Olli Juolevi makes his NHL debut

[deckercky]

They were largely caved in, but as others pointed out I don't think the failures were the fault of OJ or Myers besides a couple of inaccurate passes and hard clears by Joulevi that forced them to remain on the ice for icing.

They were mostly caved in with the Beagle line. While his 2 wingers had alot of weak clears and turnovers, I think Beagle was the worse player. Just didn't have his legs, which turns him from solid 4th liner to player who get turtled in own end by weak competition.

Yeah, particularly when juolevi has been generally very strong in terms of possession, it makes sense to look at the details of the game for why he was caved in terms of possession. Was he out of position? Did he fail on clearing attempts? Was he losing 50/50 battles?

It's possible to have a solid game even though it results in lopsided possession against.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

We went through something similar with Lukas Krajicek between 2007-2008...guy looked flawed and would bleed chances against, but would make some routine defensive stands and get a point or two and people would praise him.

Juolevi looks ok in a #6 role, but Ohlund? Come on...

 

[deckercky]

Wasn't Juolevi effectively a 50% possession player until last night?

 

[Aqualung]

I just wish he skated better. Backwards, forwards, turning, technique... all of it. He doesn't have a bad stick, can read plays well, and can pass. But the speed of the game moves past him so much that it appears that he does well when we make quick defensive plays or slow the play down, but if the Canucks are hemmed under pressure, he just gets lost and chases the play and is slow to react. I also think he hesitates and plays it safer because he knows of his mobility restrictions, which makes him a less effective player at keeping the ice tilted. I have hope he can carve a bottom pair role, but he's nothing special as is and is replacement level at this rate.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

He’s a possession player
Underrated analytics darling

 

[4Twenty]

He’s a possession player
Underrated analytics darling

Weird comment after a 30% Corsi game

 

[Hit the post]

Juolevi looks ok in a #6 role, but Ohlund? Come on...

Yeah, a 35 year old Ohlund.

 

[bandwagonesque]

Weird comment after a 30% Corsi game

Not as weird as the assumption someone’s description of a player only refers to the last game they played.

 

[F A N]

We went through something similar with Lukas Krajicek between 2007-2008...guy looked flawed and would bleed chances against, but would make some routine defensive stands and get a point or two and people would praise him.

Juolevi looks ok in a #6 role, but Ohlund? Come on...

I seem to have fonder memories of Krajicek than you do. He played in a era where size, strength, and toughness mattered quite a bit but he played more like Chris Tanev without the toughness/willingness to take a hit. I seem to remember him being a pretty smooth skater and good puckhandler. Was one of our best Dmen in carrying the puck out and gaining the opposition blue line. Like Tanev though, he really wasn't an offensive Dman despite looking like a skilled Dman. In fact, Krajicek came into the league with the reputation of being an offensive Dman.

Again, he played in an era where Shane O'Brien was considered a more effective Dman. I think in today's NHL the situation would be completely reversed. Krajicek would probably have a long NHL career had he started his pro career in this era.

 

[DL44]

I seem to have fonder memories of Krajicek than you do. He played in a era where size, strength, and toughness mattered quite a bit but he played more like Chris Tanev without the toughness/willingness to take a hit. I seem to remember him being a pretty smooth skater and good puckhandler. Was one of our best Dmen in carrying the puck out and gaining the opposition blue line. Like Tanev though, he really wasn't an offensive Dman despite looking like a skilled Dman. In fact, Krajicek came into the league with the reputation of being an offensive Dman.

Again, he played in an era where Shane O'Brien was considered a more effective Dman. I think in today's NHL the situation would be completely reversed. Krajicek would probably have a long NHL career had he started his pro career in this era.

I was a huge Krajicek fan from when he was with the panthers before us...
You pretty much nailed it... would be perfect in the current era.

 

[4Twenty]

So let’s just say he keeps on keeping on.

How do you construct a defender to maximize this player while also becoming a stronger team?

I know it’s not pure OJ talk but I think he’s a key piece in their future decisions.

****-Schmidt
Hughes-****
Juolevi-Myers

If that’s the blueline are we really bringing Back 35 year old declining (can’t get Spezza goal out of my head) to play top pairing minutes?
that Hughes partner is a Huge hole.

I wonder if OJ might become trade bait

 

[DL44]

Been impressed with how physical Juolevi is willing to be... willing to throw the body to disengage the puck carrier from the puck.. takes a hit to move the puck...
Then the highlight retribution hit on Tkachuk for the slew foot...

 

[Fatass]

So let’s just say he keeps on keeping on.

How do you construct a defender to maximize this player while also becoming a stronger team?

I know it’s not pure OJ talk but I think he’s a key piece in their future decisions.

****-Schmidt
Hughes-****
Juolevi-Myers

If that’s the blueline are we really bringing Back 35 year old declining (can’t get Spezza goal out of my head) to play top pairing minutes?
that Hughes partner is a Huge hole.

I wonder if OJ might become trade bait

Maybe next year it’s:
Hughes Schmidt
OJ Myers
?? ??
Bone Woo in the bottom pair?
Benn comes back for one year to play with Bone?

 

[DL44]

So let’s just say he keeps on keeping on.

How do you construct a defender to maximize this player while also becoming a stronger team?

I know it’s not pure OJ talk but I think he’s a key piece in their future decisions.

****-Schmidt
Hughes-****
Juolevi-Myers

If that’s the blueline are we really bringing Back 35 year old declining (can’t get Spezza goal out of my head) to play top pairing minutes?
that Hughes partner is a Huge hole.

I wonder if OJ might become trade bait

Depends on how much of his potential he realizes... he's still got a lot of growth left...
we laugh at Gudbranson's 300 game experience point.. but it pretty much true.... He's got a lot of learning ahead of him which will only make him a better dman... if he stays healthy.

 

[DL44]

Maybe next year it’s:
Hughes Schmidt
OJ Myers
?? ??
Bone Woo in the bottom pair?
Benn comes back for one year to play with Bone?

Tryamkin is coming as well.

Weird to think of him this way, but he'll be a veteran piece.

 

[Fatass]

Been impressed with how physical Juolevi is willing to be... willing to throw the body to disengage the puck carrier from the puck.. takes a hit to move the puck...
Then the highlight retribution hit on Tkachuk for the slew foot...

Ya, OJ is way more physical than I expected. His skills, and smarts are top four. If he is this physical, then maybe we get lucky and he works out.

 

[Snatcher Demko]

The physicality is a big bonus to me. If he can handle the day to day physicality of the NHL then he's a lot more likely to keep improving slowly as his confidence and experience grows. The fact that he takes numbers and hits back shows how competitive he is. Also means he is likely playing pain-free which is of course huge.

 

[Pip]

He’s a possession player
Underrated analytics darling

I don’t know if we have much to support this based on a dozen games, many of which he played very limited minutes.

I am glad that Green is finally trusting him and playing OJ regularly so we can get a better read on him. It did nobody any good playing him 10 minutes a night.

 

[Bankerguy]

You know what's weird...
he reminds me of like a 33 year old vet who doesnt' turn well but uses his body and positioning effectively...
this isn't really a bad thing..i mean he's useful but its not what you'd expected when drafting him. I thought we'd get a slick, smooth skating and passing dman like Tomas Kaberle circa 2000/2001.

It's super early in his career so he needs time. Sometimes his straight line speed looks really good, i just think he needs agility work and edgework. Also, as his conditioning gets better maybe he'll convert some fat into more muscle which will help him be quicker off the line? one can hope

 

[Hit the post]

Ya, OJ is way more physical than I expected. His skills, and smarts are top four. If he is this physical, then maybe we get lucky and he works out.

Let’s see how he plays against an above average team. I mean OJ was like Kramer in karate class last night as the Lames aren’t a good team:

 

[Regress2TheMeme]

OJ has a pretty large frame. Wouldn't be surprised if he's heavier than the 182 lbs he's listed at on HockeyDB.

 

[Grantham]

They were largely caved in, but as others pointed out I don't think the failures were the fault of OJ or Myers besides a couple of inaccurate passes and hard clears by Joulevi that forced them to remain on the ice for icing.

They were mostly caved in with the Beagle line. While his 2 wingers had alot of weak clears and turnovers, I think Beagle was the worse player. Just didn't have his legs, which turns him from solid 4th liner to player who get turtled in own end by weak competition.

You nailed it. I had no problem with OJ this past game. I would add Sutters line as an equally if not worse contributor to the mess OJ and Myers had to deal with.

This is why you don’t take fancy stats in a vacuum. Combined with the eye test, you get a better picture. OJ was not fantastic, but not terrible either. We really need to jettison Sutter into outer space. Guy has zero stamina. How does our defensive specialist with a rail thin stick frame have not enough energy to complete a shift? Crazy. Beagle was atleast battling, although he was also his terrible usual self.

 

[Hit the post]

You nailed it. I had no problem with OJ this past game. I would add Sutters line as an equally if not worse contributor to the mess OJ and Myers had to deal with.

This is why you don’t take fancy stats in a vacuum. Combined with the eye test, you get a better picture. OJ was not fantastic, but not terrible either. We really need to jettison Sutter into outer space. Guy has zero stamina. How does our defensive specialist with a rail thin stick frame have not enough energy to complete a shift? Crazy. Beagle was atleast battling, although he was also his terrible usual self.

In Sutter's defense, I think it's a case of the cumulative effects of all his injuries over the years + his age..taking it's toll. Was fairly solid for us for a season or two a couple years ago, but I just don't think there's any gas in the tank either.

 

[Snatcher Demko]

Agreed OJ is by far the youngest player of that 5-man unit and Rousell, Beagle and Sutter are next to useless. I'm inclined to give the kid a lot more rope.

 

[sting101]

Every year i have watched Juolevi and followed his progress he got much better as the year wore on.

Pre draft after a decent start he had a tremendous U20 in Helsinki and followed it up with a solid stretch run and tremendous playoff and Memorial Cup which led to his draft at 5

After the draft he was relatively poor back in London and the U20s. This happens when players have a big run to the draft sometimes and ease off the gas pedal. Was replaced on the PP by Mete at times and was generally rather disappointing from where he was selected until late in the season and playoffs where he stepped up including a tremendous series against Windsor where he outplayed Sergachev and looked excellent.

17/18 was his pro year in Liiga. I streamed a lot of his games. Started with a poor camp here and then being criticized by Salo. His conditioning was awful and had obviously bombed his offseason preparation. Was certainly a low point and benchings followed in Turku. Had a really good U20 where in my opinion outclassed both Jokiharju and Valimaki and was as effective as Heiskanen but obviously not in the same tier of skater. Stretch run he started to produce and have some really good stretches of play and in the playoffs was Turku's top defenseman and leaned on heavily.

His AHL career with Utica was essentially a year shut down by surgery and then a second one starting slowly recovering and then the Covid shut down.

He has some mild skating flaws and isn't a burner who is gonna lug the puck around like Myers or Hughes can. Has an effective stick is pretty smart in his decisions and has a really effective first pass when turned up ice. He also seems like he's learning to use his size more effectively.

I don't think anyone can say with certainty where he will end up other than he's not a Doughty or Heiskanen that we would hope for at 5 that can control and tilt the ice. What i do believe is there is plenty of room for optimism if he can continue building on his current play and do what he has always done and get better as the year wears on.

So far so good as far as i'm concerned. Progress, grow, stay healthy and work extremely hard on explosive power and lateral movement in the off season. Could still have a core piece. Only 22 with a couple lost years.