Mikael Granlund is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who has had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on February 26, 1992, in Oulu, Finland, and began playing hockey at a young age.
Granlund started his professional career in Finland's top league, the Liiga, playing for HIFK Helsinki. He quickly established himself as a talented player, earning the Rookie of the Year award in his first season. He continued to play for HIFK for several years, helping the team win the championship in 2011.
In 2010, Granlund represented Finland in the World Junior Championships, where he scored a memorable lacrosse-style goal that became known as the "Scooby-Doo" goal. The goal went viral and helped to raise Granlund's profile in the hockey world.
In 2012, Granlund was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round, ninth overall. He made his NHL debut in the 2012-2013 season and quickly became a fan favorite. He scored his first NHL goal in his third game and went on to finish the season with eight goals and 28 points in 27 games.
Granlund continued to play for the Wild for several seasons, becoming one of the team's top players. He was known for his skill and creativity on the ice, as well as his ability to make plays and set up his teammates. He was also a strong defensive player, often playing on the penalty kill.
In the 2016-2017 season, Granlund had a breakout year, scoring 26 goals and 43 assists for a total of 69 points. He was named to the NHL All-Star Game for the first time in his career and helped lead the Wild to the playoffs.
Granlund was traded to the Nashville Predators in the middle of the 2018-2019 season. He continued to play well for the Predators, scoring 16 goals and 23 assists in 79 games. However, the team missed the playoffs that year.
In the 2019-2020 season, Granlund signed a one-year contract with the Predators and had another solid year, scoring 17 goals and 13 assists in 63 games. However, the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Predators did not make the playoffs.
Granlund re-signed with the Predators for the 2020-2021 season and had another strong year, scoring 13 goals and 14 assists in 51 games. However, the team once again missed the playoffs.
Overall, Mikael Granlund has had a successful career in the NHL, establishing himself as a talented and skilled player. He has scored over 100 goals and 200 assists in his career and has represented Finland in several international tournaments. While he has not won a Stanley Cup, he has been a valuable player for the teams he has played for and has earned the respect of his peers and fans.
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