Confirmed Trade: [CHI/FLA] Ian McCoshen for Aleksi Saarela

[Cane mutiny]

Saarela needs to be on a low pressure team that has a slot for him, where he has time to grow his game. Those spots are hard to find these days.

 

[FinPanda]

Welp I thought he had some potential for the NHL. Probably not good enough to even have a chance though. Such a shame. All the (head) injuries probably cost him a lot.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Does Saarela have a physical game to him

No, not at all.

His opportunity to be an NHL player was based around being a goal-scoring finisher. To date, he hasn't shown himself to be a good enough finisher to justify a roster spot over guys who are much more complete.

I'm not saying his career is dead, but he's at a point where it would take a real Cinderella story. This is effectively a minor-league trade with a very faint upside.

 

[Teemu]

Saarela must have some sort of issue, been traded 3 times already.

Yep. Plus the Hawks just drafted his brother. Something is amiss.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Good things happen to those who wait, as Aleksi Saarela now can tell the young-ins.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

considering what he has done in the AHL the past two seasons (great scoring, championship win, etc), its hard not to see his point.

Or people who see more than stats find it very hard to see his point.

He was one of the first guys sent down in camp last year when many Canes fans thought he should be competing for a spot. Whether it was because he wasn’t prepared, didn’t give the necessary effort or had too many flaws in his game, it was telling that a team like Carolina (last year) sent him down so early.

 

[leeroggy]

Another player who in HF past was once considered untouchable in McCoshen, failing to live up to HF GM hype

 

[Filthy Dangles]

When the Rangers traded Saarela, many were upset because a lot had high hopes for him and was considered one of our top prospects due to the lack of prospects we had at the time.

I mean he had a really good campaign in the Liiga in his D+1 year with 20 goals, Carolina obviously valued him enough to send STaal to the division-rival Rangers (plus the picks on top of him)

 

[cheesymc]

Great AHL producing forward for a dman that hasn't really performed well in the AHL... nice steal.

 

[Tawnos]

I mean he had a really good campaign in the Liiga in his D+1 year with 20 goals, Carolina obviously valued him enough to send STaal to the division-rival Rangers (plus the picks on top of him)

The picks were the primary pieces of that trade, not the prospect.

Also, teams tend not to care about division rivalries when selling rentals at the deadline.

 

[Svechhammer]

He's got a shot and essentially nothing else. He thinks he deserves to be in the NHL, and has been willing to throw his employer under the bus publicly in voicing that opinion to the media. He believes he is better than he actually is, which is bad when you're talking about a career AHL player who isn't grasping the coaching he's getting at that level.

 

[bleedgreen]

Great AHL producing forward for a dman that hasn't really performed well in the AHL... nice steal.

Only on hf could this trade be classified as a steal.

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

I hope Florida gives Aleksi a real shot at the NHL.
He deserves it, just ask him.

 

[crowi]

I hope Saarela gets a chance in the big league.

 

[Dr Quincy]

Hopefully this is the appetizer for the trade that sends Perlini to Florida...

It's not.

He's yours. Enjoy.

 

[Mikeaveli]

A tale of two duds

 

[Pukboy5kroner]

Another player who in HF past was once considered untouchable in McCoshen, failing to live up to HF GM hype

Was he? I must have missed that train.

 

[FinlandPanther]

I hope Florida gives Aleksi a real shot at the NHL.
He deserves it, just ask him.

I’m not gonna lie I laughed. Well done.

 

[McClelland]

Hawks doesnt lke Finnish players!

 

[LDF]

I hope Florida gives Aleksi a real shot at the NHL.
He deserves it, just ask him.

oh man i spewed on that .......

well done good sir

 

[leeroggy]

Was he? I must have missed that train.

Go back 3-4 years and take a look at the Trade Offer threads. He was considered cant-miss. USHL prospect and solid college background with big size on defense. Never got over the hump. 31st overall pick and Panther fans had high hopes he'd be 2nd pair LD.