Esa Tikkanen

Esa Tikkanen
Esa Tikkanen
Born	January 25, 1965 (age 61); Finland
Occupation	Professional ice hockey forward (retired)
Years active	1984–2001
Known for	Five-time Stanley Cup champion, NHL player for Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals

Esa Tikkanen (born January 25, 1965) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey forward who competed in the National Hockey League (NHL). Throughout his career, he played for the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, and Washington Capitals. Tikkanen earned the Stanley Cup title five times: four championships with the Oilers (1985, 1987, 1988, 1990) and one with the Rangers (1994).

Background and early career

Tikkanen’s hockey journey began as a mascot for Helsinki’s Jokerit, later progressing to their local junior club, HJK. He spent a season in Canada playing for the Regina Blues of the SJHL and the Regina Pats of the WHL before returning to Finland to sign with HIFK. Selected 80th overall by the Oilers in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, he appeared in 36 games for HIFK during the 1984–85 season prior to joining Edmonton for their playoff campaign. In the 1985–86 season, Tikkanen briefly played in the American Hockey League with Edmonton’s affiliate, the Nova Scotia Oilers, before establishing himself as a permanent NHL player.

Start in Edmonton

Tikkanen made his NHL debut during Edmonton’s 1985 playoff run, securing a Stanley Cup championship that year despite not having played in a regular-season game. He quickly became an integral part of Edmonton’s top line alongside Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri, primarily fulfilling a defensive forward role. Under coach and general manager Glen Sather, Tikkanen was viewed as a strong contender for the Frank J. Selke Trophy—awarded annually to the NHL’s best defensive forward—and was named a finalist multiple times without winning. Renowned for his disruptive tactics and unique Tiki-Talk communication style, he was particularly effective in shadowing key opponents such as Gretzky during his tenure with the Los Angeles Kings. Between 1986 and 1990, Tikkanen tallied over 30 goals in three seasons and contributed to three more Stanley Cup victories. In 1991, he led Edmonton in points during the regular season with a total of 69.

Time after Oilers

In March 1993, Tikkanen was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for Doug Weight. He played an important role in New York’s 1994 Stanley Cup triumph, recording 22 goals and 54 points over 83 regular-season contests. The following July, he was involved in a trade sending him along with Doug Lidster to the St. Louis Blues in return for Petr Nedvěd.

During the NHL lockout of 1994–95, Tikkanen returned to Finland and competed for HIFK Helsinki. After play resumed, he took part in the shortened season with St. Louis but appeared in only 11 games during 1995–96 before being traded to the New Jersey Devils. Shortly thereafter, he was sent to the Vancouver Canucks.

The 1996–97 season saw Tikkanen traded back to the Rangers on March 8, 1997. Although he managed just one goal across 14 regular-season games, he significantly stepped up during the playoffs by netting nine goals in 15 games—second only to Gretzky on the team. The Rangers advanced to the Eastern Conference finals but were ultimately defeated by the Philadelphia Flyers.

As a free agent in summer 1997, Tikkanen signed with the Florida Panthers, but after participating in 28 games he was traded to the Washington Capitals for Dwayne Hay. He featured in all 21 playoff matches as Washington reached the Stanley Cup finals but were swept by the Detroit Red Wings. Tikkanen is notably remembered for missing a crucial shot in Game 2 that is often cited as a pivotal moment in that series. This season marked his final full campaign in the NHL.

Prior to the start of the 1998–99 season, Tikkanen agreed to a third stint with the Rangers but managed only 32 games due to injury. Before the 1999–2000 season began, he attended training camp with Edmonton but declined an offer to serve as a player-coach with their minor league affiliate and instead returned to Finland to complete a full season with Jokerit.

Across an NHL career spanning 877 games, Tikkanen amassed totals of 244 goals and 386 assists (630 points), along with accumulating 1,077 penalty minutes. In postseason competition covering 186 Stanley Cup playoff games, he recorded 72 goals and added 60 assists (132 points) while accruing 275 penalty minutes.

Post NHL career

During the 1999–2000 season, Tikkanen joined Helsinki's Jokerit, a direct competitor of his former club HIFK. Jokerit secured second place in the SM-Liiga that year. The following season, 2000–01, he relocated to Germany to conclude his professional playing career with the Essen Mosquitoes in the DEL, retiring from professional hockey in 2001.

In the 2004–05 season, Tikkanen took on the dual role of player and coach for Anyang Halla competing in the Asia League Ice Hockey. Although he had anticipated finishing among the top three scorers alongside his linemates, he ended up tied for fourth on the team, accumulating 25 points over 30 games while also leading in penalty minutes. Anyang Halla concluded the season in fifth place, failing to qualify for the playoffs.

Subsequently, he served as head coach of Norway’s Frisk Tigers in the GET-ligaen during the 2005–06 campaign. On 27 December 2010, Tikkanen was named head coach of Finnish second-tier squad Jokipojat for the remainder of the 2010–11 season.

International play

Tikkanen represented Finland in 81 international matches, including participation in two Canada Cups, five World Championships, and the 1998 Winter Olympic Games.

Notable achievements

He earned five Stanley Cup championships—four with the Edmonton Oilers and one with the New York Rangers. Renowned for his clutch contributions in playoff scenarios, Tikkanen scored 244 goals across 877 NHL regular-season contests and added 72 goals during 186 playoff appearances. These totals place him 14th all-time in NHL playoff goals and 38th in playoff points with 132. His tenacious playing style earned him the nickname "The Grate One," a playful twist on teammate Wayne Gretzky’s moniker "The Great One."

Over his regular-season career, Tikkanen recorded 244 goals, 386 assists, and amassed 1,077 penalty minutes; his playoff statistics include 72 goals, 60 assists, and 275 penalty minutes. He led Edmonton with 69 points during the 1990–91 regular season and holds an NHL record for scoring two shorthanded goals within a span of ten seconds. In Oilers franchise history, he ranks tenth with 436 points, eighth with 178 goals, sixth in playoff points (97), fifth in playoff goals (51), tied for twentieth in regular-season shorthanded goals (29), and fourth in playoff overtime goals (4).

From a business perspective, Tikkanen’s reputation as a clutch performer and agitator increased his appeal to teams seeking experienced playoff talent. His #5 jersey has been retired by Jokerit as an honor.

In the publication 100 Ranger Greats (2009), he was ranked number 85 among all-time New York Rangers players.

Tikkanen made a guest appearance on an episode of Trailer Park Boys: Out of the Park in 2016.

Tikkanese

Tikkanen was famous for his unique blend of Finnish and English known as "Tikkanese" or "Tiki-Talk," which often left even his teammates confused. Wayne Gretzky commented, "He brings something special. I don't know what it is, but if you ask him, you couldn't understand his answer." Former coach Craig MacTavish remarked, "Esa talks twice as much as anybody else. That's because you can understand just half what he says." Fellow Finn Jari Kurri also admitted to struggling to comprehend him during their time together on the Oilers.

Personal life

Esa Tikkanen has been married three times. His first marriage was to Swedish Ann Charlotte (Lotta) Kraft, lasting seventeen years and resulting in two daughters. Following their separation in 2000, he dated Finnish model Marita Hakala, though their engagement ended in 2002. In 2004, Tikkanen wed Tua Backman; they had three children before divorcing in 2014. He became engaged to Finnish physiotherapist Tuuli from Somero in 2015 and married her in 2016.

Honors and Distinctions

1982–83 – SM-liiga Kanada-malja championship with HIFK
1984–85 – Stanley Cup title in the NHL with Edmonton
1986–87 – NHL Stanley Cup victory (Edmonton)
1987–88 – NHL Stanley Cup triumph (Edmonton)
1989–90 – Stanley Cup win in the NHL (Edmonton)
1993–94 – NHL Stanley Cup secured with New York Rangers
1985 – Recipient of the Matti Keinonen trophy for best plus/minus rating in SM-liiga
Jersey number 5 retired by Jokerit in 2001, despite just a single professional season with the club; this number commemorates a sweater crafted by his great-grandmother, worn during his tenure as Jokerit's mascot.
Three-time finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy.

Tikkanen, the Thoroughbred

The 1994 Breeders' Cup Turf was claimed by Tikkanen, a Thoroughbred racehorse named in honor of Esa Tikkanen by George W. Strawbridge, Jr., owner of Augustin Stable and a longtime director and executive committee member of the Buffalo Sabres NHL franchise.

Trade History

March 17, 1993 – Edmonton Oilers traded him to the New York Rangers in exchange for Doug Weight.
July 24, 1994 – Traded from the Rangers along with Doug Lidster to the St. Louis Blues for Petr Nedvěd.
November 1, 1995 – Moved from the Blues to the New Jersey Devils for New Jersey’s third-round draft pick in 1997.
November 23, 1995 – Exchanged by the Devils to the Vancouver Canucks for Vancouver’s second-round draft choice in 1996.
March 8, 1997 – Traded by the Canucks alongside Russ Courtnall to the Rangers for Sergei Nemchinov and Brian Noonan.
September 17, 1997 – Signed as a free agent with the Florida Panthers.
March 9, 1998 – Traded from the Panthers to the Washington Capitals for Dwayne Hay and future considerations.
October 9, 1998 – Signed again as a free agent with the New York Rangers.

Regular Season and Playoffs

(1992–93 NHL)) (Edmonton Oilers)) (NHL)) (66)) (14)) (19)) (33)) (76)) (—)) (—)) (—)) (—)) (—)) (1992–93 NHL)) (New York Rangers)) (NHL)) (15)) (2)) (5)) (7)) (18)) (—)) (—)) (—)) (—)) (—)) (1993–94 NHL)) (New York Rangers)) (NHL)) (83)) (22)) (32)) (54)) (114)) (23)) (4)) (4)) (8)) (34))- (1994–95 NHL))| (St. Louis Blues))| (NHL))| 43))| 12))| 23))| 35))| 22))| 7))| 2))| 2))| 4))| 20))- (St. Louis Blues))| (NHL))| 11))| 1))| 4))| 5))| 18))| — (1995–96 NHL))| (New Jersey Devils))| (NHL))| 9))| 0))| 2))| 2))| 4))| — (Vancouver Canucks)) | (NHL)) | 38 )) | 13 )) | 24 )) | 37 )) | 14 )) | 6 )) | 3 )) | 2 )) | 5 )) | 2 )) |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" (1996–97 NHL)) | (Vancouver Canucks)) | (NHL)) | 62 )) | 12 )) | 15 )) | 27 )) | 66 )) | — (New York Rangers)) | (NHL)) | 14 )) | 1 )) | 2 )) | 3 )) | 6 )) | 15 )) | 9 )) | 3 )) | 12 )) | 26 )) |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" (1997–98 NHL)) | (Florida Panthers)) | (NHL)) | 28 )) | 1 )) | 8 )) | 9 )) | 16 )) | — (1997–98 NHL)) | (Washington Capitals)) | (NHL)) | (20 ) ) | (2 ) ) | (10 ) ) | (12 ) ) | (2 ) ) | (21 ) ) | (3 ) ) | (3 ) ) | (6 ) ) | (20 ) ) (1998–99 NHL )) (New York Rangers )) (NHL )) (32 )) (0 )) (3 )) (3 )) (38 )) (— ) (— ) (— ) (— ) (— ) (1999–2000 SM-l )) (Jokerit) SM-l ) 43 ) 10 ) 13 ) 23 ) 85 ) 11 ) 1 ) 6 ) 7 ) 10 ) (2000–01 Deutsche Eishockey Liga season) (Essen Mosquitoes) DEL ) 46 ) 8 ) 21 ) 29 ) 81 ) — — — — - (2004–05 Asia League Ice Hockey season) (Anyang Halla Winia) ALH ) 30 ) 8 ) 17 ) 25 ) 58 ) — — — — -

Regular Season

Playoffs

Season

Team

League

GP

G

A

Pts

PIM

GP

G

A

Pts

PIM

1981–82

Regina Blues

SJHL

59

38

37

75

216

—

1981–82

Regina Pats

WHL

2

0

—

1982–83

HIFK (U20)

FIN U20

30

34

31

65

104

4

3

7

10

1982–83

HIFK

SM-l

—

1

0

2

1983–84 (U20)

HIFK

FIN U20

6

5

9

14

13

4

3

7

8

1983–84

HIFK

SM-l

36

19

11

30

2

0

1

0

(1984–85)

(HIFK)

(SM-l)

(36)

(21)

(34)

(55)

(42)

(—)

(1984–85 NHL)

(Edmonton Oilers)

(NHL)

(—)

(3)

(0)

(2)

(1985–86 NHL)

(Edmonton Oilers)

(NHL)

(35)

(7)

(6)

(13)

(28)

(8)

(3)

(2)

(5)

(7)

(1986–87 NHL)

(Edmonton Oilers)

(NHL)

(76)

(34)

(44)

(78)

(120)

(21)

(7)

(2)

(9)

(22)

(1987–88 NHL)

(Edmonton Oilers)

(NHL)

(80)

(23)

(51)

(74)

(153)

(19)

(10)

(17)

(

27)

(

72)

(1988–89 NHL)

(Edmonton Oilers)

(NHL)

(

67)

(

31)

(

47)

(

78)

(

92)

(

7)

(

1)

(

3)

(

4)

(

12)

(

1989–90 NHL)

(

Edmonton Oilers)

(

NHL)

(

79)

(

30)

(

33)

(

63)

(

161)

(

22)

(

13)

(

11)

(

24)

(

26)

(

1990–91 NHL)

(

Edmonton Oilers)

(

NHL)

(

79)

(

27)

(

42)

(

69)

(

85)

(

18)

(

12)

(

8)

(

20)

(

24)

(

1991–92 NHL)

(

Edmonton Oilers)

(

NHL)

(

40)

(

12)

(

16)

(

28)

(

44)

(

16)

()

(5)) (3)) (8)) (8))

1994–95 (SM-l))| HIFK| SM-l| 19| 2| 11| 13| 16| —

—

NHL Career Totals !877 !244 !386 !630 !1,077 !186 !72 !60 !132 !275 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

SM-liiga Career Totals !135 !52 !69 !121 !173 !14 !1 !7 !8 !12 |}

International

Year	Team	Tournament	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1982	Finland	EJC	5	3	2	5	2
1983	Finland	WJC	7	2	3	5	5
1983	Finland	EJC	5	2	1	3	14
1984	Finland	WJC	7	8	4	12	12
1985	Finland	WJC	7	7	12	19	10
1985	Finland	WC	10	4	5	9	12
1987	Finland	CC	5	0	1	1	6
1989	Finland	WC	8	4	4	8	14
1991	Finland	CC	6	2	2	4	6
1993	Finland	WC	6	0	0	0	2
1996	Finland	WC	1	0	0	0	0
1998	Finland	OLY	6	1	1	2	0
2000	Finland	WC	9	2	1	3	10
Junior career totals			31	22	22	44	43
Senior career totals			51	13	14	27	50

External links

"New-look Anyang Halla adds western flavor" nhl.com, July 31, 2008