Markus Nutivaara attempts a return with Karpat after years of setbacks due to injury
Veteran ex-Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Markus Nutivaara is returning at the professional level after a tumultuous injury-compelled retirement. The 31-year-old signed a one-year contract with his hometown Liiga powerhouse, Kärpät.
It's the first official on-ice activity since he played one game for the Florida Panthers in October 2021, a contest that capped his long battle with nagging hip injuries.
Markus Nutivaara signs with hometown Kärpät after hip surgeries
Markus Nutivaara, a reliable blue liner for the Columbus Blue Jackets, will be lacing up his skates once again in Oulu, Finland, with Kärpät. The Finnish defenseman has not appeared in professional hockey since Oct. 29, 2021, when he played roughly seven minutes for the Florida Panthers.
Although he had one assist in that single game, the play occurred during a tough time for him to bounce back from his initial hip surgery, a process that ultimately led to his retirement from the sport.
In a nutshell, after being an unrestricted free agent for two years, in 2022, Markus Nutivaara signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks in hopes of getting his seat back in the NHL. As it turned out, nagging hip issues kept him off the ice in any capacity with the Sharks.
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He officially retired after that, and he is now signed up nowhere but also out of commission for over two years.
What about Markus Nutivaara's hip surgery?
Kärpät stated that Markus Nutivaara just underwent another serious surgery—this time to insert an artificial hip joint in November 2024. Having experienced pain-free rehabilitation, he has decided to give it a shot at returning to the sport that made him a sensation in both Finland and the NHL.
Nutivaara entered the national radar during his first year in 2014–15 as a member of Kärpät, winning the Liiga championship.
That team featured future NHLers Joonas Donskoi and teenage Sebastian Aho. Nutivaara accounted for six points in 16 playoff games that championship season.
Also read:
From Panthers to Prague: NHL forward Peter Mueller retires after 16-year rollercoaster across hockey's biggest stages
Markus Nutivaara's return to Kärpät is more than a homecoming—it's a personal triumph after years of physical and mental hurdles. Whether he can return to competitive form remains to be seen, but his recovery from a series of major surgeries is already a win. As the Liiga season approaches, all eyes will be on Nutivaara's progress, making his comeback one of the most heartening storylines in European hockey this year.
FAQs
When was Markus Nutivaara born?
6 June 1994
Where is Markus Nutivaara from?
Finland
With which team did Markus Nutivaaramake his debut?
Oulun Kärpät
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