Prospect Info: 129th Overall, Dman Topias Vilen

[imMagnum]

Last season: 0G 6A 50GP
This season: 6G 4A 21 GP

Topias is averaging 20 minutes of ice time on the second place Pelicans team in LIIGA. He's going to be a top pairing D for Finland in the WJC and will likely wear a letter. He will likely log a ton of ice time on the back end for Finland.

Per Director of European Scouting for Elite Prospects, Lassi Alanen: "Vilén's activation and aggressiveness have turned up quite a bit from last season. He's now looking to join rush opportunities much more often, also seeking out in-zone offensive opportunities with more urgency. His skating looks to have taken a step forward from last season, which has facilitated the changes in his play style". Finland Stock Watch: Topias Vilén exceeding expectations with the Pelicans - EP Rinkside

For you Dobber nerds, his PNHLe has rocketed to just under 1st pairing potential. Topias Vilén

Keep this guy on your radar. We have another late round pick who is exceeding expectations.

 

[Clam Jensen]

Last season: 0G 6A 50GP
This season: 6G 4A 21 GP

Topias is averaging 20 minutes of ice time on the second place Pelicans team in LIIGA. He's going to be a top pairing D for Finland in the WJC and will likely wear a letter. He will likely log a ton of ice time on the back end for Finland.

Per Director of European Scouting for Elite Prospects, Lassi Alanen: "Vilén's activation and aggressiveness have turned up quite a bit from last season. He's now looking to join rush opportunities much more often, also seeking out in-zone offensive opportunities with more urgency. His skating looks to have taken a step forward from last season, which has facilitated the changes in his play style". Finland Stock Watch: Topias Vilén exceeding expectations with the Pelicans - EP Rinkside

For you Dobber nerds, his PNHLe has rocketed to just under 1st pairing potential. Topias Vilén

Keep this guy on your radar. We have another late round pick who is exceeding expectations.

This is wild, he just shot off like a damn rocket this year.

 

[glenwo2]

This is wild, he just shot off like a damn rocket this year.

Love it when our lesser-renown picks start developing.

 

[TBF1972]

Love it when our lesser-renown picks start developing.

he is a very long shot to suit up for the devils. but he could trade capital.

 

[devilsblood]

he is a very long shot to suit up for the devils. but he could trade capital.

I feel there is an opportunity to be had on the left side in that 3-5 year time frame.

Let's assume Sieg's and Hughes are long term locks.

Then you have a bunch of guys battling for that third spot. Bahl or OK haven't impressed the team enough for them to warrant minutes at this point. Shakir? I like his prospects but it's not like he's a lock.

So I could see Vilen perhaps getting into that mix.

As opposed to the right side, where once Nemec is ready, that side is locked up until Marino's deal comes off after the 2027 season.

 

[glenwo2]

he is a very long shot to suit up for the devils. but he could trade capital.

I feel there is an opportunity to be had on the left side in that 3-5 year time frame.

Let's assume Sieg's and Hughes are long term locks.

Then you have a bunch of guys battling for that third spot. Bahl or OK haven't impressed the team enough for them to warrant minutes at this point. Shakir? I like his prospects but it's not like he's a lock.

So I could see Vilen perhaps getting into that mix.

As opposed to the right side, where once Nemec is ready, that side is locked up until Marino's deal comes off after the 2027 season.

You're both right.

He could be Trade Capital OR he could at least get his shot in Training camp like Bratt once did or any young player.

 

[devilsblood]

You're both right.

He could be Trade Capital OR he could at least get his shot in Training camp like Bratt once did or any young player.

But unlike Bratt, Vilen is going to marinate in Europe for a bit. Just like his potential competition for that spot Shakir.

Now I have little clue about this guy, maybe he's never really in the mix, but it's good to hear he is playing significant minutes, and playing well in a good league,

 

[Captain3rdLine]

he is a very long shot to suit up for the devils. but he could trade capital.

I don’t think that’s necessarily true.

I think Vilen might be our most underrated prospect at this point. Even before he started putting up numbers he looked really solid and like a really good skater. Hence why the Devils signed him less than a year after taking him in the 5th round. He looked great at camp and now we’re starting to see more offense come.

I honestly like him more than Mukhammadullin at this point and he’s younger.

I might even put him in our top 5 skater prospects with Nemec, Hughes, Casey, and Holtz. Don’t think there’s any others I like more. Gritsyuk is by far the most overrated one by fans.

 

[devilsblood]

I don’t think that’s necessarily true.

I think Vilen might be our most underrated prospect at this point. Even before he started putting up numbers he looked really solid and like a really good skater. Hence why the Devils signed him less than a year after taking him in the 5th round. He looked great at camp and now we’re starting to see more offense come.

I honestly like him more than Mukhammadullin at this point and he’s younger.

I might even put him in our top 5 skater prospects with Nemec, Hughes, Casey, and Holtz. Don’t think there’s any others I like more. Gritsyuk is by far the most overrated one by fans.

What does this mean, if anything, in terms of bringing him over?

 

[Captain3rdLine]

What does this mean, if anything, in terms of bringing him over?

It doesn’t mean a ton but usually 5th round picks don’t get signed so quickly.

I’m pretty sure he’s supposed to come over next season to play in Utica. Think that’s what was said when he was signed.

 

[devilsblood]

It doesn’t mean a ton but usually 5th round picks don’t get signed so quickly.

I’m pretty sure he’s supposed to come over next season to play in Utica. Think that’s what was said when he was signed.

I mean contractual. ELC, RFA timeline etc. And whether we can expect him to play in the AHL or stay in Europe, which you answered.

 

[TBF1972]

I feel there is an opportunity to be had on the left side in that 3-5 year time frame.

Let's assume Sieg's and Hughes are long term locks.

Then you have a bunch of guys battling for that third spot. Bahl or OK haven't impressed the team enough for them to warrant minutes at this point. Shakir? I like his prospects but it's not like he's a lock.

So I could see Vilen perhaps getting into that mix.

As opposed to the right side, where once Nemec is ready, that side is locked up until Marino's deal comes off after the 2027 season.

i am higher on okhotyuk than bahl and you didn't even mention him.

 

[devilsblood]

i am higher on okhotyuk than bahl and you didn't even mention him.

I did, I just used OK for short hand.

I can't say I really have a grasp on who is better, though I do lean Bahl.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

i am higher on okhotyuk than bahl and you didn't even mention him.

I have been too but Okhotiuk didn’t show in camp and seems to have some issues moving the puck and making plays as well as the occasional defensive lapse. And the Devils seem to like Bahl more. Okhotiuk has a decent shot at getting called up this season but his time is starting to run out in terms of becoming a full-time NHL player. If he gets a chance this season I think he needs to play well and stick. Love how he plays the game with his skating and physicality but needs to refine some things.

 

[TBF1972]

I did, I just used OK for short hand.

I can't say I really have a grasp on who is better, though I do lean Bahl.

shame on me

this happens, when you just fly over messages.

sorry for not reading carefully.

the devils just have such an abuandance of lhd prospects, it is tough to see any one else than luke making a significant impact on the position depth:

2017 zaitsev
2018 bahl
2019 okhotyuk, misyul, vukojevic
2020 mukhamadullin, edwards
2021 l. hughes, vilen
2022 orlov

 

[glenwo2]

I have been too but Okhotiuk didn’t show in camp and seems to have some issues moving the puck and making plays as well as the occasional defensive lapse. And the Devils seem to like Bahl more. Okhotiuk has a decent shot at getting called up this season but his time is starting to run out in terms of becoming a full-time NHL player. If he gets a chance this season I think he needs to play well and stick. Love how he plays the game with his skating and physicality but needs to refine some things.

Agreed. When he gets his opportunity, he better play like his future depends on it because it really does.

Will it be in the NHL or will he end up in a European league for the rest of his career because he couldn't cut it at the Highest Level of Hockey (NHL)?

Hope he makes it.

 

[My3Sons]

Agreed. When he gets his opportunity, he better play like his future depends on it because it really does.

Will it be in the NHL or will he end up in a European league for the rest of his career because he couldn't cut it at the Highest Level of Hockey (NHL)?

Hope he makes it.

presumably he's a candidate for a change of scenery trade for a similarly situated center prospect?

 

[Guadana]

I can`t understand why people starting to cut some prospects out. Even Luke Hughes didn`t play a game in NHL. Graves is a candiadte to left the building. Bahl and Okhotiuk doesn`t look like nhl regulars for now. And it`s ok for them because they are young as defensemen. And we don`t know how things will change. Devils can get an offer for a Siegenthaler, which they will not be able to refuse, especially within the framework of some formed problem. Vilen isn`t sexy prospect for other systems to bait on him. He can develop his game in Finland and in AHL after. Injuries, trade, and after some years of development we can see how guys will win a roster spot. I don`t think that we have a lot of fans who trully thinked that Zetterlund will start to be competitive enough to play nhl role or even top-6 role, especially before previous season.

I think Vilen is interesting prospect with interesting tools, I don`t think that other teams will ask for him in trades, so I think organisation will give him enough time for development, especially after sign.

 

[Guttersniped]

Bahl actually looks like a NHL regular but Smith has the 6th spot.

 

[Lou is God]

 

[glenwo2]

Coaching?

 

[Xirik]

Coaching?

Slapping?

 

[Devs3cups]

Played over 27 minutes today in Finland’s loss. Lead the Finn’s ice-time by over 7 minutes. Impressive stuff.

(Thanks @Guttersniped for the screenshots in the WJC 2023 Thread!)

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Scott Wheeler on Vilen at the world juniors:
There were questions coming into the tournament as to which Finnish blueliner would or could fill the shoes of Topi Niemela and Kasper Puutio, who were both tremendous for them in the summer tournament but aged out. Then, Vilen averaged 26:01 in the tournament. His strengths are defensively (defending the rush, breaking up plays, boxing out) but he tried to activate when he could, too. I have concerns about his upside, but he’s a solid defenseman at this level.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

He's definitely solid. I think worst-case he's a bottom pairing Dman. If he's an NHL regular I can see him with PK time and maybe 25 points. Looks bigger out there than what he's listed.