Finnish Top Prospects part II

[Quethas]

I know you follow Ässät closely, so was wondering if you have any thoughts on Roope Elo? Looks like he has pretty good size and his stats seem to indicate some offensive skill. Appears to have started the season in BSM.

Not much I can say unfortunately. I don't follow younger juniors that much but I thought Elo was way better than other defenders from his team few years ago. Back then he looked pretty solid. I am somewhat surprised that he still plays mostly in BSM. Of course it makes a lot harder to break into lineup when there's players who have played in Liiga already but still...

 

[ChadS]

Not much I can say unfortunately. I don't follow younger juniors that much but I thought Elo was way better than other defenders from his team few years ago. Back then he looked pretty solid. I am somewhat surprised that he still plays mostly in BSM. Of course it makes a lot harder to break into lineup when there's players who have played in Liiga already but still...

Okay thanks. He seems to have a lot of the qualities scouts look for in d-men, but obviously playing BSM isn't a great thing for any hopes of being noticed.

 

[sashalaine]

Kasper Simontaival scored 4 goals today so him 11+2=13 points in 5 games in CSM.(2.6 PPG)

Now 7 games, 17+5=22 points, 3.14 PPG.

 

[Raimo Sillanpää]

When was the last time a 14 year old Finn was mentioned here? Tukonen, Joensuu? This Simontaival kid is like 8 points ahead of the 2nd best points guy - after 8 games, and half a year younger.
Oh, and Kasperi is almost goals only.. the other guy isn't.

Will have to keep tabs on him.

 

[Noma]

When was the last time a 14 year old Finn was mentioned here? Tukonen, Joensuu?

Urho Vaakanainen was mentioned here first time when he was 13 and Leevi Aaltonen was already on the radar last year at 14.

 

[Stoat]

Interesting fella this Kasper Simontaival. However, I don't want to jump on the hype train just yet. He's a long way from men's games and for instance Laine and Puljujärvi played against 18 year-olds at that age. But interesting name to look for.

- Stoat

 

[JJTT]

Is HPK planning to play Luukkonen in Liiga now that Lawson's contract was terminated?

 

[Quethas]

I have a gut feeling that Fredrik Grønstrand was signed to be a backup and that would allow Luukkonen to stay in juniors and to actually play.

But I would imagine if Larmi begins to look tired or plays few bad games, coaches probably would like to kick tires and see what Luukkonen has to offer against men.

Edit: HPK just announced that Luukkonen has Pneumonia and won't be playing for the next four weeks.

 

[Skeletorrr]

Mikko Kokkonen about to make his Liiga debut

Interesting to see him play in liiga, he should become the youngest ever player in SM-liiga.

 

[Eyelanders]

I know you follow Ässät closely, so was wondering if you have any thoughts on Roope Elo? Looks like he has pretty good size and his stats seem to indicate some offensive skill. Appears to have started the season in BSM.

I've seen Elo a couple of times in B-juniors this season. He's been somewhat inconsistent but certainly among better d-men on the team. He's had a few nice flashes of puck skills and vision, but on the downside there have been some mistakes, not getting pucks for the forwards, making bad reads etc. He has a quick point shot and is eager to shoot. I think skating is an area for improvement, he has been unable to keep it with opponents in the defensive zone at times.

 

[ChadS]

I've seen Elo a couple of times in B-juniors this season. He's been somewhat inconsistent but certainly among better d-men on the team. He's had a few nice flashes of puck skills and vision, but on the downside there have been some mistakes, not getting pucks for the forwards, making bad reads etc. He has a quick point shot and is eager to shoot. I think skating is an area for improvement, he has been unable to keep it with opponents in the defensive zone at times.

Thanks! Did you see Markus Raita too? Looks like he's doing well at least in terms of points and is a big kid (190/90).

 

[JJTT]

http://www.leijonat.fi/maajoukkueet...joaa-alle-16-vuotiaiden-saksa-maaottelut.html

01 age groups games vs Germany will be stremed.

There is also an exhibition game between the two Finland teams today at 19:40.

http://livestream.com/leijonat/events/6389968

Rosters http://www.leijonat.fi/maajoukkueet...en-joukkueeseen-tassa-suomi-a-ja-suomi-b.html

 

[Rogie21]

2002 born Ruben Rafkin, who was discussed earlier in the thread, will play next season for Selects Hockey at South Kent. It's the same program where the highly touted Norwegian 00 Mathias Emilio Pettersen played the past two seasons.

Rafkin is playing up with Selects Hockey 16U, wearing the C. Team qualified for US Nationals in the Spring. He recently visited Boston University and Quinnipiac. BU recently received a commitment for Kasper Kotkansalo for 2017.

 

[JJTT]

Toni Utunen playing his first Liiga game tomorrow in the outdoor game vs Ilves.

http://www.aamulehti.fi/urheilu/tap...us-tekee-perjantaina-liigahistoriaa-24145541/

 

[Tormentor]

Today's U16 FIN-SWE: (video) & (line-up)

The top line centre Henri Nikkanen seems to have a lot you want to see in a prospect.

 

[jalperi]

From Simontaival thread

Can we trade one of our winger prospects for a centre? I fear our new "golden age" will be hindered by the lack of top end centres after Barkov. At this rate I hope Rantanen can convert to centre.

Fear not, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Henri Nikkanen are coming.

Kotkaniemi has played wing in most of his games this year.

Also -01 borned Kaapo Kakko and Santtu Hakanen should mentioned on that case. They have better stats(and linemates) on B than Nikkanen who made A junior debut yesterday.

 

[JJTT]

Anton Lundell has also loked very solid for the national team. A bit small at the moment but he has room to grow with a late birthday and his dad being 6'3.

 

[Erikfromfin]

+Antti Saarela to me he looks just as talented as Aleksi if not more skilled

 

[BL92]

I agree that we are in an abundance of quality centermen. Barkov is great, but there needs to be more variety.

 

[JJTT]

Stats update on the 00 age group(mainly who have played for the U17 NT), doesn't seem to be much hype for them here:

Stats taken from Finhockey

Goalies:

G Justus Annunen, Kärpät B: 16GP, 93,05%, 2.06GAA
G Kalle Nurmi, Lukko B: 21GP, 91,82%, 2.52GAA
G Santtu Toivomäki, TPS B: 12GP 90,44%, 2.91GAA
G Jimi Uusitalo, JYP B: 16GP 91,10%, 2.87 GAA
G Henrik Tikkanen, HIFK B: 16GP, 89,66%, 3.06GAA

Defense:

LD Santeri Salmela, KooKoo A 28GP 0+0=0
LD Tobias Ã…kerman, Sport A 28GP 1+2=3
LD Jasper Rannisto, HIFK A 13GP 0+2=2
LD Peetro Seppälä, KooKoo A 18GP 0+1=1
LD Samuel Kemppainen, Kärpät B 30GP 3+15=18
LD Toni Utunen, Tappara A: 23GP 1+8=9
LD Kim Nousiainen, KalPa B: 28GP 2+14=16
RD Axel Rindell, HIFK B: 7+8=15
RD Juuso Ketola, Ässät A: 16GP 0+3=3
RD Miska Kukkonen, Ilves A 22GP 1+7=8
RD Anttoni Honka, JYP A 19GP 1+5=6
RD Jere Jokinen, HPK B: 29GP 11+8=19
RD Valtteri Kakkonen, JYP B 25GP 5+7=12

Forwards:

RW Eppu Karuvaara, HIFK B: 27GP 6+9=15
RW Arttu Nevasaari Kärpät B: 22GP 12+8=20
RW Niklas Nordgren, HIFK A: 24GP: 8+10=18
RW Eetu Mäki, Sport B: 25GP 14+17=31
C Rasmus Kupari, Kärpät A: 6GP 2+4=6
C Jesse Moilanen Jokerit A: 18GP 3+3=6
C Kristian Tanus, Tappara B: 27GP 8+22=30
C Severi Immonen KalPa B: 27GP 13+14=27
C Karri Kapanen, KalPa B: 22GP 8+8=16
C Otto Kivenmäki, Ässät A: 23GP 3+6=9
C Jesperi Kotkaniemi Ässät A: 8GP 3+5=8
LW Konsta Hirvonen, HIFK B: 19GP 7+13=20
LW Lenni Killinen, Blues B: 18GP 10+12=22
LW Samuel Salonen Jokerit B: 23GP 13+18=31
LW Kalle Matikanen, Kärpät B: 20GP 2+11=13
LW Matias Maccelli TPS B: 28GP 13+29=42
LW Pekka Suhonen KalPa B: 30GP 13+15=28

 

[LoveHateLeafs]

Stats update on the 00 age group(mainly who have played for the U17 NT), doesn't seem to be much hype for them here:

Is there a reason for hype? If you look at the recent Finnish forwards who have gone in the first round or succeeded at some level in the NHL, the one thing that most have in common is that they were scoring 1 point per game in a-juniors in the year prior to their draft year. Only two of the guys on this list are hitting 1 ppg, and that's with a small sample size.

 

[JJTT]

Is there a reason for hype?

Other than Kotkaniemi, not really. Seems like a really bad age group. Even the 99 group looks much better at this point.

 

[Loffer]

There is something wrong in Finnish junior program still. These future "prospects" don't and won't cut if we wanna match the Swedes going forward.

 

[JJTT]

First 47 names for 02 Pohjola Camp link

Players with notable point production in CSMQ(over 10 games played):

Goalies:

G Valtonen Joonas 179cm, 60kg, Ilves 15GP 88,40%
G Lappi Niko 168cm 73kg, JYP 11GP 92,64%

Defenseman:

LD Grönlund Niklas 185cm, 72kg, K-Kissat 19GP 6+8=14
LD/LW Nyman Luka 170cm, 60kg, Jokerit 22GP 3+9=12
RD Puutio Kasper 174cm 64kg, Kärpät 22GP 3+17=20
RD Rafkin Ruben 178cm, 75kg, Selects Academy U16 -
LD Sedoff Christoffer 168cm 55kg, HIFK 21GP 7+16=23

Forwards:

LW Hahl Veikka 168cm, 62kg, KalPa 22GP 8+4=12
C Hirvonen Roni 168cm, 65kg, Blues 22GP 21+17=38
RW Isiguzo Patrick 173cm, 75kg, Blues 16GP 4+6=10
C Kaski Topias, TPS 16GP 2+12=14
LW Korkalainen Veeti, 168cm, 61kg KooKoo 19GP 3+12=15
LW Korpialho Niki, TPS 21gp 7+13=20
C Koski Aleksi 180cm, 82kg, Ässät 20GP 9+7=16
C Räty Aatu 170cm, 59kg, Kärpät 22GP 13+18=31
RW Simontaival Kasper, 168cm 69kg Tappara 22GP 42+20=62
RW Suni Oliver, 181cm 74kg, Kärpät, 15GP 7+16=23

 

[BL92]

There is something wrong in Finnish junior program still. These future "prospects" don't and won't cut if we wanna match the Swedes going forward.

The problem is defense. Sweden isn't special when it comes to offense and we already have Laine, Barkov and Puljujärvi - top tier forwards (assuming that Pulju will live up to the hype).

Sweden is just on another level defensively, I don't know why many have claimed that Finland is going to surpass Sweden in skill. The only really good defenseman we have is Ristolainen, that's about it. Have to see what comes of Juolevi.