For five years, Teemu Pulkkinen’s been waiting.
During that time, he has broken Teemu Selanne’s 20-year-old rookie assist record in the Finnish hockey league and tied the record for most goals in a single period at the world junior. Two years ago he led the Grand Rapids Griffins in scoring. And despite playing in only 46 games last season, he won the goal-scoring title in the American Hockey League with 34 goals (he played 27 fewer games than the next-highest scorer).
On most NHL teams, Pulkkinen would be pencilled in for a top-six role. But as a fourth-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings, the 23-year-old, who has three goals and five points in three pre-season games, has been patiently counting down the days like a prisoner waiting for his eventual release.