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

[Walshy7]

Zaitsev, Rasanen, Liljegren. Pretty soon Leafs fan will be saying they have too many RHDs.

Mattinen he is doing ok, but not a serious threat. It is a good problem to have also looks like we are signing Ozhiganov from CSKA he is also right handed

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

Mattinen he is doing ok, but not a serious threat. It is a good problem to have also looks like we are signing Ozhiganov from CSKA he is also right handed

Walshy7: Sir, I enjoy reading your posts.
Although, I do see the benefits of having RHDs, even more important is to have a good NHL Dmen, regardless of which side the play shoots from. Leafs seems to be building a base for both good RHDs and a good number of competent NHL Dmen.
I'm left scratching my head sometimes why I see proposed trades on this site, that seem so short sighted. Those trades are ones for short term gain, OEL, Doughty, soon to be UFAs and others for Nylander, Marner, Dermot and first rounders. I've waited since 1967, I can wait a few more years.

 

[TML1967]

From the dozen or so games ive seen this year his skating seems to have taken a good little step forward.
Not a big improvement on top end speed, but his edge work and his explosiveness is improved.
If he spends most of the summer working on lower body strength and explosive muscle development he could really become interesting.
At this point he probably has the strength to play in the NHL, but would get beat allot with small guys who have start-stop speed.

 

[HockeyHistorian]

From the dozen or so games ive seen this year his skating seems to have taken a good little step forward.
Not a big improvement on top end speed, but his edge work and his explosiveness is improved.
If he spends most of the summer working on lower body strength and explosive muscle development he could really become interesting.
At this point he probably has the strength to play in the NHL, but would get beat allot with small guys who have start-stop speed.

I think he is still a few years away from NHL. I don't think one summer could make such a difference.

 

[bukwas]

Walshy7: Sir, I enjoy reading your posts.
Although, I do see the benefits of having RHDs, even more important is to have a good NHL Dmen, regardless of which side the play shoots from. Leafs seems to be building a base for both good RHDs and a good number of competent NHL Dmen.
I'm left scratching my head sometimes why I see proposed trades on this site, that seem so short sighted. Those trades are ones for short term gain, OEL, Doughty, soon to be UFAs and others for Nylander, Marner, Dermot and first rounders. I've waited since 1967, I can wait a few more years.

Same here, and i'm ready to replace that wonderful, though fading memory with a fresh one.

 

[garyturner3]

Walshy7: Sir, I enjoy reading your posts.
Although, I do see the benefits of having RHDs, even more important is to have a good NHL Dmen, regardless of which side the play shoots from. Leafs seems to be building a base for both good RHDs and a good number of competent NHL Dmen.
I'm left scratching my head sometimes why I see proposed trades on this site, that seem so short sighted. Those trades are ones for short term gain, OEL, Doughty, soon to be UFAs and others for Nylander, Marner, Dermot and first rounders. I've waited since 1967, I can wait a few more years.

Completely agree. This whole notion that we have to rush things in order to win while the big three are still in their entry level deals is flawed. Yes, money is going to be tighter in a couple years when they all get paid, but you know what else will happen in a couple years? The big three will hit their primes giving us the best possible chance of winning. That's the time you trade away futures and go all in, not right now.

 

[TML1967]

I think he is still a few years away from NHL. I don't think one summer could make such a difference.

No id agree he isnt one good summer away from being a top 4 d man obviously, more my comment meant that the thing holding himback the most from being a good NHLer is skating.

When your 6'7 in junior you can dominate as a D man purely because of size.
Hes got the nastiness, a pretty good shot, positionally never seen an issue, and from what I can tell he can think the game well enough.

 

[Brock Radunske]

Love this prospect.
Expect him to put in at least two full years in the AHL before he gets a sniff at a bottom pair spot with the Leafs but as far as homerun swing picks, he's a beauty.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Love this prospect.
Expect him to put in at least two full years in the AHL before he gets a sniff at a bottom pair spot with the Leafs but as far as homerun swing picks, he's a beauty.

Rasanen is 18 yrs old and he isn't AHL eligible yet.
If he doesn't stay in Kingston next season Maple-Leafs can assign him to Finland and SM liiga.
Just like Canucks did Juolevi this autumn.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Rasanen is 18yrs old and he isn't AHL eligible yet.
If he doesn't stay in Kingston next season Maple-Leafs can assign him to SM liiga.
Just like Canucks did Juolevi this autumn.

Does he look like he's too good for the OHL yet? It could be screwy adjusting to the smaller ice in Jr, then going to Finland with different ice and then back to smaller ice.

 

[dangomon]

Got to watch Eemeli live for the first time, and he impressed. Made some really smart breakout passes and clearly likes joining the rush. He crushed a few guys and didn't back down at all when the game got scrappy after a huge (maybe high?) hit in the third. He also seems to have a knack at getting his shot through from the point in all situations, and he can walk the line with confidence to create angles.

 

[Walshy7]

Does he look like he's too good for the OHL yet? It could be screwy adjusting to the smaller ice in Jr, then going to Finland with different ice and then back to smaller ice.

juolevi didnt look too good for the ohl before his move. Its a tradeoff i guess, OHL on NA ice against kids or Finland bigger ice against men

 

[Placid Perspicuity]

Got to watch Eemeli live for the first time, and he impressed. Made some really smart breakout passes and clearly likes joining the rush. He crushed a few guys and didn't back down at all when the game got scrappy after a huge (maybe high?) hit in the third. He also seems to have a knack at getting his shot through from the point in all situations, and he can walk the line with confidence to create angles.

Thanks for the update. It's encouraging to see. Perhaps still years away from seeing him with the Leafs, but we lack his type of d-man. We always wonder how guys like Parayko and Manson went so late. It would be nice if we could find one of our own.

 

[Brock Radunske]

Rasanen is 18 yrs old and he isn't AHL eligible yet.
If he doesn't stay in Kingston next season Maple-Leafs can assign him to Finland and SM liiga.
Just like Canucks did Juolevi this autumn.

I meant that before he goes to the NHL he'll spend at least two years in the AHL...not the next two years.
Whether he plays as an overager or goes to Finland in the meantime, I don't know.

 

[LeafChief]

Has Finland started their WJHC camp yet? How has he looked?

 

[JJTT]

Has Finland started their WJHC camp yet? How has he looked?

I think they are travelling to North America this week. First practice game is still a week away though, next Wednesday vs Switzerland.

 

[Sonny21]

For those that watch Frontenacs game or follow that team, anyone know how Rasanen has played or if he has progressed since December?

 

[justafan22]

I think it's relevant since he might be trade bait the next few days

 

[BM14]

Any updates on how he's looked during the playoffs?

 

[Kshahdoo]

Will play in the KHL for Jokerit Jokerit.com

 

[TheFinnishTrap]

Now that’s interesting. Is there an option for Liiga if KHL is too tough? He didn’t exactly light up juniors, so I’m not sure what to expect.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

I kinda guessed they'd get another young Finn, but this is a surprise.

 

[LeafChief]

Can the Finnish posters let us know how he stacks up against what Jokerit already has on the blueline?

 

[TheFinnishTrap]

Can the Finnish posters let us know how he stacks up against what Jokerit already has on the blueline?

Hard to say. Juolevi was able to play top minutes in Liiga as a D+2 player, but Räsänen isn’t at that level and KHL is a better league. I don’t know Jokerit’s roster that well, but I can say that Kivistö, Lepistö, Lauridsen and Jensen are comfortably ahead on the depth chart, Lööv probably as well. He might be able to fight his way into that 6th defender spot. This seems like a strange move.

 

[ChadS]

Can the Finnish posters let us know how he stacks up against what Jokerit already has on the blueline?

I bet he will split time between Jokerit and Kiekko-Vantaa, similar to what Juho Rautanen did these past 2 years.