After scoring five goals in the Coachella Valley Firebirds' first two games this season, we have to ask the obvious question: Is Jani Nyman the most prolific scorer in Firebirds history?
That's a legitimate claim the 22-year-old forward from Finland can make.
Following his performances to start this season, the American Hockey League named Nyman the league’s first player of the week on Monday. Nyman scored twice in the season opener at home against Ontario. Then, the following night he recorded a hat trick with three goals at Ontario.
“I’m feeling so good,” Nyman said Tuesday. “It’s so fun to play after the summer and at the start of the season. It’s been a great two games to start.”
Scoring is nothing new for Nyman. He scored a goal in just his
second game in a Firebirds uniform, as a teenager in April of 2024, then scored again two games later. He also scored a pair of goals in five games during the Calder Cup Playoffs that year.
The following season, Nyman was named an AHL all-star and led the team with 28 goals in just 58 regular season games. Last season, in just 39 regular season games, he was tied for second on the team with 21 goals after being reassigned from the Firebirds NHL affiliate, the Seattle Kraken.
Statistically, no Firebirds player, past of present, has been a more efficient scorer than Nyman. In 104 regular season games for the Firebirds, Nyman has scored 56 goals, which is one goal every 1.86 games. His career AHL shot percentage is 19.3%.
Those numbers are better than Max McCormick (who scored a goal every 2.35 games on 17.8%), Kole Lind (every 3.0 games on 10.1%) and Andrew Poturalski (every 3.7 games on 14.1%). It’s also better than current Kraken players Ben Meyers (every 2.13 games on 18.1%), Ryan Winterton (every 2.85 games on 17.8%) and Shane Wright (every 2.6 games on 14.7%), each of whom once played for the Firebirds.
But that begs the question — why was Nyman among the first players cut by the Kraken during training camp and what does he have to do to get back to the NHL?
“You can’t just be a shooter in the National Hockey League,” Firebirds head coach Derek Laxdal said. “You have to have other parts of your game, and he’s starting to do that now.”
Laxdal and Nyman's teammates John Hayden and Tyson Jugnauth pointed to two things they’ve seen with Nyman this season that has made him an even better all-around player than he was just last year. They said that he entered training camp in great physical condition, trimming a few pounds off his 6-foot-3 frame, and from the eye test Nyman does look a bit leaner and quicker on the ice. Laxdal described Nyman as being in “fantastic shape.”
They also said that he’s playing with a lot of confidence, which comes from a healthy mental approach to the season.
“I think confidence is a big thing,” Jugnauth said. “He’s always been able to rip the puck, but in Seattle he had a great training camp, which is huge. He’s playing with confidence and to have the start like he’s had, it’s super special.”
Last season, after starting the season in the NHL and being reassigned to the Firebirds, it took Nyman some time to get back in the game, mentally, Laxdal said. Nyman scored in his first game back, on Dec. 31, but shot just 1-of-13 in his first five games with Coachella Valley. Laxdal called that a mental adjustment after losing his spot in the NHL.
This season, that mental block is gone, Laxdal said.
Hayden pointed to Nyman’s offseason efforts to round out any rough edges in his game and his maturity and professional habits that have now paid dividends.
“Over time, compounding little habits is the difference in playing in the NHL or not,” said Hayden, who has played in 272 NHL games. “He’s maturing and contributing in multiple ways.”
Nyman said that he returned home to Finland over the summer and worked on his all-around game, but especially his skating and his conditioning.
Players and coaches are excited about Nyman’s start to the season, and the team’s start as well. They lost in overtime in the season opener, but led for much of the game, before winning handily in Game 2.
Now, with Game 3 on Friday, at home against San Diego, and Game 4 at home against Ontario on Sunday, they’re hoping Nyman’s game continues to surge.
“He’s a shooter by trade,” Laxdal said. “Most goal-scorers are confident scorers, so he’s in a bit of a groove right now. Usually when you see a guy with confidence and pucks are going in, they usually have pretty good runs. So, we want to continue that with his game.”
Andrew John covers the Firebirds for The Desert Sun. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Is Jani Nyman the most prolific scorer in Firebirds history?
