@Visnovsky How is Liiga as a development league for guys like Hirvonen? I know most of the young guys from Finland and Sweden too tend to stay there a few years after their draft years. It seems point totals aren't the story to see how they are developing especially up front.
Sounds like Niemela is the real deal......I can't see him not being a regular NHL player. Hirvonen.......hard to tell, but I've heard good reviews. Another player you don't hear much about lately is Kokkonen...I know he is too old to play in the WJC. Any updates on him?
For Hirvonen, Liiga is the perfect place for him to hone on his skills and deficiencies - the hockey played here is very grindy in style, which plays to Hirvonen's strengths.
I would say that the biggest hurdle for Hirvonen will be his skating and overall hockey IQ (can't teach that, but the latter can just be a case of homerism as well, as I am a big HIFK fan and tend to be a bit more harsh against players in my team).
Over the last few years in Liiga, I think the overall skill level has been on the rise, and many experts seem to agree (including Finlands new U20 coach, Kari Jalonen).
Very few young players are able to produce at a really high level in Liiga, but Niemelä is doing it with style - he just needs to fill out some, before we can even think about playing him in the NHL against seasoned professionals.
About Kokkonen... I have only seen him twice this season, and I can honestly say that I don't even remember him being on the ice in those two games - which would normally be a bad thing, but in his case, as he is a defensive defenceman, it is preferable that way (at least most of the time). From what I've read in the Pelicans fan forums, they've been pretty happy about him.