Islanders Otto Koivula is Headed on Loan to Finland

The New York Islanders have just announced that young forward, Otto Koivula has just been loaned to Finland to play for HIFK-Hockey in Finland’s Liiga.

Today is one of the biggest days of the offseason that many fans look forward to. At noon today, free agency opens up and all unrestricted free agents become free to sign with any team. The New York Islanders have five UFA’s that they have yet to get a deal done with. If no deal is struck between the Isles and the respective player, they are set to hit the open market at noon.

The Islanders started with the news early today, as they announced that Otto Koivula has been loaned to HIFK-Hockey. HIFK plays in Finland’s top division, called Liiga, and will be a great move for the young Koivula.

The 22-year-old is from Finland and has experience playing in the Liiga. In 2017-2018 he played for Illves where he had nine goals and 18 assists in 53 games.

Koivula made a good impression last fall for the Islanders. He made his NHL debut in November against the Flyers and then played eleven more times with the blue and orange between November through March. He has yet to record a point in the NHL.

This is a good move for the Islanders, as they allow another young player to get some valuable playing time overseas.

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Koivula is the third Islanders player to head to Europe on loan. He joins both Oliver Wahlstrom and Simon Holmstrom, who were both loaned to clubs in Sweden a month ago.

Lou Lamoriello mentioned, on Wednesday, that the Islanders may loan additional players to Europe, with the start date of the 2021 NHL season set for January first.

Isles Country: Do you think this is a smart move to loan Koivula to HIFK-Hockey? Leave your comments below!