Junior Championship.
Tuomaala transferred teams again, going from Vaasa to Jukurit Mikkeli. Jukerit's head coach is longtime NHL player Olli Jokinen, who is perhaps more in tune with the developmental needs of young players than old-school Sport Vaasa head coach Risto Dufva. Since it was late in the season at this point, Tuomaala was eased into the Jukerit lineup (eight games played, 0g, 1a). However, an expanded role is planned for the 19-year-old Tuomaala in 2022-23.
In the spring, the Flyers hired Sami Kapanen as a European-based development coach and scout. One of Kapanen's primary focuses has been to work one-on-one with Tuomaala. A close bond has formed quickly.
Kapanen, a two-time NHL All-Star and a fan favorite in Philadelphia during his five seasons in a Flyers uniform, has seen the game from many different viewpoints: professional player, Liiga team owner, coach, general manager, player agent and hockey dad. He is a voice of reason and experience.
Kapanen said that Tuomaala's rough first full pro season is a good challenge for the player. He said Tuomaala recognized the areas of his game where improvement is needed. He also believes that Jokinen is the right coach to help Tuomaala take the next steps.
"I think it's just a learning curve for a young player, like Samu. Always being one of the top players on his own team. Now kind of needing to learn the paces of waiting for your opportunity and playing for lesser minutes, not having success offensively. What he got better at was playing without the puck. He was getting better at competing for loose pucks and forechecking. He necessarily didn't have to do that much in the past where he's been an offensive player, play with the puck and carrying it," Kapanen said.
" He was kind of forced to do and learn it. He had a bit of success at it and at the same time the coaches saw that he was ready to play at a professional level defensively. He's more reliable now. I think it's also now appreciating different roles and understanding maybe the importance of the third and fourth line when he's usually been in the top two."
Over time, Tuomaala's role should grow back into playing near the top of the lineup. There's never been a question about his raw offensive potential, but now he's learning that fleet feet and soft hands alone do not automatically translate into success at the pro level, whether in Europe or North America.
"Changing from one team to another [was a big challenge], yes, but not only that, the location. Packing and finding a new place to stay, getting to know new teammates. It's exhausting to play. It's taxing on a young player not finding the comfort soon, getting to know the players, the coaches and know the system. To have the development as a young player, it's tough after the season he had," Kapanen said.
"[His goals for next season?] Show his strengths as a hockey player. Offensively, to produce some better numbers, being a strong skater and being a player with the puck and create offense. Being reliable defensively, too. Those are the things he's looking forward to improving and show that he is capable in doing. He knows it was a tough year last year, but he is confident that he has that game and that he's been there before. There's no reason he wouldn't be capable of playing the same kind of hockey next year."
To his credit, Tuomaala did not spend the 2021-22 season just sulking and bemoaning his lack of playing time. Over the last year, he has put in countless hours of hard work to add muscle as well as studying video. In his NHL Draft year, the 5-foot-10 right winger weighed 178 pounds (80 kilograms). The young player on the ice at the Flyers recent Development Camp looked noticeably more filled out.
"He's gotten a lot stronger. I think last time I checkedse he was 86 kilos. That's 192lbs or something like that. He's been training hard too. Everything we asked him to do, he's done. Now he has to get a spot on Jokerit and keep going. Sami Kapanen is going to help him too. He knows the coach, Olli Jokinen, and he's having a lot of young players on that team. I think he's in good hands and a good spot," said Flyers Development Program director Kjell Samuelsson.
During Development Camp there were various drills in which Tuomaala stood out in a positive way. In particular, there was a rapid passing drill in which Tuomaala and the player with whom he was paired, incoming Phantoms rookie Olle Lycksell, put the vast majority of their passes on the tape. In another drill, Tuomaala almost effortlessly stopped and turned on a dime while keeping puck possession. There were no defenders, but the ease with Tuomaala completed these tasks -- in the middle of the offseason -- was noticeable.
For his part, Tuomaala is feeling more comfortable as his second pro season approaches. Unlike last year, he knows where his destination will be for the season and he better understands that it's better to develop at his own pace. He's excited to be coached by Jokinen. Last year was too much, too soon, especially in trying to break into the AHL at age 18 and then swimming upstream on a veteran-laden Liiga team. Additionally, there is a comfort factor in his relationship with Kapanen, who will push him if needed but is also there to offer encouragement and sound advice.
During the Development Camp, Tuomaala was interviewed in English by the local media. He had Kapanen sitting by his side to translate or answer on his behalf as needed but he answered several questions on his own.
"It's definitely easier for me when I know where I'm going to play after camp," Tuomaala said."it's really fun. [Jokinen] is a great coach for me and I think it's the best place for me now."
Tuomaala interacted much more confidently one-on-one with the Development Camp coaches than he did a year ago. Nonetheless, he said he was grateful to have Kapanen at his side as needed.
"It's really nice, If I don't understand something, I can ask Sami what that means or for help in every situation," Tuomaala said.
Tuomaala will turn 20 on Jan. 8, 2021. He's eligible for 2022-23 World Junior Championships for Team Finland. Already under entry-level contract with the Flyers, his contract can slide to Jukerit for this season without burning a year off his NHL deal.