Little Finland is one of the main suppliers of hockey stars around the world. Natives of Suomi play in the best clubs in North America and in the KHL. One of them is hockey player Leonid Komarov. Where the talented extreme forward is playing now is no secret for NHL fans. Since 2014, he has conscientiously worked out his bread in the Toronto Maple Leaves, where he managed to gain a foothold in the first link and, with his game, earned the right to be called to the NHL All-Star Game.
Originally from Estonia
The player's name and surname, unusual for a Finn, suggest Leonid Komarov's Russian origin. In fact, he was born in the Estonian Narva in 1987. His father, Alexander Komarov, was also a professional hockey player, at one time he was in the small town of Nykarlebu. Here he played for modest clubs in the lower leagues, and thanks to his Karelian origin, he received the right to stay in the country for permanent residence.
A hockey rink is an integral part of any locality in Finland. The town with a population of seven thousand people, where Leonid Komarov lived, also boasted of its site. Here, under the strict guidance of his father, the future formidable striker of the NHL and KHL perfected his skills. By the way, later on, on the site of the open area, a real ice palace will be erected, which will be named after its famous countryman. And a person unfamiliar with hockey and its stars will be surprised that the ice palace in Suomi is called Leonid Komarov.
Career start
At first, a native of Narva played for junior Finnish clubs. In 2005 he joined the friendly ranks of the club major league countries "Essyat". As part of it, he became the silver medalist of the country. At the start of his adult career, Leonid Komarov, an aggressive and assertive hockey player, did not impress with his performance. In not the strongest league in Europe, he scored no more than five goals per season, did not give out a lot of assists.
Nevertheless, the sharp-sighted scouts from North America made out something in the relatively short, well-knocked Finnish boy. Already in 2006, he was drafted by the NHL club Toronto Maple Leaves at number 180.
In 2006, Leonid Komarov, a hockey player with a great future, moved to another Finnish club, Pelicans, where he played until 2009. Here, too, he did not impress with his performance, ending his career in the Finnish league with a mark of 56 points in two hundred matches.
Gagarin Cup Winner
In 2009, hockey player Leonid Komarov made the transition to the KHL. Dynamo Moscow offered the Finnish forward a lucrative contract, and he, without hesitation, moved to Russia.
Knowing Russian perfectly, he easily adapted in Moscow, and his natural sense of humor and sociability made him one of Dynamo's favorites. The first season, he mastered Russian hockey, did not shine with efficiency. Only in the second year, Leonid Komarov played out and managed to score 26 points. At the same time, he finished the season with an excellent indicator of the usefulness of minutes spent on the court, which was +11.
Hockey player Leonid Komarov is gradually becoming one of the main stars of the KHL, an irreplaceable player in the attacking game of the team. Together with her, he managed to win the Gagarin Cup in 2012.
Throwing from Moscow to Toronto and back
In 2006, the NHL Toronto Maple Leaves had already drafted Leonid Komarov and were patiently waiting for the Finnish striker. Six years later, in 2012, he decided to fulfill his dream and play in the strongest hockey league on the planet.
However, due to the NHL lockout, he continued to play for Dynamo Moscow for the first half of the season. Many temporarily unemployed North American stars came to Russian clubs that season so as not to lose their earnings and playing practice. Among them were such players as Niklas Backstrom and Both of them began to play for Moscow "Dynamo". So, Leonid Komarov for a short time was a member of the strongest attacking link on the planet.
After the end of the lockout, the Finnish forward went to fulfill his childhood desire to play in the NHL. However, he was not immediately entrusted with a place in the main team of Toronto. He played a dozen and a half matches at a farm club playing in the American Hockey League.
Having shown himself great in the AHL, Leonid Komarov joined the Toronto Maple Leaves. However, for the remaining matches of the season, he adapted to new realities, high speeds and the power style of the NHL, so he did not immediately gain a foothold in the main links of the team.
Unable to agree on the terms of his contract with the club's management, the pragmatic Russian Finn decided to accept the lucrative offer of Dynamo Moscow and returned to Russia, where he spent the 2013/2014 season.
Return to Canada
The second coming of Leonid Komarov to Dynamo was marked by qualitative changes in the forward's game. Previously, he played extremely monotonously, relying solely on his power and on duty on the opponent's goalkeeper's patch. In the 2013/2014 season, fans appreciated the progress of the Finn, who began to act more inventively, distributed a lot of passes to partners, selflessly worked out in defense.
This made an impression on the leaders of Toronto Maple Leaves, and they brought Komarov back, agreeing to more favorable terms of the contract for him. Since then, he has firmly staked out a place in the first link of the team and became one of its leaders.
With his play, the native of Narva even earned an invitation to the NHL All-Star Game, which left him a lot of unforgettable impressions.
Leonida Komarova is a fairly well-known tennis player Julia Manner, with whom he signed in 2016.
This season with Toronto has become for Leonid Komarov truly unusual in his career. The ex-Dynamo player was able to peel off the label of a narrowly specialized power forward, and at the moment he confidently leads the list of scorers of his famous club. At the same time, 29-year-old Komarov enjoys not only the trust of the head coach Mike Babcock but also with respect in the league that invited him to the All-Star Game in Nashville. Leo's personal achievements are still far ahead of the team results: “Toronto” closes the table in the Eastern Conference and is very far from the playoff zone, but the Finnish forward does not lose his presence of mind.
Komarov scored another goal, which became his 18th this season. After the game Leonid was in a good mood and answered the questions of the "Championship" correspondent.
“I play for the best organization in, but not everything works out”
- "Toronto" won in Vancouver, having managed to break a streak of three defeats. Is playing with other Canadian teams special to Maple Leafs?
- Of course, this game was very important for Toronto, especially after a series of failures.
This season, we are tormented by injuries, which in recent times becomes more and more. But in the match with the Canucks we completed the task, the team scored the necessary two points.
You played away, but the Toronto fans were clearly louder and more active that evening. Did you feel their support?
- Of course, it was very, very pleasant to play away with such support! I can honestly say that I am very pleased to be playing for one of the best organizations in. The Toronto Maple Leafs brand is known all over the world. Wherever we play, everywhere we are provided with incredible support, despite the not the best results of the team. We are trying, but, like last year, not everything works out.
This season you have had a real breakthrough in terms of performance -. Which feeling is stronger: joy for personal results or sadness from team failures?
- You know, my points have never been important to me. I've always worked for the team, and winning is the most important thing in hockey. When you lose and act the way we play this year, it’s not the most pleasant feeling. But our challenge is to get better every day. We try to do what is necessary.
You have quite unexpectedly become Toronto's top scorer. Did head coach Mike Babcock change his attitude towards you after that?
- When I played for Dynamo with Oleg Znark, the attitude towards me was the same, that is, very good. He trusted me in many ways, gave me playing time. By the way, in terms of tactics, Dynamo's play can be compared to how we play in Maple Leafs now. It is convenient for me, because the whole five plays in the same manner, there is no division into “carrying the piano” and bright stars. Perhaps we are not the most technical guys, but we try to act with dedication and play for the result.
Are you satisfied with the mutual understanding with your link partners - newcomer Brendan Leipsik and experienced Michael Grabner?
- There are good games, and sometimes not so much. We always go against the first links of the opponent, against the strongest opponents. On the one hand, we have a lot of playing time in the first line, but at the same time the best defenders in the world are working against us. I can assure you that they are not so easy to resist. Our main task is not to miss. The last three or four matches we have conceded two goals, so there is still work to be done in this regard.
- You played for Dynamo for a long time, you were one of the leaders of the club. What did the experience of performing in give you?
- A lot of things. A lot of everything! I have a very good memory of Dynamo, it was a great time. Everything was great, and those times are nice to remember.
- Are you able to follow the events in?
- Yes, but I don't follow it so closely, I watch the matches a little. Last year I managed to follow more. In the first year after leaving, I watched quite regularly, but now there is less and less time left. The match schedule is very tight, but I still try to find out how Dynamo plays and the latest news.
"I hope I will be called to the national team for the World Cup"
- You took part in the All-Star Game. What are your impressions?
- It was four great days in Nashville, which will forever remain in my memory! Perhaps it was the first and last time in my life. I think that this will no longer happen, so I am very glad that I was able to participate. After all, the All-Star Game is not an ordinary event.
- Did you like playing in a three-on-three format?
- In overtime in the regular season, I like to play three on three. But in Nashville it was clearly not for me (laughs).
There is still a lot of time left before the World Cup, and Toronto has not yet lost theoretical chances for the playoffs. Nevertheless, are you ready to come to the national team if the circumstances develop in a certain way?
- Of course, I always want to play for my country. In addition, this year the championship will be held in Russia, which is also important for me. I want to come, but we'll see. If I have enough time, I will be happy to come to the World Championship. This year, the World Cup will be in September.
- Yes, and it will take place in Toronto. Do you think there are chances of getting into the Finnish national team in this tournament?
- If they take me to the team, I will be very pleased. But I never set goals for myself in this vein. In any case, I will be in Toronto at this time, as we begin training camp to prepare for the next season in. You need to wait a bit. I hope they will call me to the national team.
“I would not criticize those who came to from. They play fine. "
You are playing in the third season, but the rise in productivity has begun with you only now. Before the start of the current championship, many famous Russian players left overseas - Plotnikov, Kalinin, Medvedev, Tikhonov, Burmistrov, but most of them fail to prove themselves. Why do you think?
- The first season is always very difficult, it's no secret. The second, however, will be even more difficult.
If you dominate in, it does not mean that you will be in the first roles. A number of factors are important: what is your coach, what style is your team. If at the very beginning everything goes well for you, then it will be easier for you to play in the future. And by the way, I would not particularly criticize those who recently arrived from. In my opinion, they perform well.
- Is it easier for those who come to play in Russia to adapt than ours overseas?
- I think yes. Usually, those who played well in the NHL succeed in Russia as well.
Finland recently hosted the World Youth Championship, where your team became the champion. Did you have time to follow the tournament?
- He looked with one eye. I think there are some very strong hockey players in the Finnish national team. We have a small country, but we play as a team. The youth team was coached by an excellent specialist Jukka Jalonen, who also worked with our main team. I am very happy for the guys, this is a great achievement for them. I hope that with the new generation of Finnish players everything will be fine, even better than now (laughs)... Teemu Selanne's generation has finished their careers, it's up to the young.
Finnish hockey player, role - left or right striker. He was brought up at the MUIK hockey school. Now plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.
Place of birth Narva, USSR.
The physical data of the athlete: height 184 cm, weight 89 kg.
Hockey rink position - left or right winger. The grip is right.
NHL Draft No. 180 overall standings 2006 HC Toronto Maple Leafs.
Player Advantages and Disadvantages
We can say that Leonid Komarov (Leo Komarov) is a naturalized player of the Finnish national team. First, about its advantages. He is a hard working striker with good speed. He loves physical wrestling, skates well, one might say masterly. It has great potential and can add more over time.
Now the negative sides of Komarov. He is often called rabid, and for good reason. This is a very dirty player who can hit an opponent with a squeeze and injure him - push on the board or hit with a club. A large number of hockey players suffered from it. And, this is all despite the fact that Leo is not too big a hockey player. It seems, with such data, only to play in the NHL. However, he is constantly moving to America and Europe. He joined the Finnish national team at the 2019 World Cup.
Playing career
Played in four leagues throughout his career.
- 2005-2006 season Essyat, Finland.
- 2006-2009 Pelicans, Finland.
- 2009-2012 Dynamo Moscow, Russia.
- 2012 Toronto Marlies (AHL), Canada.
- 2012-2013 Dynamo Moscow, Russia.
- 2013 Toronto Maple Leafs, Canada.
- 2013-2014 Dynamo Moscow, Russia.
- 2014 - present Toronto Maple Leafs, Canada.
International performances
Youth team - World Cup 2006 and 2007.
National team of Finland - World Cup 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015.
Winter Olympics 2019.
Achievements and awards
- Bronze at the 2019 Winter Olympics.
- World Cup Gold 2019.
- Silver World Cup 2019.
- Gagarin Cup 2019.
- Silver in the Finnish Championship in 2006.
- Bronze of the 2006 Youth World Cup.
- Participated in the 2011 KHL All-Star Game.
Video: "hot" videos with Leonid Komarov
A selection of goals for the 2014-2014 season.
The first two goals at the start of the new season. October 2019
Fight with Chris Kelly. NHL Games. May 2013
Statistics
Statistics
| Regular season | Play off | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | № | Command | League | AND | NS | A | O | +/- | PCS | AND | NS | A | O | +/- | PCS | |
| 2009/10 | 87 | Dynamo Moscow | KHL | 47 | 5 | 11 | 16 | -1 | 44 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 16 | |
| 2009/10 | 71 | Sat. Finland | World Cup | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | |||||||
| 2009/10 | 71 | Sat. Finland | EXT | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | ||||||||
| 2010/11 | 87 | Dynamo Moscow | KHL | 52 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 11 | 70 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2010/11 | 71 | Sat. Finland | World Cup | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| 2010/11 | 71 | Sat. Finland | EXT | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -5 | 6 | |||||||
| 2011/12 | 87 | Dynamo Moscow | KHL | 46 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 8 | 58 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 49 | |
| 2011/12 | 71 | Sat. Finland | World Cup | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 4 | |||||||
| 2011/12 | 71 | Sat. Finland | EXT | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |||||||
| 2012/13 | 87 | Toronto marlies | AHL | 14 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 22 | |||||||
| 2012/13 | 47 | Toronto maple leafs | NHL | 42 | 4 | 5 | 9 | -1 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | |
| 2012/13 | 87 | Dynamo Moscow | KHL | 13 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 42 | |||||||
| 2013/14 | 71 | Sat. Finland | EXT | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 27 | |||||||
| 2013/14 | 71 | Sat. Finland | OI | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||||
| 2013/14 | 87 | Dynamo Moscow | KHL | 52 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 16 | 42 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 22 | |
| TOTAL for the club | in emergency situations | 210 | 44 | 66 | 110 | 36 | 256 | 37 | 12 | 6 | 18 | 7 | 89 | |||
No. - Game number
I - Number of games played
W - Abandoned washers
A - Transfers
+/- - Plus / minus
Piece - Penalty time
Biography
Biography
Was born on January 23, 1987 in Narva. At the age of 5, Leonid, together with his father, moved to Finland, to the city of Nykarlebu, where Alexander Komarov played for the clubs of the second Finnish division. Since Alexander was a Karelian by nationality, the family got the opportunity to stay in Finland for permanent residence. Until 2005, Leonid played for junior teams. In 2006 he won silver medals in the SM-League as a member of the Essyat team. In 2006-2009 he played for the Pelicans team.
Player of the national team of Finland. In 2006 and 2007 he played for the youth team of Finland at the World Championships (in 2007 he was the team captain), in 2010 and 2011 - for the main team.
Since the 2009-10 season, he has been a player at Dynamo Moscow.
In May 2011, Leo Komarov became the world ice hockey champion as part of the Finland national team, which beat Sweden 6: 1 in the final of the 75th world championship.
Personal achievements
Personal achievements
Achievements at the club level:
Champion of Russia 2012, 2013
Gagarin Cup Winner 2012, 2013
Opening Cup Winner 2010
Participant of the KHL All-Star Game 2011
Achievements at the national team level (Finland):
Third medalist of the 2014 Olympic Games
World Champion 2011
Second medalist of the World Championship 2014, 2016
Participant of the World Championships 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015
Third medalist of the 2006 U20 World Championship
Member of the U20 World Championship 2007
At the stages of the European Hockey Tour
First prize-winner:
Channel One Cup 2009, Swedish Hockey Games 2010, Karjala Cup 2010, 2013
Second prize-winner:
Channel One Cup 2008, Karjala Cup 2009, Karjala Cup 2011
Third prize-winner:
Swedish Hockey Games 2009, Czech Hockey Games 2009, Czech Hockey Games 2011
Tournament participant:
Channel One Cup 2010, Swedish Hockey Games 2012
Facts
On May 17, 2012, by order No. 87NG of the Ministry of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy, he was awarded the title of "Master of Sports of International Class".
Press
Sports day by day / 04/05/2011
Finland's striker Leonid Komarov began the World Cup in Bratislava with an injury: having received a serious cut on his hand in the first period of the first match, he was forced to miss the meeting with the Latvians. However, on Wednesday he should go on the ice in a game against reigning champions the world - the Czechs. In an interview with Sport, Komarov admitted that he had already decided where he would spend the next club season, and also appreciated the performance of the Russian national team at this tournament.
Press service of HC "Dynamo" Moscow / 27.10.2011
Leo Komarov: It's time for me to wake up
The striker of the Finnish national team and Dynamo Moscow Leo Komarov is the favorite of Dynamo's torsida. His post-match show leaves no one indifferent. And the "Russian Finn" always sincerely greets the fans, knowing full well that he is playing just for them. Last spring, Komarov became the world champion in the Finnish national team, and now he is expected to do the same at Dynamo.
Press service of HC "Dynamo" Moscow / 07.10.2010
Leo Komarov: Sometimes I score with fright
Finnish forward of the Moscow Dynamo Leo Komarov is the favorite of the public. To understand this, it is enough to visit the home match of the blue-white ones once. In Leo, the fans simply do not like the soul. And he reciprocates them. This season Komarov came up with his own "trick": after the team leaves for the locker room, he jumps out onto the ice in splendid isolation and in his own way thanks the audience for their support. We started our interview with the question about Leo's know-how.
From 2006 to 2009, Komarov played for the Finnish club Pelicans, after which he moved to Russia, becoming a player of the Moscow Dynamo. In the capital's team, he became one of the leaders, and in 2012 decided to try his luck in the NHL, but his career at Toronto turned out to be very short, and in 2013 Komarov returned to Russia, re-signing a contract with Dynamo.
Komarov first appeared in the senior national team of Finland in 2009, and in 2011 he became the world champion. Leo Komarov was in the application of the Finnish national team for Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi.
Awards
World Champion (1): 2011Bronze medalist youth championship world (1): 2006
Gagarin Cup Winner (1): 2012
Silver medalist of the Finnish Championship (1): 2006
