Boom Boom Apathy
I am the Professor. Deal with it!
- Sep 6, 2006
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What's the problem with Lehner and why does Buffalo want to get rid of him? He's had a couple of down seasons but also some pretty good ones on some crappy teams.
I am a bit confused after checking out Vehvilainen's stats. He has been performing at a very high level but does the level of competition equate to the AHL here or a lesser NHL? Would he be brought in to challenge for an NHL spot off top or not?
Depends on who he is challenging a spot with. If it's darling and ward, I'm sure a beer leaguer can make a case for our tandem, so yes.I am a bit confused after checking out Vehvilainen's stats. He has been performing at a very high level but does the level of competition equate to the AHL here or a lesser NHL? Would he be brought in to challenge for an NHL spot off top or not?
It's almost nonexistent that a young Euro goalie comes over and is immediately ready for NHL duty, almost everyone needs at least one or two years in AHL to adjust to the NA style of play, and at the most will see a few games year 1 in the big league (in case of injuries maybe up to 20 or so but usually much less).I am a bit confused after checking out Vehvilainen's stats. He has been performing at a very high level but does the level of competition equate to the AHL here or a lesser NHL? Would he be brought in to challenge for an NHL spot off top or not?
Well, Darling and Ward were a “proven combo”...It's almost nonexistent that a young Euro goalie comes over and is immediately ready for NHL duty, almost everyone needs at least one or two years in AHL to adjust to the NA style of play, and at the most will see a few games year 1 in the big league (in case of injuries maybe up to 20 or so but usually much less).
The only guy I can think of right now that did this and is still active is Henrik Lundqvist. Vehvilainen might be good, but is he really THAT good? He's 21, undrafted, has played 3 seasons in the Liiga and still hasn't played one senior National Team game yet. To me, that doesn't translate to an NHL-ready goalie. Perhaps worth a pick and for sure then let him compete for a spot during camp, but you still need to have a proven combo on the roster.
It's almost nonexistent that a young Euro goalie comes over and is immediately ready for NHL duty, almost everyone needs at least one or two years in AHL to adjust to the NA style of play, and at the most will see a few games year 1 in the big league (in case of injuries maybe up to 20 or so but usually much less).
The only guy I can think of right now that did this and is still active is Henrik Lundqvist. Vehvilainen might be good, but is he really THAT good? He's 21, undrafted, has played 3 seasons in the Liiga and still hasn't played one senior National Team game yet. To me, that doesn't translate to an NHL-ready goalie. Perhaps worth a pick and for sure then let him compete for a spot during camp, but you still need to have a proven combo on the roster.
Before this season Vehviläinen was not able to take a spot on the worst team in liiga, but Kärpät take him as a backup.
With their good goaliecoach Vehviläinen take over and was the best goalie in the league. In the same team there is a goalie for the draft Annunen (kourniakos nr 155) with the Kärpät goaliecoach I think he is a better prospect than the goalie Buffalo take last year as 54.
Anybody else find it very odd that we're linked to a player who is still draft eligible? How did this get out?
I don’t know why I think this and I can’t find any supporting material (either affirmative or negative) but I think Vehvilainen can still be signed before the Draft (despite being eligible). Maybe is Phillipe Myers a good comparable? I think he signed with Philly in his D+1 after going undrafted. Could be a time component I’m missing there (ie: Can only sign Draft eligible forwards July-September).
If the Canes were offering him a legit starting chance then I could see why he’s want to sign with us rather than be drafted by some team with a starter.
Canes were linked-ish to Janne Kuokkanen from Karpat and ended up taking him.
Lehner’s a bit of a crazy person. I’m sure that carries some weight.What's the problem with Lehner and why does Buffalo want to get rid of him? He's had a couple of down seasons but also some pretty good ones on some crappy teams.
Lehner’s a bit of a crazy person. I’m sure that carries some weight.
Backstrom and Thomas are way different cases, Backstrom was 28 when he headed over to NHL, including the lockout season and WC play, and Thomas is US schooled and had already played in AHL before he got over to Europe. There's no question about if he's a good prospect or not, but I just say that as a GM I would never place my bets on Vehvilainen as one of two to start the season in the big club, without having a solid backup plan.It's hard to say if he'd be ready, but I don't think it's impossible. First of all these exceptional youngsters are often doing exceptional things nowadays. Take Sebastian Aho for example.
I think it's also been a habit to keep a European goalie in the AHL for at a year or two before giving them a chance in the NHL, so it's possible some of them would've done fine from the beginning.
Some of the older goalies have got a chance immediately, and e.g. Niklas Bäckström and Tim Thomas did great. Antti Raanta did well, too, though the stats in the Blackhawks weren't anything special.
That being said, I think a year in the AHL may do good. But I don't think it's absolutely necessary especially if Vehviläinen stays one more year in Finland and keeps doing like he's done, getting some CHL and national team games, too.
Backstrom and Thomas are way different cases, Backstrom was 28 when he headed over to NHL, including the lockout season and WC play, and Thomas is US schooled and had already played in AHL before he got over to Europe. There's no question about if he's a good prospect or not, but I just say that as a GM I would never place my bets on Vehvilainen as one of two to start the season in the big club, without having a solid backup plan.
Apart from that, if they'd go for him I'd definitely put him with Checkers rather than having him play one more year in Karpat. For example, look at how Sens are dealing with their Swedish prospect Filip Gustavsson (3rd goalie for Sweden in WC), getting him over right after SHL season end to play the final stretch in AHL, giving him a great base to build from during summer and also an assessment over his capacity and potential flaws that needs to be adressed. There's no way he'd benefit any more from playing one more year in Europe, unless there's a serious lack of goalie coach support in the AHL team.
Korpisalo 0.905% + 0.897% sv% over the past two years behind a strong Columbus team with Bob putting up Vezina numbers. Seems perfect for the Canes.
Didn't know he was that bad. Wow.
You are right. But we could trade something for these rights if they are willing to give up on him. Could be fun to add him to the list.He caught my eye at the Worlds but doesn't Columbus still have his rights similar to how we somehow still have Hofmann's rights?
Maybe we can pick up another 2nd in one of the trades for Skinner, Fault, or Rask, etc. to grab him early. If they really want him, I'm sure they've thought of that and have a plan.I asked Canes Prospects and he said Vehvilainen is eligible for the 18 draft so he has to go through the draft before we can sign him. So either we draft him, someone else drafts him, or we'll sign him if he isn't drafted.