When backup goalie Antti Raanta was demoted behind Scott Darling last season, his displeasure with the Blackhawks was so great, he actually rooted against them in the playoffs, according to a report in Satakunnan Kansa, a Finnish paper.
From Iltasanomat.fi [translated]:
I had fingers crossed hoping that Nashville defeated [us] in four straight [games], so I could get quickly back to Finland, he said.
Raanta also said during a period the Blackhawks had “poor team spirit” and coach Joel Quenneville did not like him.
I noticed that I displeased the coach, he said. Then it is pretty hard to fight against windmills.
The Blackhawks were able to overcome the disgruntled goalie’s wishes, and went on to win the Stanley Cup, which includes Raanta’s name.
Raanta played 14 games for the Blackhawks last season, but none in the postseason. He was traded to the Rangers in June.
Raanta spoke (more mildly) in April about his frustration with being demoted (he had league-best stats at the time).
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) September 2, 2015
Raanta also suggested he'd rather have played for Rockford in the playoffs than be a Black Ace. He put a positive spin on it, though.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) September 2, 2015
