RD Eemeli Räsänen - HPK Hämeenlinna, Liiga (2017, 59th, TOR)

[firstemperor]

After Samberg went early, Rasanen was the project, boom/bust type that I wanted. Surprised he dropped so far (equally surprised Lipanov dropped so far as well).

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAboQukUWQE
Eemeli Räsänen's 2016-2017 OHL highlights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL0YlOzIL_A
Eemeli Räsänen's interview after getting drafted by Maple-Leafs.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz1SR-zlrF4
Eemeli Rasanen's prospect video.

 

[vaiski]

Is it just me or does he look like a young Tom Brady?

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

https://www.nhl.com/news/maple-leaf...make-presence-known/c-290493932?tid=277729154

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

Finally a big player who's actually mean. Too many tall players who are soft. I hope the kid succeeds.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Rasanen scored points (2+2) last night's OHL regular season game when KingstonFrontenacs beat London Knights 0-5

 

[LeafChief]

Hopefully he can build on his offensive production from last year. Would be awesome to see him at around a point per game all year.

 

[bobermay]

Hopefully he can build on his offensive production from last year. Would be awesome to see him at around a point per game all year.

Sure, it would be great to see him build on his offensive production.... but I'd be 10x more happy if he were to really improve on his skating...

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

https://www.leijonat.com/2017/10/07...pohjois-amerikassa-takoo-ohlssa-kovia-tehoja/
Eemeli Rasanen shines in OHL.
Rasanen is scored 8 points ( 3+5) in 6 games and he's also 2nd best scorer to all OHL defenders.

 

[Ippenator]

Extremely interesting prospect. Very rare to see such size and offensive effectiveness. How has his skating looked like compared to last season?

 

[Brock Radunske]

https://www.leijonat.com/2017/10/07...pohjois-amerikassa-takoo-ohlssa-kovia-tehoja/
Eemeli Rasanen shines in OHL.
Rasanen is scored 8 points ( 3+5) in 6 games and he's also 2nd best scorer to all OHL defenders.

He's a really exciting prospect.
He's the definition of a project but if he figures it out, holy smokes watch out.

 

[TMLeafs18]

Nice to see him get off to a good start. He is getting a lot of minutes which will only help him progress. Really hoping he continues his production to push for a spot at the world juniors.

 

[Tryamkin]

This guy impressed me daily, huge shot. He’s got the tools to be a Chara like force in the NHL.

 

[Ippenator]

This guy impressed me daily, huge shot. He’s got the tools to be a Chara like force in the NHL.

This is exactly what I have been thinking about lately. Sure he has a very long way to become that kind of a player, but I do also see some serious potential for even something like that, if everything goes very well with his developing.

 

[Apotheosis]

I always laugh watching him play because players bounce off of him like a shield lol

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Definitely the Leafs most interesting prospect. He's huge, offensively gifted, physical etc but the skating is a long ways off. He's going to require a lot of seasoning.

 

[LeafChief]

The Leafs desperately need a D with this size to pan out.

 

[bobermay]

I think I said this earlier... but I don't even care about the offensive output Rasenen provides this season... I want to see him improve on his skating... If his Skating comes, he'll be a top 4 NHL defensman.

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

This guy impressed me daily, huge shot. He’s got the tools to be a Chara like force in the NHL.

Interesting how you compared him to Chara. Chara was a third round pick. Guess scouts were wondering if his skating was good enough also. And back what 20 years ago, Chara was giant among his peers in junior.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Nice to see him get off to a good start. He is getting a lot of minutes which will only help him progress. Really hoping he continues his production to push for a spot at the world juniors.

Rasanen is right now probably 8th or 9th in Finland's defence depth chart.
Which means he's battling of 7th defenceman's spot with Niemelainen, Kotkansalo, Almari, and Reunanen.

So it wouldn't be surprise if he doesn't make in the team this year.
Finland's D will be really good and the competition of roster spots will be tough and hard so let's see.

 

[Ippenator]

Rasanen is right now probably 8th or 9th in Finland's defence depth chart.
Which means he's battling of 7th defenceman's spot with Niemelainen, Kotkansalo, Almari, and Reunanen.

So it wouldn't be surprise if he doesn't make in the team this year.
Finland's D will be really good and the competition of roster spots will be tough and hard so let's see.

If he continues his season how he has started it, I see absolutely no possibility of those players to be ahead of him in the order. Top six might be kind of a reach, but I wouldn’t even totally count out his chances to get even there if he really continues his season this way.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Straight ahead speed, IMO, isn't an issue with Rasanen. His issues are more in terms of agility - side to side, pivoting from backward to forward, etc.

He's looked real good early on this season.

 

[Tryamkin]

Interesting how you compared him to Chara. Chara was a third round pick. Guess scouts were wondering if his skating was good enough also. And back what 20 years ago, Chara was giant among his peers in junior.

Yeah man, with the big guys, they have the physical aspect of course, the shot comes naturally with power, and most of the defensive and finesse aspects come after years of playing, but the big one is the skating and how well they can adjust and learn. Chara was also a little worrisome with skating but he figured it out very quickly. If Rasanen can do that, he’ll be a force because he seems to be growing his offensive skills very well, and that shot is just getting better.