Can you guys give me some insight into these Jets players who made their NHL debut last season? Specifically what type of player they are, if they have an NHL future and what role they project as in the long-term. Thanks!
Brendan Lemieux
Sami Niku
Tucker Poolman
Brendan Lemieux is the 22-year-old son of Claude Lemieux - and Brendan seems to be from a similar mold as his dad. Plays wing, shoots left. Takes quite a few penalties as a result of his shit-disturbing style, but he can put the puck in the net. The consensus around here is that his NHL upside is a bottom-6 checking/energy forward who can sometimes contribute offensively.
Niku is a 21-year-old Finnish left-shooting offensive-defenseman. He had a great rookie season in the AHL this year and won the AHL Eddie Shore award for most outstanding defenseman. Good skater, good puck mover, decent shot. Consensus is that he's an Enstrom replacement...hopefully a Top 4 D.
Poolman is a 25-year-old, big, right-shooting defensive-defenseman. At his age he's kind of a finished product and looks to be a 3rd pair/depth guy. I think he's still figuring it out at the NHL level - he didn't see a ton of action - mostly pressbox duty this year.