Prospect Info: Joel Blomqvist, goaltender (2nd round, #52 overall, 2020)

[Jaded-Fan]

FWIW Vancouver absolutely loved Blomqvist and had been trying to trade into the 2nd to get him desperately.

Vancouver Athletic writer Thomas Drance: Vancouver rated Blomqvist as being every bit as good a goaltending prospect as 2020 Nashville Predators first-round pick Yaroslav Askarov.

3 goalie prospects the Vancouver Canucks could select at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

3 goalie prospects the Vancouver Canucks could select at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft

Huh... interesting. 2/3 on that list.

I know the word is BPA but it sure seems to me that the Penguins were basically double-tapping that position to ensure they have it covered.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Clark is like the high priest of goalies so if it’s true he was pounding table for Blomqvist, then I do put stock in that.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

The more I think about it, the more I'm coming around on the goalie picks, especially if the idea for the near future is to groom a stream of good young goalies who can periodically challenge for the starter job when our current starter(s) get close to getting paid.

Or when this fanbase chases them out of town.

 

[Rakell67]

Clark is like the high priest of goalies so if it’s true he was pounding table for Blomqvist, then I do put stock in that.

Would be nice to get a decent asset from Vancouver using Blomqvist as part of a trade package possibly later this season or next.

 

[SouthGeorge]

Neck and shoulders above the competition.. Who's avy is this going to be?

 

[Jacob]

Neck and shoulders above the competition.. Who's avy is this going to be?

He doesn’t have The Finnish Look. Swedish?

 

[Rakell67]

He doesn’t have The Finnish Look. Swedish?

He looks 12.

 

[Peat]

He doesn’t have The Finnish Look. Swedish?

About 5% of Finland's population are Swedish first speakers and identify as Finno-Swedish or Swedish. Given the surname and that he was born in a majority Swedish speaking part of Finland, I'd guess he's one of them.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

He doesn’t have The Finnish Look. Swedish?

Giraffe.

 

[JTG]

I find it hard to get at all excited for prospects while this team is in the stage it's in because the odds of this guy being here is slim. Not that I want these days to come sooner rather than later, but it was fun drafting guys and knowing that they were going to be a part of the fold, and not part of a trade for a depth winger or defenseman at the deadline one of these years.

 

[Stoat]

Kärpät goalie coach Ari Hilli has a great track record developing goalies. Best ones being Niklas Bäckström, Pekka Rinne and Tim Thomas. Done a great job with Colorado prospect Justus Annunen for the past two years as well.

FTFY

Also, I wouldn't give too much credit about Thomas as he was quite good goalie before joining Kärpät. But I would add Vehviläinen (CBJ prospect).

For not going too much out of topic, I think Blomqvist has quite good potential. Based on the two matches last week I saw, I feel like he's way more calm than Annunen at his age. He sees the puck pretty well and his positioning is definitely one of his best qualities. That's probably why he can be so calm between the pipes. But he's still so young and I've only seen 2 games this season and 2 games last season (that I don't even remember) that anything can happen. But I think he's a good gamble at 2nd round.

 

[Crosbyfan]

Any chance we can bring him up for a few games...try him out...put some pressure on him...see how he does...ruin him?

 

[Night Shift]

Neck and shoulders above the competition.. Who's avy is this going to be?

 

[Dangles78]

Looks like Blomqvist came in relief last night and didn't do much better than the starter - he allowed 4 goals on 21 shots. Hermes lost 7-3; they don't play again until 10/16.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Blomqvist didn't get much help on that 10/16 game:

 

[Flying Dego]

Neck and shoulders above the competition.. Who's avy is this going to be?

 

[ziggyjoe212]

We'll be lucky if he plays a game in Pittsburgh when he's 22 years old. Hard to be excited for a prospect if we're not going to see him for at least 4 years. Sid will be 37 by then.

 

[I3LI3]

having a great AHL season. currently top 5 at his position. I snagged him just now in a fantasy hockey dynasty league. Pens fans, what are we thinking about his outlook? makes the show next season or?

 

[HandshakeLine]

Depends on how much we love signing dogshit and expensive NHL starters who we overplay for 45 games a season.

In other words, do we still have Sullivan next year?

 

[66-30-33]

He replaces Ned next season most likely. Or this season if he's traded.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

having a great AHL season. currently top 5 at his position. I snagged him just now in a fantasy hockey dynasty league. Pens fans, what are we thinking about his outlook? makes the show next season or?

He's set to win the rocket, vezina, and golden glove next season. You should add him asap.

 

[GilbertSeinfeld]

He replaces Ned next season most likely. Or this season if he's traded.

Hellberg will probably be the backup for the rest of this season assuming he's not dealt.

 

[Jacob]

I wouldn't be comfortable with Blomqvist as a backup next season. Maybe the one after that if he has another good AHL season.

Can certainly give him some call-ups between now and then to gauge his NHL potential.

 

[66-30-33]

Hellberg will probably be the backup for the rest of this season assuming he's not dealt.

Leave him in WBS, let the new kid try we aint making the playoffs.