The hockey player who won a legal battle for his own career
In short: Before becoming an NHL captain, Mikael Granlund had to sue his own team just to play where he wanted. A messy contract dispute and allegations of unauthorized changes forced him into court, proving that sometimes the hardest part of a professional career happens off the ice.
In 2009, Finnish hockey prodigy Mikael Granlund found himself in a legal stalemate with his junior team, Oulun Kärpät. Although he had signed a four-year junior contract in 2007, Granlund and his agent alleged the agreement was invalid because it failed to define compensation. Furthermore, he claimed that the club changed his SM-liiga insurance application's expiry from April 2009 to April 2011 on its own without permission.
The dispute became so heated that Granlund attempted to sign with a rival club, HIFK Helsinki, while Kärpät challenged the move. The situation escalated to a lawsuit in July 2009. A settlement was reached just one month later, clearing the way for him to join HIFK. His first year was highly successful: scoring 40 points, he topped all rookies while securing both the Raimo Kilpiö trophy for sportsmanship and the Jarmo Wasama Memorial Trophy for best rookie.
Granlund’s journey eventually took him to the NHL, where he was selected 9th overall in the 2010 draft by the Minnesota Wild. Despite his small stature of five feet, ten inches, scouts were captivated by his vision. After a nomadic career spanning teams like Nashville, Pittsburgh, and San Jose, he joined the Dallas Stars in 2025 before signing with the Anaheim Ducks in July 2025. He was named captain of the Ducks on September 22, 2026.
Beyond his individual accolades, Granlund is a staple of Finnish international hockey. He famously scored a 'lacrosse-style' highlight goal against Russia in the 2011 World Championship semifinals, a moment so culturally significant it inspired a hit single by Finnish Hockey Mafia that topped the national charts.
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