C Rasmus Kupari - Karpat, Liiga (2018, 20th, LAK)

[JustaFinnishGuy]

He's still trying to do it all himself and loses pucks because of it. What he's also doing is proving me wrong, I never thought that he could possess this much offense and he just might develop into a top 6 role after all. Originally I thought he would become a solid top 9 player at the NHL level.

 

[JJTT]

Out for 2-3 weeks, nobody seems to know when the injury happened

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I really liked his efforts in WJC, at times he was the dynamo of the Finnish offence. He really looks like a smart kid and what I most like is his work-ethic and knowledge of parts of his game that he needs to improve.

This is really good to hear because he's raw even if he has the tools--but if he's also self-aware, that bodes well for his future. Looking at what he's doing/producing now even at his age is fantastic, if he's a knowledge sponge to go along with that skillset then I do think his ceiling may be more of an NHL top-sixer.

Is it just me, or is there a little bit of an Ales Hemsky vibe with him? Or is it just my limited exposure to his highlights?

 

[JJTT]

Returned to the lineup after missing 5 games.

Scored a nice goal after some pretty passing on PP.

Ässät-Kärpät, 2019-02-16, Goal

Pyörälä will miss the rest of the season with knee injury, interesting to see who Kupari and Heponiemi end up playing with. Koblizek played with them today but really doesn't provide the defensive game and size needed for the kids.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Finland is putting out a lot of talented young players. I loved this pick by the Kings this past summer.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

He is doing better than I was expecting.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Finland is putting out a lot of talented young players. I loved this pick by the Kings this past summer.

Yeah, and if Kings are enough lucky in the draft lottery they might have good or very good chance to get Kaapo Kakko.

 

[Jtown]

I like this kid and its hard to find a center with that size and skating ability at pick 20. I think worst comes to worst he will be a 3rd line center that won't hurt you.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

He is doing better than I was expecting.

Not surprised Kupari was very good in U20 WJC's already.

 

[Ippenator]

Not surprised Kupari was very good in U20 WJC's already.

He wasnt definitely very good there though. Quite ok in most games, and even good in some, but definitely not very good in general.

 

[Hokinaittii]

He wasnt definitely very good there though. Quite ok in most games, and even good in some, but definitely not very good in general.

I guess we can say he was very good compared to other 1st line centers we had after Aho and Teräväinen in U20s.

Kupari was a lot less hyped than Kuokkanen was and he clearly outplayed Kuokkanen in there in almost every aspect of the game. And before Kuokkanen we had Aapeli Räsänen who just doesn't make the cut for 1st line center in U20s but you can't really blame him because we didn't have anyone else back then.

Kupari could have had couple more points based on the chances he got and sure, Heponiemi was the main playmaker in that line but I'd give credit for Kupari for being relentless throughout the tournament which showed in like 10 drawn penalties. In the faceoff circle he was among the best in the tournament

In my opinion, Kupari was everything you could have expected from him if you respect what his strengths are.

 

[Ippenator]

I guess we can say he was very good compared to other 1st line centers we had after Aho and Teräväinen in U20s.

Kupari was a lot less hyped than Kuokkanen was and he clearly outplayed Kuokkanen in there in almost every aspect of the game. And before Kuokkanen we had Aapeli Räsänen who just doesn't make the cut for 1st line center in U20s but you can't really blame him because we didn't have anyone else back then.

Kupari could have had couple more points based on the chances he got and sure, Heponiemi was the main playmaker in that line but I'd give credit for Kupari for being relentless throughout the tournament which showed in like 10 drawn penalties. In the faceoff circle he was among the best in the tournament

In my opinion, Kupari was everything you could have expected from him if you respect what his strengths are.

I wasn’t trashing him though. I in fact mentioned that he piayed pretty OK in most of the games and even quite well in some games. But I am personally still against calling his play in general very good in that tournament. I have higher expectations for the number one center for any Finnish national team. Thank God the team was so solid in general that very good centers were not needed after all.

Also no use to compare Kupari to Kuokkanen as a center, as Kuokkanen was an apalling center really, and he isn’t even playing as a center anymore. Also Räsänen was never more than a good 3rd line center, and I really doubt he will be more than that in the future.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Not surprised Kupari was very good in U20 WJC's already.

Yes but the season started somewhere in october 2018 already.

 

[JJTT]

Had a really nice Kuznetsovesque assist to Heponiemi today

Kärpät tekee maalin

 

[Hokinaittii]

Had a really nice Kuznetsovesque assist to Heponiemi today

Kärpät tekee maalin

Typical low IQ play by Kupari.

 

[BigKing]

Had a really nice Kuznetsovesque assist to Heponiemi today

Kärpät tekee maalin

That was silly

 

[LAINEC]

Had a really nice Kuznetsovesque assist to Heponiemi today

Kärpät tekee maalin

wow!

 

[Jtown]

Had a really nice Kuznetsovesque assist to Heponiemi today

Kärpät tekee maalin

holy f***.

 

[Kingsfan1]

Too excited for this kid ! f***en steal of the draft

 

[57special]

He's still trying to do it all himself and loses pucks because of it. What he's also doing is proving me wrong, I never thought that he could possess this much offense and he just might develop into a top 6 role after all. Originally I thought he would become a solid top 9 player at the NHL level.

You know who else was accused of trying to do it all himself, and giving away pucks? Barzal.

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

You know who else was accused of trying to do it all himself, and giving away pucks? Barzal.

That's great. There's no correlation for Kupari to turn out like Barzal has.

And when I say that he holds onto pucks, he really does. At times I counted 10-20 seconds in every shift. He's been significantly better in that aspect and routinely is pressing the play now.

 

[57special]

That's great. There's no correlation for Kupari to turn out like Barzal has.

Why not? Go back and look at the Barzal threads. He was being criticized more than Kupari. It might not be great for the team he is on now, but handling the puck that much in game situations is exactly what you want a player to do to develop skill.

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

Why not? Go back and look at the Barzal threads. He was being criticized more than Kupari. It might not be great for the team he is on now, but handling the puck that much in game situations is exactly what you want a player to do to develop skill.

Your argument would be sound if you would actually follow the prospect like I do. He plays in my favorite team and I catch most games. There aren't many similarities with Barzal yet. The defenders in Liiga aren't exactly top notch..

 

[Kingsfan1]

Your argument would be sound if you would actually follow the prospect like I do. He plays in my favorite team and I catch most games. There aren't many similarities with Barzal yet. The defenders in Liiga aren't exactly top notch..

Who would you compare Kupari too currently in the NHL ?

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

Who would you compare Kupari too currently in the NHL ?

I used to compare him to Craig Smith but he seems like a little bit faster version of him with better hands.
Probably a top 6'er.