Mikkelin Jukurit were officially eliminated from playoff contention on the final day of the regular-season in Finland, with Liam Kirk narrowly denied the chance to appear in Liiga’s postseason.
Jukurit battled for a playoff berth until the final buzzer sounded on the campaign, finishing just one point short of qualification after they defeated Oulun Kärpät 6-2 on decision day.
Kirk, who debuted for the Mikkelin-based club in January, posted 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 25 appearances under head coach Olli Jokinen.
The 23-year-old, placed on loan by the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes on 28 December, was an ever present top-nine forward for Jukurit and scored from the second line versus Kärpät to sign off from in style.
Jukurit finished with a record of 24-6-30 on the season, just one point behind 19-16-25 KooKoo.
Analysis: Liam Kirk’s Mikkelin Jukurit narrowly miss Liiga Playoffs
Before he was sent to Finland, Liam Kirk was in an unenviable position.
The Team Great Britain forward was scratched into oblivion in the American Hockey League and was subsequently demoted to the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators.
He quickly took to life in the third division – which only underscored the absurdity of his situation.
Kirk, in the second season of a three-year entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes, needed to be stretched to develop.
And he just wasn’t afforded that kind of opportunity in North America.
Puzzling. Bizarre. Infuriating.
Whatever label we put on the health scratch marathon, it clearly wasn’t in the best interests of Kirk – nor his potential trade value to the Coyotes.
Hence his loan to Finland and Jukurit, where he flourished.
While Kirk nominally dropped to third line a couple of times, he saw top-six ice time throughout his spell under the direction of Olli Jokinen.
Kirk on oikeassa paikassa oikeaan aikaan, ja tilanne on 1-5 🔥
🎥 @CMoreSportFi #Jukurit #Liiga https://t.co/4g7g2LaweP pic.twitter.com/CXMSWNsmpQ
— Mikkelin Jukurit (@MikkelinJukurit) March 11, 2023
And he repaid his coach’s faith.
Kirk was a constant threat for Jukurit, producing bucketloads of offence from the centre or the wing.
But it was the defensive side of his game that developed the most in Liiga – he was steady and solid when required, which should raise eyebrows in Phoenix.
Liam Kirk, Atlanta Gladiators (Image: ECHL)
“I look at this as having a great opportunity to go and develop in one of the best leagues in the world,” said Kirk shortly after his move to Jukurit. “I want to have a good, strong last part of the season here and then we’ll see how things go.
“I had a lot of time last summer after the injury, dwelling on things, planning my future out and I had planned on being in the AHL all this season. It didn’t turn out that way so, right now, I’m just focussed on being here at the moment and seeing what I can do.
“There’s a loan agreement in place and I’m sure if Arizona wanted to take me back over there this season they would do, but I highly doubt it given the way everything has gone so far this season. I fully expect to see the season out here.”
“To be quite honest, I hope I do. I’ve been moved around so much I want to finish out the season in one place and Jukurit were really hot on me playing here, they really wanted me, so I’d love to finish the season with them and have a good play-off run.”
There is no doubt that Kirk was disillusioned by his treatment in Arizona.
Liam Kirk, Arizona Coyotes (Image: NHL)
While the Coyotes organisation owes him nothing, their reluctance to deploy him in the AHL was – at best – extremely odd, not least because the Tucson Roadrunners have struggled for offence lately.
It remains to be seen what will happen next, now that Jukurit’s season is over.
But, whatever awaits him over the horizon, it is clear that Kirk has bolstered his stock over the last couple of months.
Arizona, the puck is in your zone. Use it.
