Tomi Pettinen

Pettinen likes to use the body and clear the front of the net. He has good size, moves pretty well laterally and has a decent shot. Pettinen was considered Ilves's best player in their 3 playoff games in 2000 where he scored a goal and two assists. Considered a late developer, he is the type of player the Islanders were looking for in the late rounds. The Islander scouts feel Pettinen is on the verge of finding himself and just needs to keep playing. He wants to play in North America one day. The 24 year old plays for Ilves Tampere in Finland where he is a current teammate of Isles 2000 fourth round pick D Arto Tukio and former Islander Raimo Helminen. Pettinen wears number 25 for Ilves. The Islanders acquired the 267th pick overall in the draft from the Nashville Predators in exchange for their 1996 5th round draft pick C Petr Sachl on March 14, 2000.

2001-02 Update:

Came over from Finland following their season and played for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on a tryout basis in the AHL playoffs. He notched one assist in 9 games played. He has reportedly been signed on to a longer term deal and will most likely be a regular with Bridgeport in 2002-03.

2002-03 Update

Played in the first and last game of the regular season for the New York Islanders. This was his first full regular season in North America playing with Bridgeport. 

2003-04 Update

Pettinen played his second full season with Bridgeport of the AHL and for the second straight season produced the same results of 1 goal, 8 assists. He became a solid defender for the Islanders minor league franchise and also saw action in four games in the NHL.

2004-05 Update

Pettinen signed with Lukka Rauma back in Finland to play their during the NHL lockout. He produced his best season over in the Finnish National League recording 20 points in 56 games.

2005-06 Update

Pettinen returned to North America at the finish of the lockout to battle for a roster spot with the New York Islanders. He made the team out of training camp as the sixth/seventh defenseman. In the first month of October he played in 8 scoreless games, but found himself scratched into early November in favor of Radek Martinek. Pettinen had a rough start as opposing players tried to take advantage of any weaknesses he might have to the outside boards. He also managed to inadvertently redirect the puck into his own net in an early game. But he later got better and showed a skill for blocking shots with his large frame.

December 1, 2005 Update: Pettinen returned to the Islanders lineup on November 26, 2005 after sitting out 15 straight games. The Islanders won in Philadelphia 4-1 but were down two forwards in the game after injuries to Oleg Kvasha (earlier in the game) and Shawn Bates. Pettinen took a shift or two in the game at forward, something coach Steve Stirling had done in the past when he coached Tomi in Bridgeport. Following the game, the Islanders sent Pettinen down to Bridgeport on a conditioning stint on November 30, 2005.

January 1, 2006 Update: Played in only 2 games for the Islanders during the month of December. Pettinen was sent down to Bridgeport for a 10 day conditioning stint on November 30th and returned to the Islanders on December 13th. He saw action on Dec. 13, 2005 in a 4-3 loss vs. the Minnesota Wild and on Dec. 30, 2005 in a 4-3 loss at the Ottawa Senators.

Pettinen back in the swing of things with Sound Tigers - 12/2/05
by Michael Fornabaio - connpost.com

"I feel like a hockey player again," said Pettinen, who had played only one game in the past month. "It was a tough time. I would be skating after every practice. All the boys went home, and I was still skating."

The New York Islanders sent him to Bridgeport for a conditioning stint, and he made his first Sound Tigers appearance since 2004.

Even if only for a short time — Pettinen was told he'd play out the week with the Sound Tigers, and then a decision would be made what to do from there — he's part of a revamped Bridgeport defense. Veteran Dave Karpa signed a pro tryout contract Thursday and practiced with the team. "I'm just trying to get back to the NHL again," said Karpa, who could debut tonight at Lowell. "I haven't played in a while. I've got to start somewhere again."

The Sound Tigers sent Mike Jarmuth to Trenton of the ECHL for more playing time. With Pettinen and Karpa, Bridgeport still has eight healthy defensemen after sending Jarmuth down.

February 1, 2006 Update: Tomi Pettinen saw action in 5 games for the Islanders(out of 14 games total) during the month of January. He was held scoreless in those games and is scoreless in 18 total games on the season. He played in three straight games: Jan. 6th at CAR, Jan. 7th vs. CAR, Jan. 10th at NSH. He sat out the next two home games before returning Jan. 17th at CHI. He also played Jan. 19th at CAR.  

Islanders' Pettinen to play Tuesday
January 12, 2006

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (CP) - Defenceman Tomi Pettinen rejoined the New York Islanders on Monday after completing a conditioning stint in the minors and will suit up Tuesday against the visiting Minnesota Wild.

Pettinen was assigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Nov. 30 after appearing in nine games with the Isles. Defenceman Bruno Gervais was returned to Bridgeport to make room for him.

''The reports on Tomi were good, as we expected,'' Islanders coach Steve Stirling said after Monday's practice. ''We're going to continue to go with seven defencemen for a while.''

Stirling wants Pettinen to ease the burden on Alexei Zhitnik and Brent Sopel.

March 1, 2006 Update: Tomi Pettinen saw action in 2 games for the Islanders in February before the Olympic break. He played just over 19 minutes and recorded 2 hits in a 5-4 shootout victory in Pittsburgh February 4th. Pettinen also played 10 minutes and was a -1 in a 3-2 loss vs. Tampa Bay on February 6th. He was sent down to Bridgeport on February 23rd. Pettinen went on to play in 2 games for the Sound Tigers in February. He played in a 3-1 win at Lowell on February 24th and recorded an assist on a Jeremy Colliton goal by jumping up into the play in a 6-5 loss vs. Binghamton on February 26th.

Sound Tigers' Pettinen seeking more time on the ice - 2/26/06
by Michael Fornabaio - connpost.com

It's almost hard to believe Tomi Pettinen is 28. Just four years ago, he appeared for the 2002 playoffs with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, a young and semi-mysterious defenseman just flown in from Finland.

He fit in fine that year, and he has since grown into a player who fits in at the NHL level and can be a top-flight defenseman at the AHL level. The New York Islanders sent him down Thursday, and he dressed for the Sound Tigers in Friday night's 3-1 win at Lowell. "They told me I needed some ice time because I hadn't played a lot on Long Island," Pettinen said. "I agree. I don't want to sit there and be a seventh or eighth defenseman."

Pettinen is a different kind of player than puck-rushing Joel Bouchard, the man who was called up Wednesday as Pettinen came down, but he adds another steady, veteran presence to a defense that has become a team strength for Bridgeport, which hosts Binghamton today at 4:05 p.m. In 155 career Sound Tigers games, Pettinen is plus-23 after happening to be on the ice for Rob Collins' brilliant short-handed goal Friday. He played a regular shift with Paul Flache and killed penalties. "I didn't want to push myself too hard. I didn't want to pull a groin. I've done nothing for 10 days," Pettinen said. "I think I did just what was necessary, what I needed to do. On the ice, keep it simple."

This year has been a bit disappointing for Pettinen. He had the best season of his career last year at home in Finland during the NHL lockout. He made the Islanders out of camp, but he has played only 18 games. He'd play 20 minutes some nights, 10 other nights. He even skated up front a few times for then-coach Steve Stirling. Pettinen went the entire month of November playing about five shifts on defense. Conversations with the coaching staff haven't helped ease that disappointment. "I think I've played well enough to prove I can play in the NHL and break the team," Pettinen said. Still, Pettinen isn't one to sulk at being sent down. He isn't kidding when he says he wants to play. Although he tends toward quiet, his positive attitude shines through. "It's good to be here. I want to be here the rest of the season and go for the playoffs with these guys, and if someone gets hurt on Long Island, hopefully they'll call me up."

Feb. 24th: The most notable arrival is the return of veteran defenseman Tomi Pettinen from the New York Islanders. Pettinen, who played eight games with Bridgeport on a conditioning stint back in December, said he was happy to be back and get some ice time. "I've had him for a few years down here, and he's a smart, steady kid," Baseggio said. "He can eat up a lot of minutes. He's a smart, strong guy."

April 1, 2006 Update: Tomi Pettinen recorded an assist in 12 games played with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the month of March. He recorded his assist in a 5-4 overtime win vs. the Hershey Bears on March 29th. He was a -6 on the month.

May 1, 2006 Update: Tomi Pettinen recorded 2 assists in 7 games played with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the month of April. Both assists came in a game vs. Providence on April 1st. He played in 29 games with the Sound Tigers in 2005-06 and did not record a goal. He was a -6 on the season. Pettinen wore an A as an alternate captain fr the Sound Tigers in 2005-06.

Playoffs: Tomi Pettinen recorded an assist in Game 2 of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers first round series vs. the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The assist came on the first goal of the game scored by Jeff Tambellini in a 3-2 Bridgeport win at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on April 22nd. The WBS Penguins won the series 4 games to 3.

Quote: "We knew what was coming," said Tomi Pettinen, whose crushing end-boards hit on Maxime Talbot in the closing minutes riled up the Penguins. "Last Friday in the regular season out here, they were a little aggressive. They came after us. Now, we were more prepared for what was coming." - 4/21/06

Highlights:

* Named second star with 2 assists in 4-3 OT loss vs. Providence Bruins April 1, 2006.

Pettinen Goes to SEL
May 5, 2006

According to the Vastra Frolunda Indians official website from Sweden, Finnish D Tomi Pettinen, an unrestricted free agent, has signed with the Indians for the 2006-07 season. Pettinen leaves the Islanders having played in 24 career games, in which he went scoreless. In fact, he is tied with Joe Day for having played the most games as a member of the Islanders without recording a point(excluding goaltenders). Pettinen played in 18 games for the Islanders in 2005-06 and had 16 PIM's. In 22 games with Bridgeport he recorded 4 assists with 30 PIM's. Other former Islanders who played with Vastra Frolunda in 2005-06 were Tommy Salo, Jason Krog and Niklas Andersson. Draft picks Arto Tukio and Peter Hogardh also played for the Indians in 2005-06. Pettinen was a 9th round pick of the Islanders in the 2000 Draft.