Trump backs dockworkers' fight against automation. He risks price hikes, experts sayGiuliani has been ordered to turn over most of his assets to two election poll workers.Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes letters from readers online and in print each day. To contribute, click here . ••• Karen Tolkkinen’s Dec. 20 column ( “Minnesota politicians are trying to rile up the Christians again” ) justifies an entire year’s subscription to the Minnesota Star Tribune; it was brilliant. The false pretext of Christianity by U.S. Reps. Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber and retired state Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka is most un-Christian. Either Christianity is used as an excuse to ban or limit things that certain conservatives don’t want (e.g., books, abortion, etc.) or to falsely pretend that “Christian values” mean posting the Ten Commandments in schools and that teaching “universal” Bible stories is the American way. Yet when the beliefs are counter to their own (such as those of atheists, Wiccans, Muslims or so-called Satanists), they scream that this is un-Christian, un-Minnesotan and un-American. These Constitutionalists have a weird way of separating church and state. Perhaps the U.S. Constitution should be posted in all schools and government buildings instead of the Ten Commandments. P.S. Gov. Tim Walz may be a lot of things, but I’m pretty sure a Satanist is not one of them. Ted Rich, Crystal ••• Bless you, Tolkkinen, and the camel you rode in on. Your column was spot-on, saying that the basic tenets of Christianity — love, reconciliation and forgiveness — were hardly on display by U.S. Reps. Emmer and Stauber and retired state Senate Majority Leader Gazelka, as they criticized everyone who doesn’t practice Christianity the way they believe it should be practiced. Or, perhaps it’s more appropriate to say the men took aim at those who don’t feel politics should show favoritism toward a particular religion ( their religion, Constitution be damned). In this particular case, they got their jodhpurs in a bundle over a display at the Capitol by a group that calls itself the Minnesota Satanists. It was (brace yourself) a display of a phoenix rising from the ashes. Forget the fact that there was also a Christmas tree on display and a traditional manger scene. The three men were outraged that there was anything on display that was not overtly Christian and related to the Christmas story. So they set about doing exactly what their chosen religion teaches its followers not to do: They stirred up anger, rabble-roused, finger-pointed, name-called. Tolkkinen’s column was spot-on as she pointed out the hypocrisy of what they purported to believe and hold holy and what they actually practice. Jesus himself would probably raise his shepherd’s staff up high in solidarity with the columnist, were it not such a busy time of year for him, what with all the birthday preparations and such. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, in this season that so many hold sacred, the faithful would step back and think deeply about the core messages of their chosen religion and then ask themselves how they can move from talking the talk to walking the talk in the new year. What a wonderful world it would be! Caryn Schall, Minnetonka ••• Our nation’s founders were well aware of England’s struggles with mixing religion and politics. England has a long history of fighting over what — and whose — religion would control the country: Protestant, Catholic or whatever King Henry VIII declared this week. England rose to new heights when Queen Elizabeth I declared it didn’t matter. People could relax about who believed what, and get on with their lives. This separation of church and state is precisely what has made America great. It’s what attracts people from all over the world who want to make better lives for themselves and their loved ones by doing better for others. Short-sighted and selfish politicians are the real problem. It’s very simple: Politics and religion are like walking and chewing gum. You can do both at the same time, but it gets sticky if you mix them up. Hooray for Tolkkinen. A breath of sanity in our morning paper. Dave Porter, Minneapolis Teach a man to fish ... It is easy to bring a food item to an event supporting a food bank. A simple click donates $50 to a holiday food drive. Open the car window at the red light, and you can quickly give a granola bar to the man asking for donations. But are we letting ourselves off the hook? Are these actions so easily taken, so laudable and accessible, that they fulfill our desire to do good? We drop a dollar in a bucket, and there is no more need to consider further the food issues in our midst. There are plenty of these issues — food producers earning a pittance, poor working conditions on farms and in factories, lack of basic food knowledge, food companies peddling sugar and fat in any way possible, our agricultural land groaning under excessive use of pesticides. During this season of giving — especially food giving ― I urge you to make donations to groups that will change our unjust food systems. Here are some ideas: Farmworker organizations Food education Urban agriculture Farmers markets Cultural centers These donations allow you to go beyond the next meal and have an influence on the future. With the recent needs in North Carolina in the wake of hurricane disaster, I donated to a local nonprofit there that fights for immigrant workers’ rights. Though it might be giving out food right now, the organization is primarily looking to improve wages and working conditions of farm laborers. These men and women supply our winter desires for berries, cucumbers and yes, Christmas trees. Another idea is the round-up opportunities at Twin Cities natural food co-ops. The staff at the co-ops specifically choose organizations for these round-ups that support BIPOC producers, educate youth or build local food systems. Why not “round up” by an extra $25 and make an impact for a small, grassroots nonprofit? It is the season for giving. Donate to feed the hungry, please do. But also put your donation dollars toward repairing our unjust food systems. Give a boost to the real change we all want. Uli Koester, New Brighton The writer is executive director of Midwest Food Connection. ••• Every day, more Minnesotans are forced to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table. Caleigh Gumbiner, public affairs advocacy manager at Second Harvest Heartland, said, “Last year we (the emergency food system) saw a record number of food shelf visits in Minnesota at 7.5 million.” This statistic puts our growing hunger crisis into perspective. Food insecurity in Minnesota is increasing rapidly, and there should be more funding for food banks and programs like SNAP, which helps Minnesotans buy meals and groceries. Sophia Lenarz-Coy’s Nov. 27 commentary, “Last year, nearly 500,000 Minnesotans used SNAP, but cuts are threatened in Washington,” expressed that “Right now, the minimum average SNAP participant in Minnesota receives just $5.16 per day. Certainly this is not enough for anyone to live on, let alone purchase fresh, healthy food.” This article resonates with the advocacy of Second Harvest Heartland and Lenarz-Coy’s organization, Food Group: working to increase the SNAP minimum, especially for marginalized populations. While this legislation is being advocated for, Gumbiner suggested more practical ways the public can get involved, noting that “taking up a packing shift at your local food shelf or donating when you can” is a great way to help combat this issue. I know that these actions are crucial, as I started volunteering at food banks at a young age and saw how food insecurity can be detrimental to one’s life. To address this issue, it’s important that we increase funding and take manageable steps towards solving this hunger crisis. Evie Chow, Edina No Christmas in Bethlehem On my first trip to Palestine in 2009, I visited Bethlehem. When I toured the Nativity Museum I could see this beautiful kaleidoscope of humanity interpreting our living God among us. This is the second year in a row of no Christmas in Bethlehem while war rages on in Gaza ( “Bethlehem plans another somber Christmas under the shadow of war in Gaza,” StarTribune.com, Dec. 22). Many lament the dwindling Christian presence in Palestine. Bethlehem is more than a physical location; the birthplace of hope in our Prince of Peace resides in every Nativity scene around the world. Out of tragedy comes hope. Howard Dotson, Minneapolis
CHICAGO — A single underwater cable supplies Beaver Island with its power. Storms, which are becoming increasingly frequent and severe with climate change, have knocked out the lights for days. A maritime accident once cut electricity for months in the 600-person island 30 miles off the coast of western Michigan. What if water surrounding Beaver Island could be the key to delivering the small island with more reliable — and clean — power? Backed by a $3.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, researchers at the University of Michigan are working with island residents to explore converting wave energy into electricity. If they’re successful, naturally occurring waves would make the remote community more resilient to climate change and mitigate climate change-fueling carbon emissions. Remote islands with compromised grid reliability are early candidates for nascent wave energy converters. Once the technology is established and costs drop, the renewable power source is expected to complement solar and wind power in urban coastal communities as well, said Vishnu Vijayasankar, a doctoral candidate leading the university’s efforts. Vicky Fingeroot, a Detroit native, began traveling to Beaver Island in 2006. “I never thought about energy or how we got it when I bought my first piece of property here back then,” she said. It wasn’t until she moved to Beaver Island full time in 2021 and experienced her first power outage that grid reliability crossed her mind. A strong storm took down multiple overhead power lines that carry electricity ashore from the underwater line. More weather was on the way, so plane and ferry services were paused. There was no way on or off the island. The local line worker who knew how to turn on the backup generator was attending an out-of-town funeral. “It was the perfect storm, no pun intended,” said Fingeroot, who was on the board of trustees for one of the island’s two townships. Left without power for several days, her community’s vulnerability was suddenly thrust in front of her. “What about the elderly who need oxygen? What were they going to do? And are there warming centers?” she recalled worrying. When the emergency diesel generator was finally turned on, it powered only the two main business roads on the north end of the island. Many residents on the island’s southern end had to rely on personal propane generators until the lines were repaired. Both diesel and propane generators are polluting technologies. The generator had been installed after an outage in winter 1999 that lasted over three months. The lake froze over, inhibiting service technicians from reaching the underwater power cable, which had been nicked by a tugboat anchor. The island had expressed interest in exploring renewable energy sources then, but the technologies were new and still expensive, said Beth Croswhite, who has lived on the island for over four decades and served in local government. The 2021 outage, an influx of clean-energy funding under the Biden administration and dramatic decreases in the cost of renewables revived conversations about renewable energy. Beaver Island was one of 12 communities selected to re-envision its energy grid with support from the Department of Energy. Much of the focus in the program so far has been on solar power. The community also was approached by researchers at the University of Michigan seeking to explore wave energy as an additional carbon-free power source. In the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, remote communities are exploring tidal energy as well. Tides — changes in water level caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon — are too small in the Great Lakes. But waves, which are caused by strong winds and changes in atmospheric pressure, are abundant in the fall and early winter. Originally from India, Vijayasankar couldn’t believe how much wave activity Lake Michigan had when he first visited in October. “I went (to the shore) during October and there was a crazy amount of waves. I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I was worried that our device might not be able to withstand Lake Michigan,” he said. At the most basic level, a wave energy converter uses the rise and fall of the water to move a motor. That kinetic energy gets run through a generator that converts it to the electric energy needed to power homes and businesses. Wave energy converters are less common than wind turbines and solar panels, largely because of design challenges. One design makes floating buoys that bob up and down with the crest and trough of the waves. Another depends on the crest of the waves to compress air in a chamber, forcing it up through a turbine that spins. Every model comes with pros and cons regarding myriad issues, including but not limited to storm resiliency, energy generation and marine life safety. In the design phase of the Beaver Island project, anticipated to last two years, the university researchers are hosting dinners and creating a survey to ensure their blueprint is accepted by residents. A preliminary survey showed that residents were most concerned about marine life safety, signaling to Vijayasankar that he should nix designs with exposed turbines. Researchers also will have to address resident concerns about the seasonality of waves. They’re typically stronger during the colder months until the lake freezes over. Wave energy likely will be a complement to the solar power Beaver Island is also exploring, Vijayasankar said. There may be lots of waves on stormy days when the sun isn’t shining, for example. Large-scale batteries — which scientists are racing to perfect — could help store excess wave energy produced by passing storm systems for later use. “The end goal is to make us sustainable, and I don’t see us doing it with one thing. I see us doing it with many things,” Fingeroot said. “This wave energy project, there’s certainly an openness to it.” The Illinois Flag Commission selected its Top 10 finalists for the state flag redesign contest with public voting slated to begin in January. Members of the commission could select up to 10 of their favorite designs – from the nearly 5,000 submissions – prior to their December 9 meeting where they narrowed their choices to 10 overall. “Having received nearly 5,000 entries, I appreciate the creativity and passion reflected in all the submissions,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, whose office convened the Flag Commission meetings. Starting in January, the public will have the opportunity to vote online at www.ilsos.gov/stateflag for one of the new designs, or one of three former flag designs, including the current state flag, the 1918 Centennial Flag and the 1968 Sesquicentennial Flag. After the public voting period, the commission will report its findings and recommendations to the Illinois General Assembly by April 1, 2025, whose members will vote on whether to adopt a new flag, return to a previous iteration of the flag or retain the current flag. Senate Bill 1818, sponsored by State Senator Doris Turner (48th District—Springfield) and State Representative Kam Buckner (26th District—Chicago), was signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker in 2023, creating the commission to gauge public desire for a new flag. The flag designs eligible for public voting in January can be viewed at www.ilsos.gov/stateflag . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Houston Astros welcome 1B Christian Walker to team; say negotiations with Bregman stalled
Preview: AVS vs. Benfica - prediction, team news, lineupsEl Salvador's Congress on Monday approved a bill promoted by President Nayib Bukele to roll back a ban on the mining of gold and other metals, dismaying environmentalists. The small Central American nation became the world's first country to outlaw metal mining in 2017, warning of the harmful effects of the chemicals used, like cyanide and mercury. The move by Bukele's predecessor, former left-wing rebel Salvador Sanchez Ceren, reflected a growing rejection of mining by rural communities in the region. But last month, Bukele, who is popular at home for his crackdown on street gangs, signaled that he wanted to change course. The bill to bring back metal mining was approved by 57 deputies out of a total of 60, said Ernesto Castro, head of the legislature -- which is dominated by the ruling party -- as environmental campaigners protested nearby. Critics fear that mining will pollute the Lempa River, which runs through a potential mining zone proposed by Bukele and supplies water to 70 percent of the inhabitants of the capital and surrounding areas. "This wretched mining will punish the people, it will contaminate our waters and rivers and that's an attack on life," activist Vidalina Morales told reporters. Bukele said last month that El Salvador, a country of 6.6 million people, had "potentially" the largest gold deposits per square kilometer in the world. "God placed a gigantic treasure underneath our feet," he wrote on social media, arguing that the mining ban was "absurd." "If we make responsible use of our natural resources, we can change the economy of El Salvador overnight," he said. The new law stipulates that the state will be the only entity authorized to search for, extract and process mined metals. However, the government may do so through companies in which it is a shareholder. The bill prohibits the use of mercury in mining operations, which may not be carried out in protected natural areas or places with important water sources. A survey by Central American University published on Monday revealed that 59 percent of respondents do not consider El Salvador "an appropriate country for metal mining." Since El Salvador dollarized its remittances-reliant economy in 2001, it has registered average annual growth of 2.1 percent. Twenty-seven percent of Salvadorans live in poverty, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and 70 percent of the workforce operates in the informal sector. Elsewhere in the region, Costa Rica and Honduras have banned open-pit mining, and Panama declared a moratorium on new mining concessions last year after mass protests over plans for a huge copper mine. ob/fj/dr/jgc
There was no shortage of reaction to Premier Doug Ford’s plan to take a hard line on homeless encampments and public drug use. “No one will help me. I’m *** starving and I’m freezing, and *** almost burned to death,” exclaimed Chris Sinclair, who has been staying at a London, Ont. park. He said he’s too busy worrying about how he’s going to survive the winter than he is about getting arrested for living in an encampment. “Where are we supposed to go, right? This is *** ***. Excuse my language but we were told to come here. I thought the law said that until, between certain months we can come to these camps,” Sinclair told CTV News. The Ford government says it will introduce legislation to help municipalities dismantle homeless encampments. Measures include fines up to $10,000, and up to six months in prison for people who repeatedly use illegal drugs in parks and public spaces. The move follows requests from a number of Ontario mayors calling for the legal tools to crack down on encampments. London Mayor Josh Morgan said he wants to make sure there’s a plan in place to get people help when they’re moved from encampments, but the new laws are necessary to deal with a growing concern. “What I see here is the premier carving out a number of things. I look toward continued investment for creating spaces for people to come indoors is absolutely necessary. And continuing to find pathways to treatment and recovery. But allowing us some tools to deal with open drug use. It’s absolutely something that has to be dealt with,” said Morgan. Sarah Campbell, executive director of Ark Aid Street Mission, on Dec. 13, 2024. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London) Some who work on the front lines of the homelessness and addictions crisis say the plan effectively criminalizes people for being unhoused and sets monetary penalties with little chance of actually being able to collect. Sarah Campbell, the executive director of the Ark Aid Street Mission, said supports have to be in place before making arrests and removing people from encampments. “I lament public drug use,” exclaimed Campbell. “It’s a problem for our communities. And at the same time, until we have pathways to care and support, I think it’s very short-sighted. And I also think that the language around how we’re calling out addicts who are outside versus addicts who are inside is marginalizing and really setting up a system of oppression,” Campbell said. The Ford government also says it will invest more than $75 million into homelessness prevention, including money for affordable housing and expanding shelter capacity. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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Ottawa to remove 30% investment cap for Canadian pension funds Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the upcoming fall economic statement on Monday will remove the cap that currently restricts Canadian pension funds from owning more than 30 per cent of the voting shares of a Canadian entity. Canada's homicide rate down in most provinces, with 2 exceptions The homicide rate is declining in Canada, and the country’s three largest cities all saw double-digit percentage decreases in homicides per capita, according to data released this week. 'They believe in diplomacy, good luck': Doug Ford doubles down on energy threat as some premiers distance themselves Doug Ford is standing behind his threat to stop providing the U.S. with electricity in response to president-elect Donald Trump’s promised tariffs, even as several other premiers publicly distance themselves from the stance. 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Montreal Quebec, Ottawa announce $100-million deal to fight homelessness, add shelter spaces Ottawa and Quebec announced an agreement Friday to help unhoused Quebecers as homeless encampments continue to multiply in the province and frigid weather sets in. Two Montreal anesthesiologists suspended for questionable practices: College of Physicians Two anesthesiologists at Montreal’s Royal Victoria Hospital were brought before the Quebec College of Physicians disciplinary board for questionable practices and were suspended. Tammara Thibeault signs with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions Quebec’s Tammara Thibeault has taken a major step in her career by becoming one of the featured boxers for Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the promotion company founded by promoter, boxer and influencer and influencer Jake Paul. Atlantic P.E.I. 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Section of QEII highway northbound closed because of 'serious' crash: RCMP The QEII is closed northbound near Lacombe because of a serious crash as of 10:50 a.m. on Friday, RCMP say. Edmonton Sentencing delayed in 'unprovoked' 3-day crime spree after man fires lawyer A man responsible for a series of violent crashes and carjackings in 2023 fired his lawyer during his sentencing hearing on Friday. Labour minister unveils steps to end Canada Post strike Canada Post workers began their strike four weeks ago, halting mail and package deliveries across the country. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said he hopes work will resume as early as next week. Section of QEII highway northbound closed because of 'serious' crash: RCMP The QEII is closed northbound near Lacombe because of a serious crash as of 10:50 a.m. on Friday, RCMP say. Regina Second suspect wanted in Sask. serious assaults investigation arrested The second suspect wanted in connection to serious assaults in Swift Current has been arrested. Grand opening held for Regina's integrated youth services hub A grand opening for a new youth services community hub was held in Regina on Friday. Regina police stats show year-over-year increase in crimes involving people, property A Regina police report shows that both crimes against people and property have seen a year-over-year increase when comparing this November to last. Saskatoon 'Little girl deserves justice': Gallery erupts in anger as charges stayed against driver who killed child In a tense courtroom, a judge stayed the charge against a Saskatoon woman who hit and killed a nine-year-old girl. 'Gong show': Emergency patients overflow into ambulatory unit at St. Paul's Hospital The emergency department at St. Paul's Hospital is so full its turning to the ambulatory unit. Saskatoon man faces child porn charges A 28-year-old Saskatoon man has been charged with child exploitation offences following an online investigation by the Saskatchewan ICE unit. Vancouver Sneaky sketch artist to leave surprises in free libraries throughout Vancouver Sneaky by name, sneaky by nature - you probably wouldn’t recognize the face of Nishant Jain if it passed you on the street. 20-year-old pedestrian suffers life-threatening injuries in Abbotsford crash A 20-year-old pedestrian is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a vehicle in Abbotsford Friday morning. Vancouver Whitecaps owners put Major League Soccer club up for sale The owners of the Vancouver Whitecaps are putting the Major League Soccer team up for sale. Vancouver Island B.C. Greens to support NDP on confidence votes, work together on shared priorities The B.C. New Democratic and Green parties have reached an "agreement in principle" on a "co-operation and responsible government accord" that will see the smaller party support the government on confidence matters. Nanaimo liquor store robbed at knifepoint, RCMP seek suspect Nanaimo RCMP have released a photograph of a suspect who allegedly robbed a liquor store in the city in an effort to garner new information from the public. B.C. girl inspired by Hollywood star to donate turkeys to local families in need When Maria-Clara Patrick first watched that video of Arnold Schwarzenegger, she assumed they had nothing in common. Stay ConnectedRSVP? Democrats are split on snubbing or showing up for Donald Trump's inauguration
Why Don’t the Chiefs Use Uche?After an exhaustive six-month search that saw the names of Hedi Slimane from Celine, Jacquemus founder Simon Porte Jacquemus and former Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs tossed around the front row like empty goody bags, the house of Chanel has settled on 40-year-old Matthieu Blazy to run its fashion business. “I am thrilled and honoured to join the wonderful house of Chanel,” Blazy said in a statement. “I look forward to meeting all the teams and writing this new chapter together.” Blazy arrives at Chanel with the respect of the industry, having made the Italian label Bottega Veneta a flattering bright spot in the fashion conglomerate Kering’s portfolio, with sales rising by 4 per cent in the first nine months of 2024 to €1.23 billion ($2 billion). Mathhieu Blazy takes a bow in Milan following his ready-to-wear collection for Bottega Veneta in February. Credit: AP With his trompe l’oeil collections of elevated basics, such as T-shirts and jeans rendered in leather and hit Kalimero, Andiamo and Sardine-style handbags, Blazy has also gained a celebrity following that includes Kate Moss, Jacob Elordi, Greta Lee and Julianne Moore. Becoming only the fourth creative director of the house founded by Coco Chanel in 1910 is a major step up for the French-Belgian who has worked at Calvin Klein, Celine and Raf Simons. Loading Chanel is more than 10 times the size of Bottega Veneta, with revenue in 2023 of $US19.7 billion ($30 billion). Blazy will oversee 10 collections a year spanning haute couture, ready-to-wear and resort shows. “I am convinced that he will be able to play with the codes and heritage of the house through an ongoing dialogue with the studio, our ateliers, and our maisons d’art,” said Bruno Pavlovsky, president of Chanel Fashion, in a statement. “His audacious personality, his innovative and powerful approach to creation, as well as his dedication to craftsmanship and beautiful materials, will take Chanel in exciting new directions.” It’s the audacity that Chanel bosses are focusing on, with Blazy’s predecessor, Virginie Viard, attracting negative press during her five-year tenure as creative director, which followed the death of Karl Lagerfeld in 2019 at the age of 85. Viard’s collections helped Chanel achieve record profits, but low-key runway shows, compared to Lagerfeld’s extravagant sets, and social media roasting of house ambassadors Margot Robbie and Margaret Qualley on the red carpet led to her exit. Blazy will join the brand next year, Chanel said in a statement on Thursday, without specifying when. He is expected to present his first Chanel collection in October. A model on the Chanel runway for the spring 2025 collection in Paris, in October. Credit: Getty Images Even with one of the top seats in fashion now taken, the game of musical chairs is not over. Controversial designer John Galliano this week announced his departure from Maison Margiela, prompting rumours of a return to Christian Dior, and Fendi is still looking to replace Kim Jones, who resigned as creative director in October. For the time being Blazy can sit comfortably, with Chanel having said the appointment is a long-term commitment. And Chanel knows how to commit, with Lagerfeld occupying the top job for 36 years. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter . Get it in your inbox every Monday . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Fashion designers Karl Lagerfeld Damien Woolnough is the style editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Connect via Facebook . Most Viewed in Lifestyle Loading
A new report from Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman reveals one player who will likely soon be moved out from his current team and could help Toronto. Friedman revealed some possible future trade news in his most recent '32 Thoughts' article, says that the Nashville Predators, after moving on from Dante Fabbro and Philip Tomasino, could have their next target in center Juuso Parssinen. Friedman says it 'looks like we're headed to that point' in terms of Nasvhille moving Parssinen . How Can Juuso Parssinen Help Toronto? A 7th round pick of Nashville in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Parssinen showed flashes of his maturity with 7 SM-Liiga games in his draft year. Usually a player with pro experience and size get much hype in the draft, but Parssinen managed to fall through the cracks. Quickly, Parssinen showed his game wasn't a fluke, having been a full-time player the next season, and in 2020-21, finishing second in points for TPS Turku with 42 points in 55 games played. Parssinen made his NHL debut in 2022, scoring a goal in his first career game, finishing the year with six goals and 25 points in 45 games. In 2023-24, Parssinen had eight goals and 12 points in 44 games for Nashville. Parssinen, still only 23 years old, has 2 goals and 5 points in 15 games for the Nashville Predators this season. Despite big budget signings for the Predators in the offseason including Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, as well as re-signing star goaltender Juuse Saros and trading away top prospect Yaroslav Askarov, the Predators have found themselves no closer to playoff contention. The team sits second last in the NHL with 22 points and a 8-16-6 record. Parssinen could be a big, young center option for Toronto if they wish to go down that route and his 6'3, 212-pound frame works perfectly in Brad Treliving's new vision for the Leafs. He's a productive offensive player who's dropped off since his rookie year, but is still capable enough to fill a bottom-six role as a depth option. According to PuckPedia , Parssinen is making just $775k this season, a good project for any team wanting a tall, offensively capable forward who at worse can be rotational depth. Friedman didn't reveal when Parssinen would be moved, but it seems a deal may be imminent as the Nashville Predators are undergoing a major selling off. This article first appeared on Hockey Patrol and was syndicated with permission.
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