Prospect Info: Niko Mikkola (127th Overall in 2015) - Signs 2 year ELC

[Blueston]

MosDef!

I've been a cheerleader of Mikkola since he was drafted and want to see him take another step. He just turned 25 and it's all green lights for hm right now.

Walman has the skating and vision with a decent shot, but is simply not a good defender. Is he not good enough as a forward?

Didn't the Blues ice seven defensemen once or twice last season? Too lazy to look. If so, was Walman involved?

Walman has been playing D like 8 years. He isn't a forward at this point. Whether he is an NHL D is another questions.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Walman has been playing D like 8 years. He isn't a forward at this point. Whether he is an NHL D is another questions.

Yeah, I know. I'm just being a curmudgeon.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Walman was a pleasant surprise last year, and I think it’s his spot to lose in camp. However, I fully expect Perunovich to pass him quickly, and won’t be surprised if it happens in camp. More likely they’ll let Perunovich play some big AHL minutes for a while, then call him up.

 

[ezcreepin]

Walman was a pleasant surprise last year, and I think it’s his spot to lose in camp. However, I fully expect Perunovich to pass him quickly, and won’t be surprised if it happens in camp. More likely they’ll let Perunovich play some big AHL minutes for a while, then call him up.

There is quite a lot of competition for the last 2 spots on d this year (6th & 7th d), so whether that is a good thing or a bad thing kind of depends on how the 2 guys ahead of the 6th/7th defensive role play. If Krug and Scandella are a wash and are getting roasted every time they set foot on the ice, then that means the left side is much weaker than we thought. I fully expect Walman to take this spot in spring training unless Mikkola has developed better puck handling (doubtful at his age, but I've been wrong), and then Perunovich will get a good LONG look to beat out Mikkola or Santini. Bortuzzo will likely be given that 3rd pairing role, but we all know he's going to be hurt multiple times throughout the season, which I suspect Perunovich will take. I hope we see a lot more growth from the guys in the AHL like Tucker and Kessel because we either need a trade piece to get a good solid defensive anchor, or hope one of them develops a great d-game. I like the prospects we have, it's just that they all seem to have the same dimension in the game and lack the other that we need.

 

[simon IC]

They probably did play Santini and/or Walman at forward a game or two, but the forward idea is unnecessary because Walman was just straight up good in all aspects for a good stretch last year. He defended well. I trust Mikkola more on the pk and in a full-on shutdown role, but Mikkola was more inconsistent and they're a lot more likely to give big shutdown minutes to other guys until he really proves it.

Respectfully, as to the bolded, that is not what I saw. Walman made some horrendous defensive gaffes. I do not think he defended well at all.

 

[Ranksu]

I like the prospects we have, it's just that they all seem to have the same dimension in the game and lack the other that we need.

What we need, what lack of?

 

[rumrokh]

Respectfully, as to the bolded, that is not what I saw. Walman made some horrendous defensive gaffes. I do not think he defended well at all.

The entire team was subpar defensively. Faulk was basically the only defenseman who regularly looked good defending. Parayko was shaky relative to what he can do, but still decent even while he was obviously hurting. Dunn also had a good stretch playing on the right side. Walman had rookie mistakes, but his overall play got steadily better. Airtight? No. But he still did come to defend well for his role.

 

[BlueOil]

Respectfully, as to the bolded, that is not what I saw. Walman made some horrendous defensive gaffes. I do not think he defended well at all.

agreed. i enjoyed walman's offense, did not often feel the same about his defense.

 

[ezcreepin]

What we need, what lack of?

We have a lot of defensive prospects that are in the "puck-moving" category and none that I've heard of that are "steady defenders". I'd like to see another prospect like Edmundson come around or someone who is touted as a young Hjalmarsson, etc.

 

[Frenzy31]

We have a lot of defensive prospects that are in the "puck-moving" category and none that I've heard of that are "steady defenders". I'd like to see another prospect like Edmundson come around or someone who is touted as a young Hjalmarsson, etc.

Tucker and Loof.

 

[Blueston]

Tucker and Loof.

Galloway too. That is 60% of our D prospects who are more defensive in nature.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

agreed. i enjoyed walman's offense, did not often feel the same about his defense.

Walman has a history of improving after the 1st season with each team/level he's played. His 2nd season at Providence was better than the 1st.

His 1st two pro seasons were mediocre to subpar, but his 3rd pro season was light years better.

First season with the Blues was just ok, so I expect an improvement this season as he takes control of a roster position. He's got the drive and determination.

But I have to reiterate that he needs to define what type of player he is in the NHL.

 

[Frenzy31]

Walman has a history of improving after the 1st season with each team/level he's played. His 2nd season at Providence was better than the 1st.

His 1st two pro seasons were mediocre to subpar, but his 3rd pro season was light years better.

First season with the Blues was just ok, so I expect an improvement this season as he takes control of a roster position. He's got the drive and determination.

But I have to reiterate that he needs to define what type of player he is in the NHL.

I don’t quite get what you mean by this. Are you talking offensive first guy or defensive first?

I think he was more focused on being d first last season and not doing too much. But there were some nice really nifty plays and some that turned out to be overhandling the puck.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

I don’t quite get what you mean by this. Are you talking offensive first guy or defensive first?

I think he was more focused on being d first last season and not doing too much. But there were some nice really nifty plays and some that turned out to be overhandling the puck.

I don't understand your question.

I'm saying Walman's overall game has improved each season and that I am not sure yet exactly what type of defenseman he is.

I want to see definition and expect to see that.

 

[ezcreepin]

Tucker and Loof.

Galloway too. That is 60% of our D prospects who are more defensive in nature.

During his junior days, he was playing quite a bit on the powerplay, probably pk too because he's feisty. However, there didn't seem to be many instances of him on the pk just looking a game reports, and obviously the AHL website isn't super great for advanced stats or anything, but it looks like he was playing a bit of pk early, and either he continued to play and was effective, or they stopped using him there. I can't tell and I also didn't hear a lot about him being a great pk specialist, but that's just my impression. Loof I've heard been described as a smooth skating defenseman (maybe compared to gunnarsson?), but we don't get a lot of news about him in the US so take that for what you will. Galloway per his scouting report was made out to be a good transition defenseman with average to below average defending ability, or at least that's the little graphic that elite prospects had for him (I only zoomed in to see the picture).

I'm not saying that these players are not the type of defenseman that I'm talking about wanting, but I haven't heard them be described in this manner like Perunovich being described as an elite quarterbacker, or Alexandrov being very sound in his 2-way game, or Kostin being a wrecking ball/power forward type player. I personally just don't hear a lot about those d-men's game very much compared to the other guys.

 

[Ranksu]

Finally!!!!

 

[shpongle falls]

Love Mikkola's game right now. One thing I've noticed is how quick and shifty he is for a bigger player. He uses his size to his advantage to stick check well and plays a hard physical game too.

 

[Joshuar56]

Finally!!!!

It's the pairing I've been hoping for, for the last two years. I hope he sticks with them.

 

[Ranksu]

It's the pairing I've been hoping for, for the last two years. I hope he sticks with them.

Same. Mikkola has frame and toolbox to be effective shutdown dmen and fit with Parayko.

 

[Bluesnatic27]

Love Mikkola's game right now. One thing I've noticed is how quick and shifty he is for a bigger player. He uses his size to his advantage to stick check well and plays a hard physical game too.

Yeah that's been his bread-and-butter all through his development. It's why he was a top-pairing defenseman in Finland despite having no offensive game. His fluid skating mixed with his defensive knowledge makes him this imposing wall that forwards can't get past. Last year he struggled, but that was his first prolonged experience in the NHL. People were far too quick to write him off because he didn't light the world on fire or bring back their first born son. The truth is, he's got the skating, physicality, and defensive intelligence to be a good NHL defensive player.

Just don't expect much in the offensive zone...

 

[joe galiba]

Yeah that's been his bread-and-butter all through his development. It's why he was a top-pairing defenseman in Finland despite having no offensive game. His fluid skating mixed with his defensive knowledge makes him this imposing wall that forwards can't get past. Last year he struggled, but that was his first prolonged experience in the NHL. People were far too quick to write him off because he didn't light the world on fire or bring back their first born son. The truth is, he's got the skating, physicality, and defensive intelligence to be a good NHL defensive player.

Just don't expect much in the offensive zone...

I like his play in the d-zone a lot, until he has possession of the puck - that is where he needs to improve
we have d-men that excel in the o-zone, so that isn't really an issue in my view

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Same. Mikkola has frame and toolbox to be effective shutdown dmen and fit with Parayko.

Prior to these last few games, I would have vehemently argued against this, but he has been making sound decisions and at least once or twice per game he pinches in for a scoring chance and then gets back to his line.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Yeah that's been his bread-and-butter all through his development. It's why he was a top-pairing defenseman in Finland despite having no offensive game. His fluid skating mixed with his defensive knowledge makes him this imposing wall that forwards can't get past. Last year he struggled, but that was his first prolonged experience in the NHL. People were far too quick to write him off because he didn't light the world on fire or bring back their first born son. The truth is, he's got the skating, physicality, and defensive intelligence to be a good NHL defensive player.

Just don't expect much in the offensive zone...

I was questioning his defensive intelligence prior to these last few games.

 

[Ranksu]

Whats Ranksu's opinion on him

Idk, but it could be bit funny to see d-pair Mikkola - Parayko, 6'5'' - 6'6''

Can't wait to see some pre-season games. I bet we'll see then Mikkola playing on NHL level. Only mad thing is Blues don't broadcast those pre-games.

Jeesus ofc I've biased opinion about Mikkola or every finn player in NHL. So ofc you guys needs to filter something what I say, but doesn't that been the obvious case all years what I've been here?

But I like how you guys keep pushing me and rag me about it. Tho you can't compare Lindbohm vs. Mikkola at any day. They do have some similarity, but Mikkola's potential is pretty much top4 dmen who'll be dmen who'll take biggest load of icetime at PK and shutdown opposite team forwards. He'll never be 50 point dmen, but you can see in his game that he is eager to take a part on o-zone plays and cycles. He doesn't have Parayko slapper, but its good one. His weakest link in his game is carrying the puck, 'cus in his gamestyle is fast and simple passes, nothing flashy. But when he decides to hold the puck and make a plays, he has skills to do it. Tonight it showed well when he hold the puck, and make it room for himself when there was no passing lane and do it Pietro's foot work at blueline east - west and shoot the puck. He's in couple days 22-years old. 22-years old. He has time and room for mature and progress.

I just say he has his flaws, but 5th round pick, we've really black horse on our prospect pool. Stacked at dmens. Btw which leaves out maybe, maybe we could re-evaluate our dmen prospect pool after training camp who's expendable and could use him to trade package in bigger deal.

 

[Ranksu]

Mikkola - Parayko in the future

2018. Gj M8