FiLe
Mr. Know-It-Nothing
- Oct 9, 2009
- 6,964
- 1,327
How many ponits, Niemeläinen should have scored in OHL before he's useful guy in world juniors?.
Stats are only bunch of numbers, and wont tell the whole truth.
If Finland wants win gold medal, Finland's defense will need size and Niemeläinen has a size.
I don't care piece of ****, if he won't score at all in world juniors.
Only what matters is that, Niemeläinen plays hard and physical game every single match.
And he shows opponent teams, who's the boss in front of Finnish net.
Defense needs size? How about checking the sizes of our current projected selection before starting with the Karjala cap hockey jargon and other nonsense again?
Tuulola - 185cm/85kg
Juolevi - 188/83
Niku - 185/80
Saarijärvi - 178/75
Mikkola - 194/83
Sopanen - 196/100
Out of those, only Saarijärvi is on the small side (and won't be replaced by anybody). Niemeläinen is listed at 195/85, meaning that yeah, while not small, he isn't notably big either - like most teenagers, he's tall but still a bit lanky.
So, no. We don't need Niemeläinen's size for anything, because there's enough meat as it is. I'm sure he won't be an abysmal pick if does get selected, but neither is he somebody who brings any discernible upside to the rest of the selection. And it's funny (or sad) that you say "you won't give a **** if he doesn't score at all" when I specifically said that his production isn't an issue - his basic defensive game is. He is flashy, but still lacks consistence, especially when compared to Juolevi, who is the high mark out of '98 borns. Which is I'm wary of him.
Other candidates for slot #7 feature...
Decent-sized body:
Keskitalo - 187/80
Vainio - 188/83
Salo - 184/82
Mid-size:
Rouhiainen - 183/77
Pelli - 176/78
Small fry:
Haaranen - 170/60
Apart from Haaranen and Pelli, none of the closest options are of the kind who would have issues with their physicality. And even if either of them does get picked, it's no big deal (no pun) because they won't bring an added liability to a defense that would be somehow undersized already. Even with them in, the D averages safely around the magical 185/80+ mark.
Well, if they don't let him go, then they have to pick someone else. Good thing we aren't lacking options.Aye, but Rantanen might be playing too well at the moment.
Solution no. 1 would likely be entering Saarela into the lineup somewhere, even as a winger. Lammikko can also be moved up in lineup. Further down the list, there are guys like Virta and Björkqvist who seemed to have pulled their weight where it mattered.
It'll be interesting to see whom the Avs recall now that Tanguay is out. If it's Rantanen, then his chances of featuring go down as he could be too close to a callup to be let go even if he was in the farm at the relevant moment. If it's someone else, the chances go up, as it's a sign they're perfectly happy to have him where he is, despite his production.
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