Boulette Canon
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- Aug 16, 2006
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Prospect Info: 58th Joni Ikonen
- Thread starter LastWordArmy
- Start date
Hokinaittii
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- Aug 15, 2015
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No need to fear. KalPa's new head coach is one and only Sami Kapanen. Yeah, the guy who was the fastest skater in NHL at some point in his career.
Kapanen is known to be a guy who focuses a lot on developing young players and doesn't fear giving them fair chances to succeed. KalPa is also one of the strongest if not the strongest team when it comes to playing fast and offensive focused hockey, something that isn't guaranteed in Liiga nowadays (teams usually focus a bit too much on the tactical side of the game instead of letting players play the game). I think it's also worth noting that KalPa has the biggest rink in Liiga. I'm sure stuff like this is nothing but good if you want to focus on improving player's skating.
But most importantly, he is almost guaranteed to get double the ice-time he would have gotten in Frölunda which I think is the biggest reason why this transfer is good for Ikonen.
Personally as a Finn who has been in love with Ikonen ever since the U18s, I have nothing but good vibes from this whole thing.
By the way, during the U18s I made small videos from the best moments of the first 3 games by Finland. I felt like Ikonen was easily Finland's best forward in those games until he broke his thumb later in the tournament against Canada and it seemed to effect him quite a bit. So if you wanna see some of his nice plays from those games, check these videos:
Finland vs Switzerland (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SILKfFL0msQ) (0:00, 0:31, 1:33, 3:58, 4:50, 5:20, 6:44, 7:03)
Finland vs Latvia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=becp2Jj7kHg) (1:52, 2:51, 3:00, 4:40, 6:32)
Finland vs Canada (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nNVDErkk_A) (0:51)
Pompeius Magnus
Registered User
So there really was some fire behind all that smoke. Kalpa is one of the best organizations in the Liiga so he's still going to be surrounded by competent people there. Playing time is a premium at that stage in his development.
I agree with this. This reduces the risk of concussions. He'll get more ice time, so hopefully they also have a strong off ice development program. He needs to bulk up and work on his skating, as all young players do, according to Frolunda coach Ronnberg.
BB88
Registered User
- Jan 19, 2015
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What you need for next summer is to get Ikonen join the elite offseason club in Turku.
Laine/Ristolainen/Rantanen all train there together under legendary Rautala. Isles prospect Koivula joined them this summer.
Get Ikonen to join their group and see him improve by a mile.
Laine/Ristolainen/Rantanen all train there together under legendary Rautala. Isles prospect Koivula joined them this summer.
Get Ikonen to join their group and see him improve by a mile.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Noma
Registered User
Unless something surprising happens, Ikonen should be in the team and probably in the top six as well.
No need to fear. KalPa's new head coach is one and only Sami Kapanen. Yeah, the guy who was the fastest skater in NHL at some point in his career.
..........................
(0:51)
Thank you for your Finnish/Ikonen insight, much appreciated. The Ikonen situation seems indeed more favorable with KalPa with the opportunity to play a bigger role with more ice time. Please keep your insights coming, it would be appreciated.
Pompeius Magnus
Registered User
He's expected to be on the team by most hockey people, unless something drastic happens. He's been on the U16,U17 and U18 teams so the brass is very familiar with him.
Pompeius Magnus
Registered User
Lehkonen went from Kalpa to Frolunda and now Ikonen does it the other way around. Hopefully he'll turn out just as good.
montreal
Go Habs Go
Was worried about his playing time with Frolunda, so glad he should get good ice time with KalPa, just that SHL games are easy to get, haven't followed SM-liiga in a long time likely since the days of Oskari Korpikari with Karpat as I don't recall seeing Lehkonen play for KalPa.
thanks for the clips.
No need to fear. KalPa's new head coach is one and only Sami Kapanen. Yeah, the guy who was the fastest skater in NHL at some point in his career.
Kapanen is known to be a guy who focuses a lot on developing young players and doesn't fear giving them fair chances to succeed. KalPa is also one of the strongest if not the strongest team when it comes to playing fast and offensive focused hockey, something that isn't guaranteed in Liiga nowadays (teams usually focus a bit too much on the tactical side of the game instead of letting players play the game). I think it's also worth noting that KalPa has the biggest rink in Liiga. I'm sure stuff like this is nothing but good if you want to focus on improving player's skating.
But most importantly, he is almost guaranteed to get double the ice-time he would have gotten in Frölunda which I think is the biggest reason why this transfer is good for Ikonen.
Personally as a Finn who has been in love with Ikonen ever since the U18s, I have nothing but good vibes from this whole thing.
By the way, during the U18s I made small videos from the best moments of the first 3 games by Finland. I felt like Ikonen was easily Finland's best forward in those games until he broke his thumb later in the tournament against Canada and it seemed to effect him quite a bit. So if you wanna see some of his nice plays from those games, check these videos:
Finland vs Switzerland (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SILKfFL0msQ) (0:00, 0:31, 1:33, 3:58, 4:50, 5:20, 6:44, 7:03)
Finland vs Latvia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=becp2Jj7kHg) (1:52, 2:51, 3:00, 4:40, 6:32)
Finland vs Canada (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nNVDErkk_A) (0:51)
thanks for the clips.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
That's kind of what I was thinking as well. Would be interesting to see how good he is as an 18 year old!
Otherwise I agree and I think that Kalpa is a very good destination for him but this is Kotkaniemi. Ikonen is a right-handed shot.
And Ikonen is in my papers the 1C. I also want to say that in my opinion Ikonen would have been a terrific pick at 25th overall. Became a big fan since I saw him for the first time in the U18 WHC
Grand Admiral Thrawn
Registered User
Interesting to see what kinda role he has. KalPa only has 5 centers under contract, 3 of them were picked on the 2nd round of this past draft with Luostarinen, Texier and Ikonen.
Hokinaittii
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- Aug 15, 2015
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Lekhonen played his post-draft season in KalPa as well. So in reality, this event is more Lekhonen-like than you make it look. Its all about balancing playing time and competition. At this time, KalPa seems like a better fit than Frolunda.
Redux91
I do Three bullets.
Cant be really too upset, you have to like both the swedish and finnish leagues for development at this point, playing vs men is playing vs men, it toughened up Lehkonen lets hope it can do the same for Ikonen
If this means more playing time by going back to finland then so be it right? we should want that. Hope he makes the world junior team, well rather, i hope he shows flashes of greatness when he makes it lol
If this means more playing time by going back to finland then so be it right? we should want that. Hope he makes the world junior team, well rather, i hope he shows flashes of greatness when he makes it lol
Adam Michaels
Registered User
I think Frolunda still has his SHL rights. So a return there isn't out of the question in a year or two.
Sterling Archer
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- Sep 26, 2006
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It could be a good intermediary step for Ikonen as it was for Lehkonen. Here's hoping it's one he doesn't need.
Stive Morgan
Mhm. Mhm. Mhm.
That's what I was thinking. He pulled a reverse Lehkonen. Hope it goes well for him (and us)
Jorma Heart
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- Sep 5, 2009
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