EDMONTON — The same way Vancouver has always welcomed Swedish players — from Gradin to Sedin, from Edler to Eldebrink — the Finns have always found a home in Edmonton.

Perhaps it is because Vancouver bears a resemblance to Stockholm, two picturesque, major international cities situated on the seaside, while Northern Alberta reminds more of the Finnish Lapland — minus the saunas. It gets dark and cold in Helsinki in the wintertime, and the Finnish capital shares a spot among the Top 3 northernmost major cities in the world with — you guessed it — Edmonton.

Finns and Oil Country. It’s a bond that goes back to the great scout Matty Vaisanen, the right-hand man to legendary Oilers chief scout Barry Fraser.

Fraser drafted five Hall of Fame players in his first two NHL drafts, then added a si

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