News Article: Rasanen leaving for Khl

[Mr Hockey]

This kid had 2 years (this season and next) of CHL eligibility, give him a ELC next spring and see if he develops into an NHL'er in 3 or 4 more years.

 

[taurine330]

Heading to couple of games in November. Hopefully he keeps seeing playing time.

 

[Menzinger]

Players have to grow into their growing bodies. Bigger players that had late growth spurts or need time to fill out their bodies take time.

A 6-4 player might be a beanpole at 170-180lbs but could fill out to 6-4 215 when playing later and learning how to use that size and strength to their advantage.

Little players don't have the frame to fill out that needs time. So their games don't change much over time as a 5-9 180 player in junior at 18 plays like a 5-9 180lbs player in the NHL and don't need time to mature and fill out their frames.

Zdeno Chara was a 3rd rounder in his draft and became a dominating NHLer and Norris winner with growth time. If you draft a Jeremy Bracco at 5-9 he will be the same player now or later size and strength wise only adds experience like all players.

I understand that is certainly the case for some players, (though let’s face it, Chara is the exception rather than the rule comes when it comes to any Nhler, the guy is a physical freak).

I just find often the claim is used to justify the poor development of larger prospects, when the likely clearer explanation is that they simply aren’t very good.

 

[Mess]

I understand that is certainly the case for some players, (though let’s face it, Chara is the exception rather than the rule comes when it comes to any Nhler, the guy is a physical freak).

I just find often the claim is used to justify the poor development of larger prospects, when the likely clearer explanation is that they simply aren’t very good.

While some might use the size as a development excuse, there is no denying that a bigger player has the body frame to fill out and add 30+ pounds of weight and muscle and play a different game as they mature.. Its harder and takes more strength to move a big body around the ice and strength that comes with time and maturity to fill out that frame.

A little player was always a little player and has learned to play his game at that size all along.

#1OA Joe Thornton goes from 7 points to 41 --> 60 -->71 to 101 points over his 1st 5 years and most of that is growing into his frame and gaining strength and learning how to change his game to match is development and added strength and size.
vs
#1OA Patty Kane goes from 72 points in year #1 to 70, 88, 73, 63 points in his first 5 years of development from ages 18-22.

Kane has been virtually the same player since entering the league due to his size remaining the same and ditto for his sytle and game.. It took 4 years for JT to produce what Kane did right out of the gate and then he went past him where Kane remains similarly throughout.

That is what people are talking about when they say it takes bigger players longer to get to that point.

Rasanen is one of those players that might take some time to grow into his massive size and reach his potential.

 

[namttebih]

Honest question. Would spending a year in Liiga against men with a bigger role expected for him in the K this season have been a better option?

 

[namttebih]

Honest question. Would spending a year in Liiga against men with a bigger role expected for him in the K this season have been a better option?

No takers?

 

[Mr Hockey]

Honest question. Would spending a year in Liiga against men with a bigger role expected for him in the K this season have been a better option?

I'm sure this conversation came up with his agent/advisors/Leafs/friends/family ... maybe he wanted a bigger challenge in the KHL?

 

[hamzarocks]

Scored a goal today.

A Leafs fan in Finland is providing a lot of his updates during the games in the prospect forum.

That guy is not a leaf fan but he does love his Finnish players. Providing updates so thankful for that. He is one of the lesser biased posters overall when it comes to discussing Finnish players( is pretty rational in his observations and acknowledges Finnish players weaknesses as well as strengths).

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

getting shifts in the 3rd straight game now. looks like he is actually making progress and settling in