2014. In 2015, Tikkanen became engaged to Tuuli, a Finnish physiotherapist from Somero; the couple married in 2016. Awards and achievements 1982–83 – SM-Liiga – Kanada-malja (HIFK) 1984–85 – NHL – Stanley Cup (Edmonton) 1986–87 – NHL – Stanley Cup (Edmonton) 1987–88 – NHL – Stanley Cup (Edmonton) 1989–90 – NHL – Stanley Cup (Edmonton) 1993–94 – NHL – Stanley Cup (New York Rangers) Matti Keinonen trophy for best plus/minus in the SM-liiga – 1985 Tikkanen's number 5 was retired by Jokerit in 2001. The decision was seen by some as controversial due to Tikkanen only ever having played one season professionally for Jokerit as opposed to his four seasons spent with the local rivals HIFK. The number 5 as opposed to the number 10 Tikkanen commonly wore during his professional career stems from the sweater made by his great-grandmother that Tikkanen wore while acting as a Jokerit mascot, at the time Jokerit owner Aimo Mäkinen had promised to young Tikkanen that he would retire it someday. Tikkanen finished as runner-up for the Frank J. Selke Trophy three times. Tikkanen, the racehorse The 1994 Breeders' Cup Turf was won by Tikkanen, a Thoroughbred racehorse named in Esa Tikkanen's honor by George W. Strawbridge, Jr., owner of Augustin Stable and an active director of the Buffalo Sabres NHL ice hockey club and a member of the team's executive committee for more than thirty years. Transactions March 17, 1993 – Traded by the Edmonton Oilers to the New York Rangers in exchange for Doug Weight. July 24, 1994 – Traded by the New York Rangers, along with Doug Lidster to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Petr Nedvěd. November 1, 1995 – Traded by the St. Louis Blues to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for New Jersey's 1997 3rd round draft choice. November 23, 1995 – Traded by the New Jersey Devils to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Vancouver's 1996 2nd round draft choice. March 8, 1997 – Traded by the Vancouver Canucks, along with Russ Courtnall, to the New York Rangers in exchange for Sergei Nemchinov and Brian Noonan. September 17, 1997 – Signed as a free agent with the Florida Panthers. March 9, 1998 – Traded by the Florida Panthers to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Dwayne Hay and future considerations. October 9, 1998 – Signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers. Career