NHL prospect career in jeopardy over video game addiction

[ZJuice]

It’s gotta be Nail Yakupov

 

[VIPettersson]

Update to my previous post.
Evan Bouchard comments on Juolevi starts at 7:00 in the link Evan Bouchard on rising to the occasion and potting goals from the blue line - Sportsnet.ca
Bouchard seemed really hesistant to say that Juolevi played video games and immediately backtracked. Maybe its just me but it sounds weird that he would be so cautious then again maybe he just doesn't want to badmouth a former teammate. Let me know if I'm reaching.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I'm not sure if Juolevi makes much sense to be honest, he has had a pretty solid season in the Liiga this year and his OHL stats from last year look pretty good as well. Maybe this is an outdated concern and he fixed it, but I wouldn't call Juolevi a "write off". Not saying that anyone is wrong for guessing him, but his stats look way too impressive for me to think it's fair to call him a write off.

When you're reading what Marek said, you think that it's a former high 1st rounder of a prominent team who's having a bad junior season (or multiple bad junior seasons). I can't really find anyone who fits that.

 

[Goose]

It's not in the kid's interests for internet sleuths to figure it out and then out him on board like hfboards, just leave it.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Every fan base praying it isn't their guy. Lol

Not every fan base. Canes aren't a "very prominent team", so no worries here.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Yeah, I went back and asterisked guys who either made it to the AHL or went to Europe last year.

Bear in mind it’s not disqualifying since Marek didn’t specifically say they were current junior players, but it seems less likely that a guy who’s moving up the ladder is the one he’s talking about.

You also need to take out teams that wouldn't be called "Very prominent teams". Teams like AZ and Carolina certainly don't fall into that category.

 

[Moskau]

Zboril admitted around the draft that all he did in his free time was play video games, including MMOs, during his free time.

 

[Spirit of 67]

Is 22nd a "High Pick" though?

 

[Spirit of 67]

You also need to take out teams that wouldn't be called "Very prominent teams". Teams like AZ and Carolina certainly don't fall into that category.

Arizona = Strome.

Had him in mind but ya, they aren't a prominent franchise.

 

[Captain Creampuff]

He also said that player would not likely play in the NHL and all of those guys seems like that they have really good odds in making it so it must be some lesser known guy like Robert Thomas for example who seems to be struggling in the minors or something.

???? Robert Thomas just won OHL Playoffs MVP. That's not exactly struggling.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Is 22nd a "High Pick" though?

First round pick is still pretty high.

 

[Mickey Marner]

From those listed ITT, Zboril, Juolevi and Rubtsov all make some sense.

 

[seafoam]

The Islanders aren’t prominent, but Michael Dal Colle is essentially a write-off at this point.

Griffin Reinhart was too.

Both top five picks, but have played in the AHL at this point.

Then there’s always Josh Ho-Sang!

 

[BruinsBtn]

He says this: " it’s a terrible story because this guy is a good junior hockey player."

He's talking about someone who is currently a junior player. So it's someone drafted in 2016 or 2017 and still playing junior (or just finished at the end of this year). Add in the kicker for a 'very, very prominent' franchise and it's basically down to:

2016 Draft
Dennis Cholowski (Detroit)
German Rubtsov (Philadelphia)
Brett Howden (Tampa)
Lucas Johansen (Washington)

2017 Draft
Cody Glass (Vegas)
Michael Rasmussen (Detroit)
Gabriel Vilardi (Los Angeles)
Nick Suzuki (Vegas)
Cal Foote (Tampa)
Juuso Valimaki (Calgary)
Kailer Yamamoto (Edmonton)
Robert Thomas (St Louis)
Morgan Frost (Philadelphia)
Henri Jokiharju (Chicago)

Then you can take out all the guys who haven't struggled at all and you could even narrow it down by a few more teams that really aren't "very, very prominent" ... and it's very likely Rubtsov who looks like he's on the train to bustville on his numbers anyway.

 

[Zero Requiem]

He says this: " it’s a terrible story because this guy is a good junior hockey player."

He's talking about someone who is currently a junior player. So it's someone drafted in 2016 or 2017 and still playing junior (or just finished at the end of this year). Add in the kicker for a 'very, very prominent' franchise and it's basically down to:

"And again, this is information that’s six months old. Actually, you might say a year old now."

 

[Tatar Shots]

"And again, this is information that’s six months old. Actually, you might say a year old now."

Probably not Cholowski then because he would have been a college player/just starting his junior career.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

I feel like there is too much focus on the "very very prominent franchise" comment.

Most commentators would consider any NHL team "prominent".

 

[tony d]

Be interesting to see who it is. I was a gamer too growing up but I didn't let it get in the way of work.

 

[Detelethisaccount]

It's not in the kid's interests for internet sleuths to figure it out and then out him on board like hfboards, just leave it.

I am just as curious as the next guy, but just don't see the benefit of outing this kid. This will take care of itself, either he will wash out because he wasn't committed enough or he will realize he could be wasting a great opportunity and shape up. Not sure how a bunch of extra public scrutiny for an issue it sounds like he has at least accepted help for befits him or anyone else for that matter. As with most addictions/compulsions there is some underlying issue that is probably subconsciously driving this behavior, so its not like he is willfully wasting his chance. This is a lesson I learned after piling on Theo Fleury for years, only to find out he was dealing with more baggage than most humans could carry. Not saying this situation is anything like Theo's, but even if we knew who it was, would we know what else could be causing his behavior? Hope whoever it is can get it under control and not have it derail their career.

 

[Elias Pettersson]

Probably not juolevi considering he had an excellent season this year.

 

[ObscureAlien]

not going to give rogers a click so was the article clear on a prominent NHL franchise or could it possibly be interpreted that it is a prominent CHL franchise?

 

[sabresEH]

not going to give rogers a click so was the article clear on a prominent NHL franchise or could it possibly be interpreted that it is a prominent CHL franchise?

In the OP it says a very very prominent NHL team.

 

[DownGoesMcDavid]

Its not Juolevi. He played pro this year and hes on track to make NHL in 18 or 19.


Also since this is a major issue, you wont find guys like Bouchard discussing it or joking about it to media during interviews.

 

[1865]

Let’s leave this here.

 

[1865]

I feel like there is too much focus on the "very very prominent franchise" comment.

Most commentators would consider any NHL team "prominent".

Pittsburgh are far more prominent than Arizona though.