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Player Discussion: 2016 Draft round 4 #120 overall Otto Koivula

Phenomenon

Phenomenon

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Jun 10, 2006
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scott99 said:
Do you think Koivula has a shot to make the World Junior team ?
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Otto has got big minutes in the league level and that has normally meant that he would be selected. The age group is, however, quite talented. Therefore there is a big competition for the team at the moment, but it seems that at least Laine and Puljujärvi are playing in The Show, so in my papers he has a great chance to be in the team - for the top 2 lines as well.
 
seafoam

seafoam

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Koivula according to Eliteprospects today, currently leads the scoring for all U20 players in the Finnish pro league and has the highest PPG aside from one player who has one point in one game.
 

Metnut

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How would the Finnish pro league compare to the AHL or North American major junior hockey?
 
periferal

periferal

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Metnut said:
How would the Finnish pro league compare to the AHL or North American major junior hockey?
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This is a great question. As far as I understand everyone agrees the top 3 leagues in terms of talent are NHL, KHL, SEL (Swedish Elite). The Finnish league should be in that next group, but hard to know where that would compare to the AHL/CHL/etc.
 
seafoam

seafoam

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Metnut said:
How would the Finnish pro league compare to the AHL or North American major junior hockey?
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Below AHL, above Junior hockey.

If you are playing in the Finnish pro league before 20, that is a good sign.
 
Phenomenon

Phenomenon

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LordNeverLose said:
I'd say slightly below AHL but pretty similar, much better level than CHL.
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The game is a bit different and many AHL stars have struggled here. There is also no veteran rules in SEL and FEL like in AHL. However, I would say that AHL is ahead of SEL and FEL, but behind KHL.

Otto has been chosen to the U20 tournament in Sweden that is the last before U20 WJC. His chances to make to the team look promising.
 

scott99

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Really excited he is doing this in the Elite league. I believe he was one of the youngest guys in the draft as well. Has a really bright future. I'm hoping he's on Finland's WJC team in December so we get a good look at him.
 
Phenomenon

Phenomenon

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Here are the highlights from yesterday´s game. Koivula is #12.

The shot in his GMG is not so amasizing, but I like his self-confidence and hunger for goals. He wants to take responsibility and shoots a lot. He does not avoid the battles near the board or in front of the goal and has grit (considering that he is one of youngest players in the league). Real fighting in FEL is nowadays minimal, so I do not know his ability in that. The skating is the biggest area of improvement in order to become a good power forward.
 
Phenomenon

Phenomenon

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Otto continued his great play in power play tonight (time 00:50):
http://liiga.fi/videot/2016/10/28/huippuhetket-ilves-saipa

However, although he has good hands and vision, there is a lot of work to do. On 5-5 play his skating is too average. His size plus the skills is promising and after a couple of years he could be NHL ready.

Laine was last summer considered a bad skater and far from NHL and it was even discussed that is he able play in FEL due to that. Young players can achieve a lot of improvement in just one year...
 

scott99

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Phenomenon said:
Otto continued his great play in power play tonight (time 00:50):
http://liiga.fi/videot/2016/10/28/huippuhetket-ilves-saipa

However, although he has good hands and vision, there is a lot of work to do. On 5-5 play his skating is too average. His size plus the skills is promising and after a couple of years he could be NHL ready.

Laine was last summer considered a bad skater and far from NHL and it was even discussed that is he able play in FEL due to that. Young players can achieve a lot of improvement in just one year...
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In the game you mentioned above, he also assisted on the game winning goal.

It was mentioned on Hockey Prospectus Draft Preview, that Koivula will have a skating coach.

Otto Koivula – Scouting report

Bio:
Team: Ilves U20, Finland Draft status: 2016 eligible
Position: LW/RW

To date stats: 49 GP, 26 G, 32 A, 58 Pts, 18 PIMs
Shoots: L
Height/Weight: 6’4”, 220 lbs.

Characteristics:

Skating:

Skating is Koivula’s biggest weakness. He is a bit clumsy at times and is not an agile skater in any way. He has a decent top speed but needs some time to get there. A lot of work ahead for Koivula regarding his skating. Grade: 35

Shooting:

Koivula can shoot the puck as good as nearly anyone. He has a quick release and can shoot the puck both from close range or near the boards. Grade: 60

Puck skills:

Koivula handles the puck well and can control it in tight situations. He can protect the puck well and likes to dangle too. Has a good reach and knows how to use it for his advantage. Grade: 55

Smarts:

Koivula’s hockey IQ is high and he sees the ice well. He makes consistently good decisions on whether to shoot, pass or drive to the net. Is also sound defensively and can be used on the penalty kill. Grade: 60

Physicality:

Koivula knows how to use his body. He rarely throws big hits but he likes to drive to the net protecting the puck with his strength. He does not back away from physical battles either. There is still a lot to improve in this category for a guy with his size. Grade: 55

General assessment:

Koivula has signed his first professional contract for next season and he will have a professional skating coach available in the summer. If he could get his skating to at least a decent level, he could be a dominant force in the game.

Overall Future Projection: 52
 

scott99

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PK Cronin said:
What's that rating out of Scott?
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80 being the highest 20 being the lowest. For example, their highest rated prospect for the 2016 NHL Draft was Auston Matthews with an overall rating of 67.25

Rank Name Team League Pos Height Weight OFP

1 MATTHEWS, AUSTON ZURICH SWISS C 6’1.5″ 210 67.25

I guess they had Koivula rated as a 3rd round pick, their #60 rated player (last pick in the 2nd round) had an OFP of 54. So they must've had Koivula somewhere in the 3rd round.

OFP is there overall rating, stands for Overall Future Projection.
 
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scott99

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SI90 said:
His totals are solid as well considering his age and the league he's playing in.
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He's 2nd on the team in points with 10 (leader has 11), He's first on the team with goals, and he's first in the LEAGUE in power play goals ! Oh yeah, he turned 18 in September. A lot of talk in the prospects board in the Finnish WJC roster thread that he is almost a lock to make the team. Hope he makes it, would love to watch him.
 
ChicagoBullsFan

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scott99 said:
He's 2nd on the team in points with 10 (leader has 11), He's first on the team with goals, and he's first in the LEAGUE in power play goals ! Oh yeah, he turned 18 in September. A lot of talk in the prospects board in the Finnish WJC roster thread that he is almost a lock to make the team. Hope he makes it, would love to watch him.
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Koivula might be in the team but it depends a lot what Oilers will do for Puljujärvi.
If Puljujärvi gets assigned to AHL there's chance for that Oilers release him to world juniors but that's not sure at all yet.

Koivula was in Finland's U18 WJC gold medal winning team but he didn't get ice-time because Team Finland wanted wait for Puljujärvi to U18 WJC's.
When Puljujärvi joined to Finland's U18 team in Grand Forks Finland's team management were forced to cut one player out of the roster.
Unfortunately it was Koivula who got that destiny.

However Koivula has bright future ahead and he has NHL future it won't depend that does he play in world juniors this year ( 2017) or next year ( 2018).
 
Phenomenon

Phenomenon

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FinnHockeyFan said:
Koivula might be in the team but it depends a lot what Oilers will do for Puljujärvi.
If Puljujärvi gets assigned to AHL there's chance for that Oilers release him to world juniors but that's not sure at all yet.
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Is Koivula´s place in the team after a great last year and a productive season start in the FEL really questionable? Coach Ahokas (that has been with the age group for several years) has relied on the same roster and he is now with U19, but coach Rautakorpi of U20 has an history to select the best available players. I would be surprised, if he did not selected a big winger that has been a PP threat in adult level to the team.
 
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