Confirmed with Link: CBJ sign D Ilari Melart to 1 yr ELC

[db2011]

A great character, who loves to play physical, rough hockey, is always willing to defend his teammates and isn't afraid to fight. Melart has very limited puck-handling skills and makes a lot of mistakes under pressure, but he does have a solid, hard shot. His hockey IQ is fairly low and he sometimes tends to be overly aggressive, take stupid roughing penalties and go for the big hit instead of playing the puck.

He's not going to have problem with the physicality, but it's going to take time for him to get used to the smaller ice and higher tempo of the North American game.

This kind of defending isn't going to cut it in the NHL:

wow, who knew "coast to coast" was Finnish for "coast to coast"?

What's the possibility this was a semi-enforcer signing? With Dorse on Broadway, that leaves only Boller. Melart as an enforcer with some skills?

 

[Finnpin]

wow, who knew "coast to coast" was Finnish for "coast to coast"?

What's the possibility this was a semi-enforcer signing? With Dorse on Broadway, that leaves only Boller. Melart as an enforcer with some skills?

In NHL/AHL level imo nope... at least in the beginning ...he needs lessons from the pros in it. His fight card isn't very impressive. Though I'm pretty sure he will not back down when the call comes...even if it means some "learning beat down" from some real enforcer.

 

[Roadman]

What's the possibility this was a semi-enforcer signing? With Dorse on Broadway, that leaves only Boller. Melart as an enforcer with some skills?

If that's all you were after there is always Dalton Smith or Cody Bass, although thier skill levels are better than "some".

 

[Mogo]

Poor CBJ if Kekäläinen acquisitions are going to be all from FEL

 

[Finnpin]

Poor CBJ if Kekäläinen acquisitions are going to be all from FEL

One signing and this oh then I saw who posted it

 

[LOFIN]

I doubt he can break to the NHL, but this NA gig can surely improve him as a player, and make him a decent KHLer/ SM-Liiga top defender in the future. But we'll see what happens. Hopefully he'll improve as a player, and maybe get a game or two in the NHL.

 

[FinRuutu]

Way too much negativity towards Melart.

He isn't liked around the league and gets ripped too easily, also his reputation as pure enforcer and a stone hand hazard D-man is from two years ago. He has made huge leaps in the past two years and has become a decent hockey player, people let their hatred towards him blind them and they refuse to acknowledge the development hes made. Glad that Keklu signed him, even if its the Blue Jackets.

You're getting big, hard playing guy who makes less and less mistakes every year defensively and always stands up for his teammates. Much respected among his teammates in Finland, fan favorite among teams fans but hated among fans of the other teams.

I wish him best of luck and I hope he can step up his game another notch again to prove the haters wrong.

 

[major major]

This is for the AHL, right? With an outside shot of getting in some NHL games?

 

[Moch Daear]

Hmm. Reading through the posts is literally ALL I know about this guy, but it seems to me that he's AHL bound. He may say its NHL or Europe, but if he gets into the AHL and develops like a lot of our DMen have been developing over the last few years, he could become a strong enough player to crack the seven the following year I imagine. He's 24, not 34, and if he is willing to be patient and work hard (seemingly like a stereotypical Finn/Swede/Norgy) I would think somebody would give him a chance. Seems like a depth signing with an eye toward progression over the next season+

 

[agent082]

He won't play a single game in NHL, if he isn't willing to play in AHL first. There is no chance he starts his season in Columbus. One or two years in AHL and maybe then he could play in NHL if he develops as fast as he has done in past couple of years.

 

[hirawl]

He won't play a single game in NHL, if he isn't willing to play in AHL first. There is no chance he starts his season in Columbus. One or two years in AHL and maybe then he could play in NHL if he develops as fast as he has done in past couple of years.

If he continues to develop at the pace he's done last two years he'll be running with the ****ing Norris come 2015. The guy has taken some giant leaps.

 

[QnebO]

He won't play a single game in NHL, if he isn't willing to play in AHL first. There is no chance he starts his season in Columbus. One or two years in AHL and maybe then he could play in NHL if he develops as fast as he has done in past couple of years.

No one is expecting that he goes straight to NHL. But he has been developing very well for two years, North America is great next step, if it wasn't the blue jackets organization then some other. Player like him has much to give and receive from North American hockey, and if he can keep the developing on, he has good possibility to play NHL in blue jackets in coming years.

 

[agent082]

No one is expecting that he goes straight to NHL.

True. I was just missreading post in this thread that he won't go in AHL.

 

[wloff]

So much unfounded hate by some Finns here.

Melart has always been developing steadily, even though it's only the last year or so that he actually proved himself as a top D-man in the Finnish league. He's a big, physical no-nonsense D-man who's hated by his opponents but absolutely loved by the fans of his own team.

I think Melart is a good low-risk signing that can pay off really nicely. His play should suit NA well and he's got the right attitude to keep working hard and prove he can do it. Sure, it's possible he'll never make it, but it won't be for lack of effort, and I'd say it's more likely that he'll do well than not.

Hell, first you guys get Keklu, then you have your fairytale playoff run and now you snatch Melart... at this rate I'll have no choice but to become a proper CBJ fan

 

[NotWendell]

There's a Dman for Springfield.

That's how I see it. Maybe a 8th or 9th blueliner for the CBJ.

 

[JacketsFanWest]

All Jarmo was quoted in the Dispatch as saying is: "He'll come to camp with a chance to win a spot on our team. "


It's all speculation at this point whether or not Melart will or won't report to the AHL.

My hope is that Jarmo has enough pull that Melart will trust that he can develop in Springfield. However, if Melart struggles (say like Anton Blomqvist and Brad Larsen is more focused on winning than developing players for the Jackets, then maybe he heads back to Finland or the KHL). Melart isn't going to come to NA to play in the ECHL, and there should be a solid group of defensemen for Springfield next season. But there is a lack of big, tough, stay at home defensemen.

 

[Finnpin]

Glad that Keklu signed him

Hell, first you guys get Keklu

He is just JK or Jarmo around here

 

[wloff]

He is just JK or Jarmo around here

Meh, someone needs to get the proper nicknames going.

 

[Jaxs]

Different speliing and all, but Keklu reminds me of this long forgotten trio.
Kukla Fran and Ollie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukla,_Fran_and_Ollie

 

[Jovavic]

Sounds like the Finnish OKT

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Meh, someone needs to get the proper nicknames going.

Serious question.

Why Keklu? Is that a specific name he's been given? Is that a Finnish way of shoertening a name for a nickname, similar to Boller (Jared Boll) or Umby (RJ Umberger)?

 

[wloff]

Yeah, just a Finnish way of shortening the name... Kind of like you guys might say 'Kekler' or 'Keklie' or something I suppose. It doesn't mean anything, just his name is too long for even us to say in full all the time

 

[Dropkick Murphy]

Melart was better in FEL than most of ex-NHL bottom-pair stay-at-home d-men have been in recent history. Still no guarantee but at least it says that not impossible for him to make it in NHL-squad. But more probable is AHL for season or two and back to Europe.

 

[Matt]

Don't see this guy making the Jackets this year

 

[pete goegan]

Yeah, just a Finnish way of shortening the name... Kind of like you guys might say 'Kekler' or 'Keklie' or something I suppose. It doesn't mean anything, just his name is too long for even us to say in full all the time

I like that - Keklu - I'll try to remember to use it. The pic of Kukla, Fran, and Ollie will help!