Mr Snrub
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I'd put him around the early to mid 20s. Better than Johansen, not as good as Cholowski.
Confirmed with Link: Flames sign Juuso Valimaki to ELC
- Thread starter Wayne Primeau
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I'd put him around the early to mid 20s. Better than Johansen, not as good as Cholowski.
Dack
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Literally every model I've seen that uses numbers of any kind to rank the prospects is high on him and that coupled with the fact that he's consistently ranked in the 11-16 range and doesn't have any real weaknesses as far as I can tell makes me like him a lot.
I think you're overreacting to how old he is, I look at it as he's younger than all of those D you listed. How many of them actually had a better season this year? I'd say only Fox and Girard both of which have questions about their defence and more importantly size. Valimaki doesn't come with those question marks.
I think you're overreacting to how old he is, I look at it as he's younger than all of those D you listed. How many of them actually had a better season this year? I'd say only Fox and Girard both of which have questions about their defence and more importantly size. Valimaki doesn't come with those question marks.
OvermanKingGainer
#BennettFreed #CurseofTheSpulll #FreeOliver
I wasn't being critical of him? I was just pondering where he would rank among the 2016 class. Not like guys like Juolevi, Fabbro or Bean are bad prospects here.
I did end up wording it poorly though after re-reading my post. Originally I meant his draft-1 as a draft year would have gotten him taken around the second round, but in a 2016 redraft wih him ploped in don't see why he doesn't go 1st round.
Johnny Hoxville
The Return of a Legend
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Mediocre
Bjornar Moxnes
Stem Rødt og Felix Unger Sörum
I think the true question is if Valimaki was born a year later, where would he have went in the 2018 draft? Maybe 20th overall because yes it's a deep and elite draft, but most elite potential players are probably gone after the top 10 picks, and as teams pick lower they usually pick safety over ceiling for obvious reasons (Still contending, want to continue contending, etc.). Valimaki was on a lot of scouts top 10 in this draft, but ultimately most chose potential (And Holland chose a WTF) over safety since Valimaki doesn't scream elite in terms of ceiling.
Legend Leinonen
Registered User
Juolevi's body language is all wrong even when you look him at interviews. Looks soft and disinterested. Välimäki has that winner/killer air about him.
Dack
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I'd agree with you at this point, I'm starting to think that if it weren't for the WJC and London being so good that Juolevi would've been a mid first round pick. His offence which was mediocre in his draft year didn't really improve and I follow a CHL analytics guy on Twitter (Zac Urbak) who tracks scoring chance and zone entry data (not openly available but sometimes he mentions it when talking about certain players) he said "Among top 4D, Juolevi had teams worst scoring chance impact & lowest successful breakout & entry numbers. Medicore on entry-denials too". Also adding that he was surprised Juolevi went as high as he did.
I still think Juolevi has potential though he's not a bad player/prospect I just don't think he should've been a top 10 pick.
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Johnny Hoxville
The Return of a Legend
100% agree. Great defensive prospect, but if you rate a player from top to bottom, I think Valimaki comes out on top (so much for this being a bad draft). I'd give an edge Juolevi defensively, but I think Valimaki is a better skater, probably a better passer out of his own end and is a superior offensive player all around.
FlamerForLife
Mon Seanahan
Kipper933
Remember the Kipper
I could see him getting a 9-game look for sure.
If he looks like he could be our #5 D, keep him around. If not, back to the WHL.
If he looks like he could be our #5 D, keep him around. If not, back to the WHL.
Mr Snrub
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Martin Necas, because without Tkachuk we would've been drafting a solid five spots higher at least.
DFF
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I think if Tkachuk was taken, Flames wouldnt go to Joulevi I think they would've taken Keller or Nylander.
Volica
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Juuso strikes me as a guy, that 5 years from now, people are going to be saying:
'how'd this guy make it to the middle of the first round?'
Smart player, with some good size, who can skate. We know the offensive production is there, could be an excellent value pick for Calgary; considering the depth that blueline will have for the next 10 years... he could really slot in well.
'how'd this guy make it to the middle of the first round?'
Smart player, with some good size, who can skate. We know the offensive production is there, could be an excellent value pick for Calgary; considering the depth that blueline will have for the next 10 years... he could really slot in well.
Phenomenon
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There were earlier twitter quotes saying that Välimäki was on a loan from Ilves and therefore he could play in AHL. That is incorrect. If he does not play in NHL, he will be treated as a NA player, so the options are WHL or Europe.
At the moment it seems like WHL is the most probable destination in the case that he is not able to break through immediately to the Flames roster, but Juuso will listen what the Flames want from him. Europe can also be the destination. Juuso's own opinion seems to be playing elsewhere than in Finland.
At the moment it seems like WHL is the most probable destination in the case that he is not able to break through immediately to the Flames roster, but Juuso will listen what the Flames want from him. Europe can also be the destination. Juuso's own opinion seems to be playing elsewhere than in Finland.
Mr Snrub
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The Flames have stated that they're sending him back to the Tri-Cities for the upcoming season. I definitely would've preferred him playing in Finland as Liiga is a big step up from the WHL, but at least this way he'll be easier to keep an eye on.
It's too bad he can't play in the AHL, would've been the best of both worlds between the WHL and Liiga.
Interesting, do you have any sources to link? Generally these loan deals are done so that the European club can get bigger transfer fee, so it would seem weird if Välimäki's contract with Ilves (assuming he had one) was terminated instead of loan
Johnny Hoxville
The Return of a Legend
I'd laugh if he made the team. The Flames have been incredibly lucky with their 1st round picks of late and I think Valimaki is the 3rd best dman in this draft. And he might end up being the 2nd if Makar busts (I don't think he will). But Heiskanen is surely to be a stud, but I think Vali will score more.
