Prospect Info: Leafs 2017 2nd (Via OTT) (#59 OA) - Eemeli Rasanen - 6'7" 209lbs RHD - Kingston (OHL)

[bobermay]

Guys as big as Rasanen will never be amazing skaters. Same with Parayko. He's not some amazing skater. He has good top speed like Rasanen, but he will still get burned off a bad foot by a faster winger. The point is, you want these guys to get their speed to a decent enough level (including changing directions and backwards skating) where the massive guys can utilize their extended reach to cut off gaps and space)>

I wouldn't say this is true... It may be a good rule of thumb, but from time to time, there will be an outlier and you see some really quick big guys...

Stalberg, Wheeler, etc...

Now most of these guys have probably always been a great skater, so the odds are probably stacked against him. But then again, you always have stories like Boyle who improve there skating tremendously.

Rasanen only started to play hockey 7 years ago... a camp like this should do him wonders working on the finer details of things he probably hasn't heard of before...

 

[Nithoniniel]

From what I've read, the problems Rasanen has with his skating doesn't seem impossible to fix. Another worry I have is how extremely PP-reliant his production is. From what I've read, even strength scoring for D-men tend to translate better and Rasanen didn't get many points at ES at all. That shouldn't bode well for his transition game.

Guys as big as Rasanen will never be amazing skaters.

Tell that to Victor Hedman

 

[Apotheosis]

From what I've read, the problems Rasanen has with his skating doesn't seem impossible to fix. Another worry I have is how extremely PP-reliant his production is. From what I've read, even strength scoring for D-men tend to translate better and Rasanen didn't get many points at ES at all. That shouldn't bode well for his transition game.



Tell that to Victor Hedman

Okay, he's an outlier.

 

[The_Chosen_One]

From what I've read, the problems Rasanen has with his skating doesn't seem impossible to fix. Another worry I have is how extremely PP-reliant his production is. From what I've read, even strength scoring for D-men tend to translate better and Rasanen didn't get many points at ES at all. That shouldn't bode well for his transition game.

This is an area we need to start looking at a lot more. Rasanen in Kingston was largely utilized as an offensive Dman. The poorer ES points has a lot to do with why he made it to the second round. Instinctively, he has all the traits of a scorer. Uses his body very well in the offensive zone, knows how to protect the puck well, and his stick work is pretty decent as well. The king of puck rushing types that can get into shooting lanes, knows when to pass, etc.

Tell that to Victor Hedman

He's easily one of the best end-to-end puck rushing defenseman in the NHL.

 

[DieTomi]

Really like this pick. Hope he can turn into a solid bottom pairing dman for us. Have been impressed with him every time I've watched

 

[darrylsittler27]

Rasanen is a project.

He was the last guy taken in the 2nd round, so basically a 3rd rounder. He has the right tools to a hard hitting 5/6 D man with size. And we needed that. Our D is a little bit soft.

Look at our future D: Reilly, Gardiner,Liljegren,Carrick, Zaitsev. It doesn't exactly strike fear into our opponents if they have big forwards, does it? I don't buy the whole Pitts argument. They had Crosby,Malkin and Kessel all in their prime. You trade those 3 to any team in the NHL and you win the cup.Their defense was adequate given their talent. For us to win a cup our defense will have to be much better, I agree with our first 2 picks, given the draft.

 

[saltming]

He was the last guy taken in the 2nd round, so basically a 3rd rounder. He has the right tools to a hard hitting 5/6 D man with size. And we needed that. Our D is a little bit soft.

Look at our future D: Reilly, Gardiner,Liljegren,Carrick, Zaitsev. It doesn't exactly strike fear into our opponents if they have big forwards, does it? I don't buy the whole Pitts argument. They had Crosby,Malkin and Kessel all in their prime. You trade those 3 to any team in the NHL and you win the cup.Their defense was adequate given their talent. For us to win a cup our defense will have to be much better, I agree with our first 2 picks, given the draft.

But in the wings we have Middleton Rasanen Greenway Nielsen who are all monsters and Dermott who has been likened unto Rafalski in terms of strength and board play.

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

Do people if know what they write when they say "I hope he a 5/6 guy". Gee if you're Leaf fan you hope he can play in all situations and play 22 minutes a game.
Of course there isn't much difference in defensive play. The only real difference is your offensive Dmen get more PP time. Other wise, the six defencemen play about the same number of minutes and often against the same players. You just can't protect players all the time.

I don't know why Leafs fans are in such a panic over their defensemen either. Yea, I wish Marincin and Marchenko were improved upon, but take at look at most NHL rosters. The "bottom" three aren't that great either. Look what Pittsburg did last year with a no name defence.

 

[Menzinger]

Hoping the Leafs finally get a win in the "boom-bust" department with this guy.

He's got some kick skills, hopefully he turns into a top four guy

 

[Duke16]

Can we consider Middleton to be a legitimate NHL prospect? He has all the tools and his numbers are improving. His frame, skating and puck moving ability stand out to me, he's like a new age defenseman who can play the old age (rough, grinding way). I'd probably have him above the likes of Rasanen, Greenway, Lindgren, Mattinen, Gordeev at this point and just below the tier of Dermott, Nielsen and the Swedes. He is probably one of the best shutdown D in the OHL, a captain and his numbers would likely be a lot better if Saginaw wasn't trash.

 

[saltming]

Can we consider Middleton to be a legitimate NHL prospect? He has all the tools and his numbers are improving. His frame, skating and puck moving ability stand out to me, he's like a new age defenseman who can play the old age (rough, grinding way). I'd probably have him above the likes of Rasanen, Greenway, Lindgren, Mattinen, Gordeev at this point and just below the tier of Dermott, Nielsen and the Swedes. He is probably one of the best shutdown D in the OHL, a captain and his numbers would likely be a lot better if Saginaw wasn't trash.

If he keeps growing at this rate I would consider him a ligit prospect.
I agree with you but if Gordeev Rasanen or Greenway hit on their offensive potential they will be ahead of Middleton. I don't see Middleton ever becoming a force offensively but I see him as a better Polak if he keeps growing.

 

[Kiwi]

Can we consider Middleton to be a legitimate NHL prospect? He has all the tools and his numbers are improving. His frame, skating and puck moving ability stand out to me, he's like a new age defenseman who can play the old age (rough, grinding way). I'd probably have him above the likes of Rasanen, Greenway, Lindgren, Mattinen, Gordeev at this point and just below the tier of Dermott, Nielsen and the Swedes. He is probably one of the best shutdown D in the OHL, a captain and his numbers would likely be a lot better if Saginaw wasn't trash.

Yes

The guy eats tough minutes against the other team's best players and has grown exponentially in the past season especially his skating
With a prospect pool and NHL roster full of offensively minded puck movers that's a useful addition

My hope is for a better skating Polak or a Manson type if all the stars align

 

[X66]

Sometimes I wonder if Greenway would have been better suited as a forward.

 

[saltming]

Sometimes I wonder if Greenway would have been better suited as a forward.

His brother is pretty good as a forward.
My take is I'm still not worried. He has not looked good but he looked way better in the ncaa playoffs. Could be an injury recovery? Something because he is not as mobile or as engaged as he was for the Badgers.
Also Osiecki had a lot of food things to say about him. 2 more years of college and maybe a year of ahl and we could have a stud. 100% boom or bust here.

 

[Kiwi]

His brother is pretty good as a forward.
My take is I'm still not worried. He has not looked good but he looked way better in the ncaa playoffs. Could be an injury recovery? Something because he is not as mobile or as engaged as he was for the Badgers.
Also Osiecki had a lot of food things to say about him. 2 more years of college and maybe a year of ahl and we could have a stud. 100% boom or bust here.

He's still pretty much what we drafted
A toolsy project

It's a strategy that's going to get a lot of misses but when you hit the payoff is huge

 

[saltming]

He's still pretty much what we drafted
A toolsy project

It's a strategy that's going to get a lot of misses but when you hit the payoff is huge

Agreed that he's a project. I think that's a good thing why he's in the ncaa. We don't need to rush his timeline. Also, he's in probably the best defenseman factor outside of Kelowna.
I have my fingers crossed for this guy as you do for Middleton. I still have wet dreams of those to paired together even though they are both lefties. Almost 600 lbs of good skating mean muscle standing there is going to intimidate anyone!

 

[Kiwi]

Agreed that he's a project. I think that's a good thing why he's in the ncaa. We don't need to rush his timeline. Also, he's in probably the best defenseman factor outside of Kelowna.
I have my fingers crossed for this guy as you do for Middleton. I still have wet dreams of those to paired together even though they are both lefties. Almost 600 lbs of good skating mean muscle standing there is going to intimidate anyone!

A bit of diversity on the blueline isn't a bad thing

Pairing a guy like Rielly or Liljegren with a bigger bodied, physical, defensively responsible partner is something that we could build something special around

I'm hopeful we will get a player or two out of those gigantic defenseman we've drafted especially with how we've been developing players recently

 

[saltming]

A bit of diversity on the blueline isn't a bad thing

Pairing a guy like Rielly or Liljegren with a bigger bodied, physical, defensively responsible partner is something that we could build something special around

I'm hopeful we will get a player or two out of those gigantic defenseman we've drafted especially with how we've been developing players recently

If we could get a Seabrook it would be beyond amazing. I have confidence that we will be able to churn one of those types out hopefully sooner rather than later.

As for the diversifying angle, totally get that but I was just thinking of the intimidating factor of a forward skating down looking at those two towers; something like this

 

[7even]

He was the last guy taken in the 2nd round, so basically a 3rd rounder. He has the right tools to a hard hitting 5/6 D man with size. And we needed that. Our D is a little bit soft.

Look at our future D: Reilly, Gardiner,Liljegren,Carrick, Zaitsev. It doesn't exactly strike fear into our opponents if they have big forwards, does it? I don't buy the whole Pitts argument. They had Crosby,Malkin and Kessel all in their prime. You trade those 3 to any team in the NHL and you win the cup.Their defense was adequate given their talent. For us to win a cup our defense will have to be much better, I agree with our first 2 picks, given the draft.

Which makes him one of the first guys taken in the 3rd round, so practically a 2nd rounder.

 

[7even]

Can we consider Middleton to be a legitimate NHL prospect? He has all the tools and his numbers are improving. His frame, skating and puck moving ability stand out to me, he's like a new age defenseman who can play the old age (rough, grinding way). I'd probably have him above the likes of Rasanen, Greenway, Lindgren, Mattinen, Gordeev at this point and just below the tier of Dermott, Nielsen and the Swedes. He is probably one of the best shutdown D in the OHL, a captain and his numbers would likely be a lot better if Saginaw wasn't trash.

I'm just very skeptical of junior shutdown specialists. If you're THAT much better than your peers and can move the puck at a legitimate NHL level you should be eating those guys alive.

 

[AppsSyl]

I'm just very skeptical of junior shutdown specialists. If you're THAT much better than your peers and can move the puck at a legitimate NHL level you should be eating those guys alive.

But, Rasanen wasn't just a shut down specialist. His offensive numbers were pretty good for a draft year D, who was adjusting to NA ice 66gp 6g 33a 39pts He also improved dramatically as the year went on.

 

[Kiwi]

I'm just very skeptical of junior shutdown specialists. If you're THAT much better than your peers and can move the puck at a legitimate NHL level you should be eating those guys alive.

If your team sucks and your being thrown over the boards every time your in your own zone that's a lot easier said than done

He skated and moved the puck very effectively in the rookie camp
He and Liljegren looked a cut above at rookie camp as well out of the defencemen

 

[7even]

But, Rasanen wasn't just a shut down specialist. His offensive numbers were pretty good for a draft year D, who was adjusting to NA ice 66gp 6g 33a 39pts He also improved dramatically as the year went on.

That was in reference to Middleton. Sorry, not the thread for it.

If your team sucks and your being thrown over the boards every time your in your own zone that's a lot easier said than done

He skated and moved the puck very effectively in the rookie camp
He and Liljegren looked a cut above at rookie camp as well out of the defencemen

Absolutely. The guys that go on to be NHL difference makers find a way is all I'm saying.

 

[Kiwi]

That was in reference to Middleton. Sorry, not the thread for it.



Absolutely. The guys that go on to be NHL difference makers find a way is all I'm saying.

Yeah he's definitely a long shot

I'm hopeing for a point jump from him this season though
He's improved and the Spirit should be better so he's not going to have any excuses not to produce points
He also should get some more offensive opportunities as well

I don't see him as a difference maker no matter what happens
I just don't see the offensive upside for anything close to that
I'm hopeing for a better skating Polak type or someone that could be stapled to an offensively minded puck mover (still bloody useful though)

 

[7even]

Yeah he's definitely a long shot

I'm hopeing for a point jump from him this season though
He's improved and the Spirit should be better so he's not going to have any excuses not to produce points
He also should get some more offensive opportunities as well

I don't see him as a difference maker no matter what happens
I just don't see the offensive upside for anything close to that
I'm hopeing for a better skating Polak type or someone that could be stapled to an offensively minded puck mover (still bloody useful though)

For sure. I see Korbinian Holzer. Not down on him though, I'm pulling for all of our prospects