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Player Discussion: Kristian Vesalainen
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First year won't count as a pro season unless he plays more than 10 NHL games, because he was 19 at the beginning.
Board Bard
Dane-O-Mite
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Gil Fisher
Registered User
KVees received Rookie of the Week in the KHL for 2g/2a in 4 games.
sashalaine
Registered User
Vesalainen won't play in the WJC. Finnish national team coach Ahokas said that it was Vesalainen's personal decision not to go. Vesalainen hinted earlier in an interview that as the season has been so "broken" he might not go. And so he opted to focus on playing for Jokerit.
Thats why the AHL guys earn 50.000-200.000 and the KHL guys 300.000-5M? Did I mention 19% taxes in Russia...
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Selfishly I would like to see him in the World juniors but I respect his logic and thought process. He started in the NHL moved to the AHL then got called back up to the NHL before moving back to Finland to play in the KHL. Did I mention it’s only mid December? I have no problem with him focusing a bit right now.
FinPanda
Team Finland 2022 WHC champions
I am quite sure he would've played at the WJC if the tournament had been in Europe. Just too much traveling.
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Channelcat
Unhinged user
I agree. I was put off a bit at first, but from his perspective it makes sense and seems to show a desire to develop his pro game.
Maukkis
EZ4ENCE
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I reckon that's the main reason too.
That being said... there was a way to avoid this shattered clusterf*** of a season. That way, Vesalainen would likely be a NHLer today.
scelaton
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I respectfully (but entirely!) disagree with your characterization.
Broken does not equal "shattered" or "cluster***. Broken can also mean broken up or interrupted.
Some of the very best 18 year olds struggle with going straight to the NHL and many have been hurt by it. The entire history of the Thrashers/early Jets 2.0 is testament to that. I'd much rather he have an extra year of development.
Sacrificing a year of ELC is a wise cap and roster move given the above, especially with expansion on the horizon.
If Ves has anything near the character of the Jets other #1 picks, he will get through the tumult of this year and be a better player for it.
Scheifele was sent back to junior two years in a row. Ves can develop too.
Maukkis
EZ4ENCE
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I agree with next to zero percent of his decision to go to the KHL over staying with the Moose. The financial reasons are legitimate, but if the kid wants to play in the show, why the f*** would he consciously choose not to play in a big role in the AHL, being the first call-up and developing on smaller ice close to the organisation?
The only way to avoid even more broken-ness was to skip the WJC, which would have been yet another opportunity to showcase his talent to the NHL. Doesn't look like somebody who puts himself in places to succeed.
nobody imp0rtant
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I think Vesalainen rates his abilities higher than you do, whether right or wrong, but it seems pretty clear to me he has absolutely no doubt in his mind he will be in NHL very soon. I think the only doubt he has is whether he'll start as a top-6 or bottom-6 player. I believe he saw top-6 was closed for him with the Jets for the season and tearing it up in the KHL > tearing it up in the AHL. Just speculation on my part ofc. The risk is he might find out tearing it up in the KHL isn't that easy after all and that the rest of the world doesn't think KVes can just because. I haven't still decided if I have mad respect for the kid for confidence and balls, or if he's just an arrogant brat, or if I just have to accept both are true.
As for WJC, at this stage in his career I think playing there he has nothing to gain really. Wouldn't nothing short of absolute domination be kinda 'meh'?
Maukkis
EZ4ENCE
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Nothing he could ever do in the KHL gets him in the top 6 ahead of the top 4 wingers we currently have. Ditto with Perreault, unless he is moved. He's gambling without much of an expected return. Basically, unless a trade happens, Vesalainen is basically a bottom sixer to begin with come next October - which is what he would likely be today, had he stayed.
The impression this gives is 'hey, it wasn't so easy after all, let's go home instead of doing what basically all other Jets have done to get in the show.' I f***ing hope I'm wrong.
I wouldn't be too sure about him being a bottom sixer next year. If he works his ass off this year and develops properly he should have a pretty good chance at a top6 position. I'm sure his skillset will be more valuable to the Jets than Ehlers eventually. I think Ehlers is more fit to play a 3rd line rather than top6 because I feel his brain doesn't always keep up with his feet.
Ehlers has been outstanding this season, plain and simple. KV might be good, but he's not knocking Ehlers out of the top six next year.
Kaako Kappo
Kaako Kappo
I do not disagree with you in the fact that Vesalainen will not knock Ehlers out of top six, but just to refresh your memory, here's what Ehlers's start looked like;
Screenshot - 8a5dec6a382f1c156987d64061daa128 - Gyazo
He was great when he played with the first line, though.
Atoyot
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