If he makes the team in the fall he'll be teammates with Max Friberg. I know Frolunda lost a few players to transfer but with Lasch coming back (was one of their top players when Lehkonen was there) plus 7th overall pick Lias Andersson I assume makes Frolunda after ripping up the J-20s with HV71's team.
It depends a bit on if Lias Andersson and Carl Grundström makes the NHL after their training camps or if they come back to us, since it would open up two roster spots. Joni is part of a group of younger players (Oliwer Fjellström, Jacob Peterson and Kalle Miketinac are others in that group) that probably will be practicing with the mens team and be given a chance to grab a spot.
I don't think that he'll have a permanent role but I'm sure that he will get ice time during the season.
Everytime I have seen him he has been confident, exciting and selfish. I think the last quality might be his undoing.
I would love him to be a center for us, and he might be developed as one in the Frolunda system. Realistically due to his size (5ft11, 176lbs), I think his speed, shooting abilities and feistiness in the corners will make him a great winger for us. As I said in other posts, it's hard for me not to be excited about a Lekhonen-Poehling-Ikonen line. A big center that likes to pass and two Finns (a RH and a LH) that like to shoot (and are good at it).
Ok thx.. But just to make it clear, when you saw him play, was he playing center or RW? If he was playing center, how was his game away from the puck? (2-way game) How was his vision and playmaking skills?
Id say 2 more years playing in SHL than either AHL or NHL.
Strikes me as a nice bonus that he can also play center. It would be wild if he turns out to be a pre-injury Koivu, which would solve the 1C problem in the long term.
What's his absolute ceiling with the big league? 2nd liner or 1st liner? Center or winger?
Strikes me as a nice bonus that he can also play center. It would be wild if he turns out to be a pre-injury Koivu, which would solve the 1C problem in the long term.
I'd start today with 2nd liner, and let him raise that with his play.
Glad montreal is starting to have interesting Finns again after Koivu.
finland went 9 years without an impact nhler between m koivu and m granlund. its not like they were intentionally ignoring them, finland was just producing crap for almost a decade
knowing very little about Ikonen, I'd say Ikonen. His game just seems more translatable. Reway's got an underrated shot and a silly back hand but Ikonen's shot seems Lehkonen like. Maybe even better. Ikonen could be the better skater (though I think Reway made some strides in that department) and doesn't seem to have effort issues.
Sheer skill though, I just haven't seen enough of these Ikonen dangles. If Reway was faster and worked harder then it could be a toss up. Just my opinion which means literally nothing. Really hope like WTK suggested that Reway could possibly have had a bit of a wake up call with this illness and maybe it drives him more. A more motivated Reway could be a great asset. Excited to see what both do this coming year.
Especially since lefebvre is still the coach
All we knew about Reway is almost worthless now. We don't know if he really fully recovered from his illness and how much one year out of hockey will have slowed down his development. Remember Bozon.
He's 5'11" nothing wrong with that height for a center. As he adds muscle he'll gain weight and may still grow as well.
Reway has a much better pedigree than Bozon. Reway was captain of his world junior team and shone on the world stage against the elite of his age group. He then went on to be a high scorer in a pro league, while being one of the youngest. Can't compare the two.
Come on! I was not comparing talent, but pointing out how difficult it can be to fully recover from a serious illness. I tought it was clear.
Come on! I was not comparing talent, but pointing out how difficult it can be to fully recover from a serious illness. I tought it was clear.