Prospect Info: Round 2, 46th Overall - Samu Tuomaala (RW) - Karpat Jr. -- 5'10", 179 pounds

[FLYguy3911]

If you need a center to produce in Juniors, it's probably not the center's fault.

 

[Svedu]

If you need a center to produce in Juniors, it's probably not the center's fault.

Well, did he play his last games last season amongst juniors? I don't think so? Mestis? Low level league or not, he did produce there so what was your point again? 65 points in 46 games and if you check Ketteräs team stats It becomes very clear that he has produced by his own. In fact, no one scored as much points as him even when they played at least 22 games more than him.
Jukurit and their juniors have never won anything worth mentioning and again, my point. You could claim Carter Hart being sh*t as well but I have a feeling you won't because suddenly things become more "Complex".

Let's just see what he is made of and perhaps wait another season or two.

Last but not least, neither him nor Laine needed playmaking centers on junior level and they still produced quite well. But we all know chemistry is underrated amongst people like you and that it did and has affected Laine and his career at the NHL-level. But I guess you have simple answers to everything my guy. Have a nice one.

 

[Magua]

Preach.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Well, did he play his last games last season amongst juniors? I don't think so? Mestis? Low level league or not, he did produce there so what was your point again? 65 points in 46 games and if you check Ketteräs team stats It becomes very clear that he has produced by his own. In fact, no one scored as much points as him even when they played at least 22 games more than him.
Jukurit and their juniors have never won anything worth mentioning and again, my point. You could claim Carter Hart being sh*t as well but I have a feeling you won't because suddenly things become more "Complex".

Let's just see what he is made of and perhaps wait another season or two.

Last but not least, neither him nor Laine needed playmaking centers on junior level and they still produced quite well. But we all know chemistry is underrated amongst people like you and that it did and has affected Laine and his career at the NHL-level. But I guess you have simple answers to everything my guy. Have a nice one.

 

[Curufinwe]

HockeyBuzz.com - Bill Meltzer - Quick Hits: Dev Camp Finale, Cates, Mete, Watson and More

www.hockeybuzz.com

Since last summer, Tuomaala has worked closely one-on-one with Flyers European player development coach and alum player Sami Kapanen. One of the relatively few young Finnish players who is not entirely comfortable doing interviews in English, Tuomaala had Kapanen at his side to translate -- as needed -- when Tuomaala did a media availability session in Voorhees on Wednesday. Unlike previous years' camps, Tuomaala did nearly the entire interview (except for one question) in English. He said that Jukurit coach Jokinen insisted that all team communications be done in English, which helped sharpen his language skills.

During Wednesday's interview, Tuomaala announced that he plans to return to North America for the 2023-24 season. He will play for Ian Laperriere's Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Tuomaala, an excellent skater with a natural finishing touch, said that he feels he has greatly improved his off-puck game (one of the primary knocks on the player) over the last year or so, and is also stronger physically. He gave credit to Kapanen for helping him through some of the tough times.

 

[Chuck Downie]

Still in camp, holy shit. Torts must like him?

 

[deadhead]

Think they're taking a good look, he flashed at times, and most of the coaching staff haven't seen him in action, unlike most of the Phantom players. Nor did he play at a high level of competition, at least with Matt Brown and others, you have good film on them.

 

[mattihp]

Still in camp, holy shit. Torts must like him?

He's a weird guy. Very skilled, but can't get it going in Liiga. The AHL could be the best place for him to be. Which it is for extremely few Finnish players.

 

[scumpup]

No reason to quit on the kid yet. This is the time to experiment and give kids all the chances they can get to succeed since nothing else matters for 3 years.

 

[deadhead]

A prospect like Tuomaala is why teams have AHL clubs. You can let him play there for a couple seasons, gauge his progress, figure out the best way to use him and whether he has a NHL future.

One reason I want the Phantoms to compete for the Calder Cup each year is the AHL playoffs do give you good information about prospects - you can pad your stats against weak sisters in the regular season, but a long playoff run can reveal those who can't raise their game. Marody is a good example, much better regular season than playoff production.

 

[Deadpool8812]

There is a miminal chance that the Flyers can develop this guy

 

[deadhead]

There is a miminal chance that the Flyers can develop this guy

There is raw skill. We'll see. Why have a development group if you don't try to develop players?

You don't do much development at the AHL level with top prospects, b/c they don't stick around that long if they're good. If Brink or Andrae go down, they'll be up in a couple months.

Where development pays dividends (or not) are the second tier guys with flaws who you get 2-3 years to work with and fix them or teach them to work around their limitations. Pens had a group of these guys that Sullivan coached in the AHL and brought up with him when he became HC, and they helped him win a couple Cups.

 

[renberg]

Why have a development group if you don't try to develop players?

And you think that Lappy is capable of doing this with what he does down at LHV? I don't think so.

 

[Beef Invictus]

A prospect like Tuomaala is why teams have AHL clubs. You can let him play there for a couple seasons, gauge his progress, figure out the best way to use him and whether he has a NHL future.

One reason I want the Phantoms to compete for the Calder Cup each year is the AHL playoffs do give you good information about prospects - you can pad your stats against weak sisters in the regular season, but a long playoff run can reveal those who can't raise their game. Marody is a good example, much better regular season than playoff production.

He isn't good enough for the AHL.

Lappy is incapable of coaching him up anyway.

 

[renberg]

He isn't good enough for the AHL.

Lappy is incapable of coaching him up anyway.

Some will say that there are examples of players that have improved at LHV while Lappy has been the coach there. CIP-Foerster. I'd say that these guys had so much talent that their improvement came because of that not any "coaching" that took place there.

 

[deadhead]

I doubt Lappy does a lot of hands on coaching, the assistant coaches, the skill coaches probably do the lion's share of "real coaching."

Lappy was an assistant for three HCs and AHL HC for two GMs. I doubt they keep him around as a "pet," he must have some skill that they value, probably his ability to interact with players.

We'll see if they've improved their development process the next couple years, they'll have a lot of raw material to work with in middle round picks such as Desnoyers, Wisdom, Lycksell, Grans, Ginning, Gendron, Avon, Brown, Samson, Millman. Salvage jobs like Laczynski, Mete, Zmolek. Most won't make it, but if you produce 2-3 starters out of this group, you're doing a great job.

 

[mattihp]

He isn't good enough for the AHL.

Lappy is incapable of coaching him up anyway.

He is good enough, but enigmatic. His skills are more than good enough for liiga but his decision making needs work. The AHL could be just the place to do that. Development leagues are good in that way that talented players can be pushed into a position to succeed whilst full competitive league teams can't afford that risk.

 

[tnfrs]

Some will say that there are examples of players that have improved at LHV while Lappy has been the coach there. CIP-Foerster. I'd say that these guys had so much talent that their improvement came because of that not any "coaching" that took place there.

Coming from junior Tyson was pretty much a one trick pony power play specialist with a great shot but he had below average skating and was pretty disengaged defensively, had trouble getting to pucks and his puck protection was pretty lousy. He could beat goaltenders clean when he wasnt being challenged and that was the appeal, 50% of his goals were on the PP but now he's rounded out his game, improved his first steps even though his stride is still goofy as hell, he gets on pucks faster now and hes winning battles, so hes improved in some really important areas and that was all from his time in Lehigh

 

[deadhead]

One area they have done a good job the last few years is coaching skating, though some players can't be fixed - Strome.

 

[Tripod]

We have such a good track record of developing AHL guys.

And they are so confident, they added 3 4th liners ìn just over 1 year. Maybe, just maybe, developing your own 4th liners then trade them when they become expensive?

Nope. Instead we are paying 5.5 million for a 4th line.

 

[Magua]

Coming from junior Tyson was pretty much a one trick pony power play specialist with a great shot but he had below average skating and was pretty disengaged defensively, had trouble getting to pucks and his puck protection was pretty lousy. He could beat goaltenders clean when he wasnt being challenged and that was the appeal, 50% of his goals were on the PP but now he's rounded out his game, improved his first steps even though his stride is still goofy as hell, he gets on pucks faster now and hes winning battles, so hes improved in some really important areas and that was all from his time in Lehigh

This feels a bit revisionist. Foerster did have a high % of points/goals on the PP in his draft year -- it was fair to flag that. But in hindsight, it's also fair to say he was the best point producer at age 17 on a team that was 16/20 in the OHL in goals. And pretty key: he does project as a positive PP player in the NHL.

He was never a one trick pony. Of all the shooters they have acquired under Fletcher/Flahr, he's the least one trick pony of them all, even if he gives some of it back with his pace. He was always a very crafty passer, with a good short area game on the walls (body control and hands). He's never been a low % shooter in his decision making. He's improved his skating marginally, but the rest has been there since the day he stepped into the AHL at 18.

 

[tnfrs]

This feels a bit revisionist. Foerster did have a high % of points/goals on the PP in his draft year -- it was fair to flag that. But in hindsight, it's also fair to say he was the best point producer at age 17 on a team that was 16/20 in the OHL in goals. And pretty key: he does project as a positive PP player in the NHL.

He was never a one trick pony. Of all the shooters they have acquired under Fletcher/Flahr, he's the least one trick pony of them all, even if he gives some of it back with his pace. He was always a very crafty passer, with a good short area game on the walls (body control and hands). He's never been a low % shooter in his decision making. He's improved his skating marginally, but the rest has been there since the day he stepped into the AHL at 18.

hes a decent passer, i wouldnt call him crafty his shot generates a good amount of primary assists. hes come a long way becoming a more complete player but the skating is the most important thing, its gonna be exciting to watch him. gauthier plays a power forwardish game but still makes his bones as a shooter and maybe we disagree here but Id say he's a better all around player

 

[blackjackmulligan]

I doubt Lappy does a lot of hands on coaching, the assistant coaches, the skill coaches probably do the lion's share of "real coaching."

Lappy was an assistant for three HCs and AHL HC for two GMs. I doubt they keep him around as a "pet," he must have some skill that they value, probably his ability to interact with players.

We'll see if they've improved their development process the next couple years, they'll have a lot of raw material to work with in middle round picks such as Desnoyers, Wisdom, Lycksell, Grans, Ginning, Gendron, Avon, Brown, Samson, Millman. Salvage jobs like Laczynski, Mete, Zmolek. Most won't make it, but if you produce 2-3 starters out of this group, you're doing a great job.

lol

how is smolek a salvage job?

 

[EXTRAS]

lol

how is smolek a salvage job?

What's your opinion on zmolek?

 

[blackjackmulligan]

What's your opinion on zmolek?

I have none. no risk signing