2016 Draft: 3rd Pick: Markus Niemelainen

[thadd]

And the hockey news had him at 28th overall? That's a huge score for us IMO.

 

[ijuka]

The description on eliteprospects is like positive positive positive positive. You have to wonder why he was projected in second-third.

 

[Mc5RingsAndABeer]

Excellent.

 

[Aceboogie]

Righty or lefty?

Leftie but plays right side.

A bit low scoring for my liking but reports say hes very smart. Only first year in NA as well. Was luke warm to him at 32 but love him here

Gotta say, I am loving our draft so far. 3/3 in players I wanted

 

[North]

The description on eliteprospects is like positive positive positive positive. You have to wonder why he was projected in second-third.

Apparently he had a bit of an adjustment period when he moved to the OHL

 

[Mc5RingsAndABeer]

The description on eliteprospects is like positive positive positive positive. You have to wonder why he was projected in second-third.

Yea I couldn't find a single bad thing.

 

[Aceboogie]

A complete all-around defenceman that makes the game look easy. Natural size and strength compliment his smooth stride. Very mobile skater who moves up and down the ice quickly, with acute recognition of puck and body position. His maturity and poise is actualized in his high-percentage decision-making, with and without the puck, as well as his proactive stick and body play. Very stable defensively and always takes his lane, but is quick to rush the puck up the ice as he recognizes and accounts for how much time his team is spending in their own end. All-in-all, a quick-thinking defenceman that, honestly lacking nothing, has the potential to develop into a reliable two-way defenceman

 

[PBandJ]

Looks like a good pick IMO.

Could be a good two way defencemen and I like his size.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

Leftie but plays right side.

A bit low scoring for my liking but reports say hes very smart. Only first year in NA as well. Was luke warm to him at 32 but love him here

Gotta say, I am loving our draft so far. 3/3 in players I wanted

Ditto

 

[Jumptheshark]

Project

 

[Aerchon]

All picks are crap shoots from here on in. I like that he appears like a steal but dislike they broke from thier strategy to get him. They seem to do this everyyear. While everyone else passes on solid left shooting players like this for Players that actually fill organizational needs.

They said they want forwards with skill somehow doubt those are all gone.

 

[McDoused]

Love this pick.

 

[BB88]

Yeah I was remembering seeing him on some 1st round lists, and some OHL followers being high on him.
Steal potential.

 

[Aceboogie]

All picks are crap shoots from here on in. I like that he appears like a steal but dislike they broke from thier strategy to get him. They seem to do this everyyear. While everyone else passes on solid left shooting players like this for Players that actually fill organizational needs.

They said they want forwards with skill somehow doubt those are all gone.

They landed Puljujarvi and Benson with first 2 picks, so refilled forwards nicely

I complained about Jones/Paigin/Bear picks last year because I wanted all forwards, so ill give benefit of doubt to Chiarelli

 

[Noah88]

Hope he pans out. He is a good young Defenseman. Not spectaculair, but solid all around and seems pretty smart. And big of course.
Good pick, imo.

 

[Kronwalled55]

I worked for the team he played for (Saginaw Spirit). He's a really soft player, and he has a ways to go, but I can see him being a good bottom pairing guy someday. He doesn't do very well under a forecheck, but if he's given time he can be a reliable breakout passer. He doesn't shoot much either and his positioning defensively can be suspect at times too. He's a work in progress but I think there's upside there.

 

[Aceboogie]

 

[Doomsday Device]

Apparently he had a bit of an adjustment period when he moved to the OHL

It was the other way around. Had 20 points in his first 30 games. Only 7 in his last 39 games, including playoffs.

 

[OilTastic]

Matheson suggested two names for the Oilers 32nd last night.

Benson and this guy.

Maybe he's still more connected than some are thinking.

He was ranked 38 on Bob McKenzie's list.

Markus was a very good choice here and i was frankly surprised he was still available. looks like the scouting staff has had an easy time with their first 3 picks because these 3 have all fallen into the Oilers lap! and Markus can apparently play effectively on the right side as well.

 

[Crabapple]

Project

Of course he's a project, he's a 3rd round pick

 

[Aceboogie]

Interesting quirk is that he was loaned to Saginaw this year. So should he completely dominate next year he is eligible for AHL any time

 

[Paralyzer008]

I worked for the team he played for (Saginaw Spirit). He's a really soft player, and he has a ways to go, but I can see him being a good bottom pairing guy someday. He doesn't do very well under a forecheck, but if he's given time he can be a reliable breakout passer. He doesn't shoot much either and his positioning defensively can be suspect at times too. He's a work in progress but I think there's upside there.

About this.

Think he's a bottom pairing D-man if anything but he might make it because of his size and ability to move at that size.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Very safe pick

 

[puckfan13]

I worked for the team he played for (Saginaw Spirit). He's a really soft player, and he has a ways to go, but I can see him being a good bottom pairing guy someday. He doesn't do very well under a forecheck, but if he's given time he can be a reliable breakout passer. He doesn't shoot much either and his positioning defensively can be suspect at times too. He's a work in progress but I think there's upside there.

This is a bang on report at the moment, I'd take it word for word, corroborates perfectly with the 6 games I viewed of him this year (including 2 U18 and 4 in Saginaw).

The one thing I will add that is a positive for a player of his size and skating ability - he does not make the boneheaded play that results in a goal for the other team, if you score on him it's because you trapped him on the forecheck probably - he makes low-danger plays which is good for a big d-man. He started to show some more bite around the net as the year went on as well.

 

[Brock]

A little lower on him than others. Had him ranked 27th among OHL players. But where you guys got him is good value IMO. Just didn't like him as a 1st-2nd rounder like some.

http://ohlprospects.blogspot.ca/2016/05/my-final-top-50-ohl-players-for-2016.html