Prospect Info: 18th Overall (Round 1) - Urho Vaakanainen (D)

Dellstrom

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May 1, 2011
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didn't really see much last night - saw his first shift. thoughts on his overall game?

I wasn't paying a ton of attention but he was definitely nervous his first shift... Who wouldn't be? I rarely heard his name called for the rest of the game and that's usually a pretty good indicator that they're doing well.
 
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Arto Kilponen

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Oct 29, 2006
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I wasn't paying a ton of attention but he was definitely nervous his first shift... Who wouldn't be? I rarely heard his name called for the rest of the game and that's usually a pretty good indicator that they're doing well.

I agree with this. If we talk about a defensive d-man, let alone a rookie, pretty much the #1 thing you want from him is that you never hear about him when he is on the ice :)
 

00BW

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The only negative thing I'd say about his NHL debut, is that he seemed to roam a little to far up the ice in his own zone, rather than stay back and protect the crease. He could have been burned a couple times if the passes got through to the opponent backdoor behind him. Should be easily coachable.

Since he ran the PP successfully in preseason I'd have thought he would have in the game but they gave that to Kampfer who...did not excel on the PP.
 
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Mainehockey33

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Jul 15, 2011
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The only negative thing I'd say about his NHL debut, is that he seemed to roam a little to far up the ice in his own zone, rather than stay back and protect the crease. He could have been burned a couple times if the passes got through to the opponent backdoor behind him. Should be easily coachable.

Since he ran the PP successfully in preseason I'd have thought he would have in the game but they gave that to Kampfer who...did not excel on the PP.
I thought he got a couple good shots through traffic too. Not sure if they made it all the way through or not. I liked his game better than Kampfer, I was nervous anytime the puck was near him.
 
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Dr Hook

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Mar 9, 2005
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Ok. I hope he’s close! Should be going back to the A for a while, I would think?

I imagine he would, but its possible he stays and Lauzon goes back down so long as Chara and Miller are out since Urho can play both sides. With everyone healthy yeah, I think he is for the AHL this season.
 

rocketdan9

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Feb 5, 2009
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I imagine he would, but its possible he stays and Lauzon goes back down so long as Chara and Miller are out since Urho can play both sides. With everyone healthy yeah, I think he is for the AHL this season.

I think so also

The D core is fine and there is more than enough depth. A trade for offensive help is ideal
 

00BW

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Is there any evidence of this or just wishful thinking on your part?
I genuinely read that in an article this past week but it seems I read too much on the internet as I can't find it though my large history. I could have sworn it was Dobber but on their preview/projection it says he's unlikely to go. I don't know if they updated that or if I read this somewhere else but I guess you can call it speculation instead since I can't find it.

Since he is not needed at LD at this very moment, I think the Bruins would release him to Team Finland if he was ready for game action. Physicality is a lot less in the international tournaments so it would be a good spot for him to get game action. The Bruins almost always release their players if asked. The only player they declined to release in the past decade plus that I can remember is Seguin. They let Pasta go as an 18 and 19 year old when he was splitting time between the AHL and NHL.
 
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Saxon Eric

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I genuinely read that in an article this past week but it seems I read too much on the internet as I can't find it though my large history. I could have sworn it was Dobber but on their preview/projection it says he's unlikely to go. I don't know if they updated that or if I read this somewhere else but I guess you can call it speculation instead since I can't find it.

Since he is not needed at LD at this very moment, I think the Bruins would release him to Team Finland if he was ready for game action. Physicality is a lot less in the international tournaments so it would be a good spot for him to get game action. The Bruins almost always release their players if asked. The only player they declined to release in the past decade plus that I can remember is Seguin. They let Pasta go as an 18 and 19 year old when he was splitting time between the AHL and NHL.
He's needed in Providence,that's where he'll go once healthy
Pasta was a different situation as they didnt really know where the best place to develop him was,so it worked out in the end ,he was all over the place that year
 

DaaaaB's

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He's needed in Providence,that's where he'll go once healthy
Pasta was a different situation as they didnt really know where the best place to develop him was,so it worked out in the end ,he was all over the place that year
I wouldn't be surprised if they let him go to the tournament. Pretty rare for a kid to not go to the wjc because hes playing in the ahl. Plus I dont think the brass in Boston really care about providence getting wins.
 

00BW

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Of the D that have played for the Bruins this year, half have WJC-20 experience:
Krug: 0 years
Grzelcyk: 1 year with 'A'
McAvoy: 2 years, 1 with 'A' Gold Medal, other Bronze
Chara: 0 years
Miller: 0 years
Carlo: 2 years, 1 Bronze with McAvoy
Lauzon: 1 year, Silver against McAvoy gold
Kampfer: 0 years
Zboril: 2 years
Vaakanainen: 2 years (already 2, this would be his third if he allowed to go)
Clifton: 0 years
 

BigGoalBrad

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Jun 3, 2012
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Would be fantastic for him to play in the tournament again. Let him get his legs back vs other kids and then finish the season strong in Providence pushing for a spot in Boston.
 

b in vancouver

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Jul 28, 2005
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one dirty mark borowiecki elbow and the guy is out for months. brutal. what a chode.
hopefully UV is better soon.

I'm still amazed that only got 1 game. - doesn't affect the Bruins one way or the other for the length of suspension - but that was one of the most dangerous plays I've seen in awhile.

I get that fans didn't think it was much but surprised the DoPS never took it more seriously as that's a career-threatening type dirty hit that was just all kinds of stupid. I've been stood up with a clean shoulder in that kind of situation and it's knocked the wind out of me - taking an elbow to the head like that would give me nightmares.

These ain't Gordie Howe's elbow pads that were more like volleyball knee-pads so it'd be like wearing a boxing glove - these things are indestructible nowadays and more like wearing brass-knuckles.

Hope Vaak stays healthy, gets his legs back under him and takes a few games to get over what I would think would be some tentativeness.
 

Rhyagelle

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Apr 17, 2013
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i would prefer he wouldn't go to u20s. even though he has been skating every other day its still whole different beast getting back to play. less pressure to restart the season in AHL than national team as its a custom that the first few games after pause never go well..
 

The Colonel

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Jul 7, 2008
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Hows he been in the WJ’s? I’ve heard good things

He looked great. Rocked the top pairing with Jokiharju and locked down gold for his team.

He's a defensive stalwart and a good puck moved, plus he showed some offensive smarts to me. Although they didn't use him much in that role.

Could he have higher offensive upside than previously thought?
 

JoeIsAStud

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He looked great. Rocked the top pairing with Jokiharju and locked down gold for his team.

He's a defensive stalwart and a good puck moved, plus he showed some offensive smarts to me. Although they didn't use him much in that role.

Could he have higher offensive upside than previously thought?

He is one of those guys who has always looked like he could have more of an offensive impact than he has shown. Will he ever develop it? Jonas Brodin was a similar type prospect, and of course he has never been able to develop any offensive game at the NHL level. Vaak is never going to replace Torey Krug, but you hope he can maybe develop into a 30-40 point player
 

The don godfather

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He is one of those guys who has always looked like he could have more of an offensive impact than he has shown. Will he ever develop it? Jonas Brodin was a similar type prospect, and of course he has never been able to develop any offensive game at the NHL level. Vaak is never going to replace Torey Krug, but you hope he can maybe develop into a 30-40 point player
I dont think 40 points more like 25 brodin clone.
 

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