Prospect Info: Toni Rajala

[SchultzSquared*]

The OKC major thread bump reminded me of Rajala and his success in NA... I know we mutually cut ties a couple years back... but the system is now empty on skill guys and Rajala has bounced to three teams in Europe... contract is also up this summer

I bet he would rather the one way AHL deal with good shot at NHL time over Euro money... no way he is making $800 or 900K over there and I would give him that for sure even if he washed out in camp and only made OKC better next year

Has anyone heard if that is a possibility???

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[Still DRAI]

Why? I'm not trying to just dismiss you out of hand, but a smallish skilled winger who can't stick on a team in Europe is about the last thing that we need right now. On top of that, he's apparently already decided in the past that he doesn't want to play in NA, so even if the Oilers wanted to re-up him, I doubt Rajala would sign.

We'll likely draft Tkachev this year, who is infinitely more proven against almost-NHL level opposition, and that's all the tiny skilled longshots that I think the Oilers need.

 

[ohheyhemsky]

Why? I'm not trying to just dismiss you out of hand, but a smallish skilled winger who can't stick on a team in Europe is about the last thing that we need right now. On top of that, he's apparently already decided in the past that he doesn't want to play in NA, so even if the Oilers wanted to re-up him, I doubt Rajala would sign.

We'll likely draft Tkachev this year, who is infinitely more proven against almost-NHL level opposition, and that's all the tiny skilled longshots that I think the Oilers need.

Can't make it in Europe?

30 points in 37 games in SweHL in 13/14.
12 in 21 in the KHL and 16 in 17 in the SweHL this season.

If we want to talk about his NA game he's put up 38 in 29 in the ECHL and 45 in 46 in the AHL in 12/13.

He has played well everywhere.

 

[AnInjuredJasonZucker]

Is it that likely that we'll take Tkachev? The Oilers put him on every team's radar, so we'll have to grab him well ahead of where he should be taken if we want him.

 

[Seedling]

Can't make it in Europe?

30 points in 37 games in SweHL in 13/14.
12 in 21 in the KHL and 16 in 17 in the SweHL this season.

If we want to talk about his NA game he's put up 38 in 29 in the ECHL and 45 in 46 in the AHL in 12/13.

He has played well everywhere.

Paajarvi once had 29 points in 49 games in the SEL. So what?

 

[nexttothemoon]

Is it that likely that we'll take Tkachev? The Oilers put him on every team's radar, so we'll have to grab him well ahead of where he should be taken if we want him.

Well it would be a BOLD move if they picked him at #2/#3 in the 1st.

 

[StoveTopStauffer]

Paajarvi once had 29 points in 49 games in the SEL. So what?

Difference is Paajarvi was a 1st rounder and Toni managed to work his way into the AHL and continued to trend upwards up until he left. We complain about later round picks, him and Reider were definitely solid picks later.

 

[ohheyhemsky]

Paajarvi once had 29 points in 49 games in the SEL. So what?

I don't necessarily understand the reason for this post.
Are you deliberately ignoring the difference in points and AHL numbers?

 

[AlowlyMcOilersfan]

Can't make it in Europe?

30 points in 37 games in SweHL in 13/14.
12 in 21 in the KHL and 16 in 17 in the SweHL this season.

If we want to talk about his NA game he's put up 38 in 29 in the ECHL and 45 in 46 in the AHL in 12/13.

He has played well everywhere.

is there a reason he's bouncing around so much?

 

[Panda Bear]

is there a reason he's bouncing around so much?

He took a one-year contract in Sweden after leaving us, performed well, got offered KHL money, discovered he didn't like being in nowhere Russia, got his contract annulled, then had to find a team mid-season.

 

[Raab]

Would love to have him back, I could see him as a top 6 winger right now in the NHL. Has a ton of skill and speed. Looked very dynamic in the few european games I've seen him in.

 

[ohheyhemsky]

is there a reason he's bouncing around so much?

He was cut from the Russian team to make room for an import goaltender Barry Brust, albeit scoring a respectable 13 points in 21 games with pretty awful minutes.

 

[AlowlyMcOilersfan]

idk, it just feels like Omark all over again. I think just bringing back Horak would be a wiser decision, considering our depth down the middle. I feel like Horak is more of an NHL player than Rajala.

 

[thadd]

Not one single name that's been listed in this threat is going to help us at the NHL or AHL level.

Rajala could be nice on our ECHL team.

 

[ohheyhemsky]

Not one single name that's been listed in this threat is going to help us at the NHL or AHL level.

Rajala could be nice on our ECHL team.

Again, Rajala scored 45 points in 46 games in 12/13. There's nothing that points towards him not being able to handle the AHL level.

Also, Horak who scored 1 goal in 2 games in the NHL, scored 48 points in 52 games in the AHL last season and has 30 in 42 in the KHL. How could he not help with OKC/soon to be Bakersfield?

 

[nexttothemoon]

Slightly off topic... but has it been confirmed that the Oilers will have a replacement ECHL team next year?

 

[Seachd]

We'll likely draft Tkachev this year, who is infinitely more proven against almost-NHL level opposition, and that's all the tiny skilled longshots that I think the Oilers need.

I'd say the likelihood of the Oilers drafting Tkachev isn't that high.

 

[BoldNewLettuce]

I"m pretty sure that Tkachev **** up set the tone for the entire gong show season.

 

[Zaddy]

I sure wouldn't mind having Rajala and Horak back. Wish he still had the rights to Hartikainen as well. These are excellent guys to create competition in AHL but also all have a shot still to contribute on an NHL level.

 

[40oz]

I don't want to speculate too much, but I'd like to see him stick with a team for more than a year.

 

[OilTastic]

Is it that likely that we'll take Tkachev? The Oilers put him on every team's radar, so we'll have to grab him well ahead of where he should be taken if we want him.

^we shouldn't do that! Oiler fans went ape spit when the Oilers did that with the Moroz pick.

 

[SPIRIT]

Ahh there are better fish in the sea.

Funny happening, NHL 14 GM mode (Superstar and difficult trading)... Toni became an 89 overall top line RW, putting up multiple 80+ pt seasons.

 

[Broilers]

Would love to have him back, I could see him as a top 6 winger right now in the NHL. Has a ton of skill and speed. Looked very dynamic in the few european games I've seen him in.

He cannot play top 6 minutes in NHL. I think that he would be better fit and even scoring threat against soft opposition. When injured take Place he can occasionaly fil in Top 6 role.

I think that he is better than Yakopov who will Never play as many games in NHL as Daigle plyed. His the worse ever first overall pick