"one of the top young D in the Finnish league" sounds good but there were literally 0 first round D prospects in Liiga this past season. Only 2 D prospects who were drafted in 2nd round (Tuomisto and Heimosalmi).
I don't think the offense matters much with this guy. He won't be a PP option in the NHL.
Pretty sure he was originally drafted with the thought he would provide offense.
Didn't like the pick when it happened, but have not really paid attention to him much the last few years. Honestly thought he was done with us. If they want to send him to GR, whatever. Maybe he has improved.
I wasn't necessarily expecting an NHL contract, but I can see the sense in it. More than anything, he needed to get stronger over all. His skating issues were far more about overall strength and explosiveness than any technical defects. That was going to take time any way you slice it (although never a given). His play with the puck never held him back even though he wasn't elite with it. Maybe I just don't see an NHL contract as that big of an achievement.
I'll see him as the Lindström replacement. 3rd pair at maximum. Big guy Yzerman likes to hoard on his teams.
No doubt. He was a servicable D-man for years as a dead last pick his draft year.
It is an imbalance in leg strength. Players do it to push off of their dominate leg coming out of the pivot. I can't say I have seen him do it any more than most college players, but explosiveness is THE issue with his skating (or at least was when I last watched him)
Yeah I think this too, I think it'll keep him out of the league honestly. He's pretty slow and looks robotic. Hope the best, idk why people get mad over small signings... lol.
? Really? They're everywhere in the NHL. Look around.
Eemil Viro last season 19 years old
Hmm and how many of those "amazing" finnish prospects are defensemen?
There are truly explosive big guys in the league (Wood and Wilson come to mind) but few would describe them as "quick" at least in relation to smaller players. The cadence of big guys make even the best of them look slower in general. The good news about being 6'5" however, is that you don't have as far to skate to the puck or the man. The downside is that you still need to have the feet to defend transition and consistently make really good reads.
Did this dude sleep with your girl or something? Why the animosity over signing a 2nd round pick? If he has made improvements, then all the better. Let's see if he can come back over and put something together in GR. He's a high 2nd round pick, I'd rather those not go straight to the scrap heap.
There is no animosity at all. I am just calling it like I see it and he shouldn't have been offered a contract. He also should have never been a high 2nd round pick it, he has done nothing to show that he should have been drafted that high.
