The future of head coach Petri Karjalainen with Oulu Kärpät remains uncertain as the club delays making a decision about his contract renewal. Kärpät, based in Oulu, is one of several Liiga teams needing to appoint a new head coach soon, as Karjalainen’s current contract expires at the end of this season. However, according to Kärpät’s Sports Director Kimmo Kapanen, the club will not begin discussions regarding the position until after the upcoming international break. The team is focused on finishing the remaining two and a half weeks of games before evaluating options. Kapanen indicated they will then assess the situation more closely, possibly conducting a preliminary review of the season’s performance. The club is prioritizing current performance and postponing consideration of other matters until a later date.