Arsi Piispanen

How's he looked so far this season? Has he bulked up any?

How's he looked so far this season? Has he bulked up any?

I'm yet to see him play this year, but according to the official website of the Finnish Ice-Hockey Association he's now (or was two weeks ago, before the U20 4-Nations Tournament in Mikkeli) 193 cm (6'4") tall and weighs 78 kg (172 lbs). Those are still goalie-like figures, but definately better than 6'3"/165 lbs which were his official figures in the draft.

Lots of bulking up to do, but if he can manage to maintain his skill level while doing that, he'll be really, really good. He has a slight chance to make the WJC squad this year, but I kind of doubt that Aravirta and his staff would pick him. The talent is there, but he's just physically not ready yet. Maybe next year...

I'm sure someone (heikkik, you've seen him play with the U20 Team Finland, right?) else can provide more detailed information on his play this year. You can check his statistics here (http://www.sm-liiga.fi/finhockey2/sjl_tulospalvelu_stat.asp?TID=1186&joukkue=1485&tilasto=joukkueporssit&porssi=1&laaja=1): second of his team in scoring, seventh in the league (http://www.sm-liiga.fi/finhockey2/sjl_tulospalvelu_stat.asp?TID=1186&joukkue=1485&tilasto=joukkueporssit&porssi=1&laaja=1), mostly assists to goals mostly scored by Mikko Silvennoinen.

In the games I saw last year, he played on the wing, but this year he's been centering the #1 line of the Jokerit junior A team, from what I've heard. He's also been a center in the games he's played with the U20 national team.

Jokerit are playing the league leading JyP on friday and I'm probably going to attend, so I could give you (all) some detailed information on him during the weekend.

I'm sure someone (heikkik, you've seen him play with the U20 Team Finland, right?) else can provide more detailed information on his play this year. You can check his statistics here (http://www.sm-liiga.fi/finhockey2/sjl_tulospalvelu_stat.asp?TID=1186&joukkue=1485&tilasto=joukkueporssit&porssi=1&laaja=1): second of his team in scoring, seventh in the league (http://www.sm-liiga.fi/finhockey2/sjl_tulospalvelu_stat.asp?TID=1186&joukkue=1485&tilasto=joukkueporssit&porssi=1&laaja=1), mostly assists to goals mostly scored by Mikko Silvennoinen.


Hey, just to add to what you have already told us..

I am not familiar with Finland's Hockey Leagues, so if I sound dumb about this, I am :D

What is the equivilant of the team he plays on? Is it the highest league possible like the RSL? or is more like a junior league, CHL?

Also, what kind of points are good in this league? What is good or great? Point per game? .5 points per game? What kind of point SHOULD he be putting up... if he is going to make it to the NHL?

And if he does hop the pond, what kind of player do you think he will end up to be?

Thanks for helping out with this... I appreciate it. Also, I am looking forward to hearing what you thought after watching him play?

What is the equivilant of the team he plays on? Is it the highest league possible like the RSL? or is more like a junior league, CHL?

Also, what kind of points are good in this league? What is good or great? Point per game? .5 points per game? What kind of point SHOULD he be putting up... if he is going to make it to the NHL?

And if he does hop the pond, what kind of player do you think he will end up to be?

It's a junior league, U20 to be more precise (with three one year overaged players allowed for each team). The level of the league is nowhere close to the level of the CHL. The best players who would still eligible to play in the junior SM-liiga are playing in the real one already. Arsi is born in 85, so he's still eligible to play there next year and (especially with the NHL lockout) most probably will.

As for what's a good/great point production in this league, well, Teemu Selänne scored 16 points (8+8) in three games during the 88-89 season, when he was the same age Arsi is now. Some more recent examples: Tuomo Ruutu scored 27 points in 35 games during the season he turned 17 (1999-00 that is, almost two years younger than Arsi is now), Mikko Koivu scored 45 points in 26 games during the 2000-01 season, Sean Bergenheim scored 30 points in 23 games during the 2001-02 season, Lauri Tukonen, the highly touted "next Selänne", scored 16 points during 12 games this fall before he was called up to the senior team of Espoo Blues. That should give you some kind of idea: a point per game is not enough. On the other hand, point production is a pretty lousy and one-sided way of analyzing talent.

I haven't really seen him play enough (just a few games) to say anything definate, but in my opinion he has all the tools, except for body strength and skating, to be a top two line scoring forward. He has played both center and wing and seems to be more like a natural playmaker, though he has a good shot, too. Even if he gets more mass/strength, he'll never be a power forward in true sense of the word, but more likely a big finesse scorer. (It would be great to see that the Finnish system is still capable of producing more than just two-way players from the same mould (if look at the Finnish forwards who've been drafted during the past ten years or so, you'll see what I mean...))

Good deal, Thanks.

Do Finnish teams have workout programs they put the players on, to gain muscle and strength? weight lifting etc.

Or are the kids kinda left of their own? Its kind of amazing to me that this kid at 18 or whatever, is still at the weight he is at. I would have thought they would have him on a strength/muscle gaining program, but maybe they do...

Also, Will Arsii play at the WJC? and if so, what kind of role 3rd or 4th liner or will he be used on a scoring line?

Thanks again,

Do Finnish teams have workout programs they put the players on, to gain muscle and strength? weight lifting etc.

They do, yes. The physical training is on a very high level in Finland. Maybe even too high (and it starts too early), since it seems that the skill level of players isn't nearly as high as in the former Czechoslovakia, for example.

Its kind of amazing to me that this kid at 18 or whatever, is still at the weight he is at. I would have thought they would have him on a strength/muscle gaining program, but maybe they do...

Someone on these boards wrote that his father was the one who had forbid him to do any heavy weightlifting before he had stopped growing. If this story is true, and as he seems to be still gaining height, I imagine he's still "not cleared" to do any heavy lifting. IMHO that's (in a way) a good thing. Why rush, you can always gain strength and muscle later and weigth training too early can be bad for coordination, bones etc.

Also, Will Arsii play at the WJC? and if so, what kind of role 3rd or 4th liner or will he be used on a scoring line?

As I said a couple of messages earlier, there's a chance that he will, but it's improbable. Even if he would be selected, his would probably be a very limited role. There are a lot of centers with more experience etc. He could be used as the 13th forward because of his versatility (positionwise) and to give him experience he could use in next year's WJC (for which he is, barring injury, pretty much a lock), but the race for the remaining spots in the WJC squad is so close this year, it's impossible to say, really.

He was selected to play in the U-20 Team Finland against Mestis teams Hermes and Sport. No players from the SM-liiga were selected, so it's not really an indication of anything, except that he's still somehow in the considerations of the coaching staff. Pretty much will depend on his performance in these games.

They do, yes. The physical training is on a very high level in Finland. Maybe even too high (and it starts too early), since it seems that the skill level of players isn't nearly as high as in the former Czechoslovakia, for example.

Someone on these boards wrote that his father was the one who had forbid him to do any heavy weightlifting before he had stopped growing. If this story is true, and as he seems to be still gaining height, I imagine he's still "not cleared" to do any heavy lifting. IMHO that's (in a way) a good thing. Why rush, you can always gain strength and muscle later and weigth training too early can be bad for coordination, bones etc.
.

Hmm... Now that you mention it, I remember hearing something about his Father too.

But even though, I would think that at 18 years old he is old enough. I mean if it was 14 or something I could understand. But at 18, he wont do any damage...

Well hopefully he starts hitting the weights soon... and continues to develop.

Thanks for the info.

Ok, I don't really have much to add to what I've said about him before. His skill level still amazes me; I don't think I've seen that kind of stickhandling from anyone in a Jokerit jersey since Otakar Janecky still played here. Simply stunning.

He appeared to be a lot stronger, more confident and steadier on his skates than he was a year ago when I last saw him play. Then again, he should be. He's also a fast skater once he gets to top speed. It just takes a while before he does because his lower body (nor upper body) strength simply isn't that good, yet. He seems to be considered the go-to guy of the team already; playing double shift on the powerplay etc.

He's also resposible defensively, always the first forward back on the defensive zone. On the other hand, as the match went on he either was really tired (can't really blame him, he got all the icetime he could've asked for) or he had some sort of motivational problems: he seemed uninterested at times; skating half speed on the redline while the wingers were heading for a counter attack, forgetting his man in the front of the net, ... If it's the latter... not good, not good at all.

He likes to hit, though he doesn't have enough mass/speed to actually do any damage with his hits. He uses his long reach to control the puck even when overpowered by an opponent.

Arsi made his SM-liiga debut tonight against Lukko.

Arsi made his SM-liiga debut tonight against Lukko.

Did you see it?

How did he play?

Did you see it?

How did he play?

The game was shown later on saturday on the local tv channel of Rauma (the home town of Lukko). Luckily the channel can also be seen in my home town of Laitila. I only caught some action of the 3rd period, but from the few glimpses, Piispanen looked tall and lanky, good reach (intercepted some passes in the neutral zone when Jokerit were trapping). If I remember to watch the re-runs of the game tomorrow, I'll try to post more info.

Jussi, a stupid question:

As a Jokerit fan in Laitila you have two chances to see them play close to your home in a season and you didn't attend? I have understood that you're old enough to drive so why you didn't go to see game in rauma? I go to rauma 3 times in a season (mostly) to see Ässät play though I have bigger distance than you. And I have over 10 kilometers to Pori ice hall too, but I am there always as possible...

Jussi, a stupid question:

As a Jokerit fan in Laitila you have two chances to see them play close to your home in a season and you didn't attend? I have understood that you're old enough to drive so why you didn't go to see game in rauma? I go to rauma 3 times in a season (mostly) to see Ässät play though I have bigger distance than you. And I have over 10 kilometers to Pori ice hall too, but I am there always as possible...

Yes, I'm well old enough to drive but I don't have a car or a drivers license for that matter. And I seem to be a bit of a jinx for Jokerit. I've seem them live 4 times and they've only won once (2 losses and a tie) and didn't win anything during those seasons. As soon as I stopped going to see them (usually with a friend who was studying at OKL in Rauma), they won the title. :dunno:

Arsi made the WJC team after all, great! I expect him to center the fourth line.

Ok, I managed to watch the highlights of the Lukko-game. Arsi showed some definite potential out there. He didn't do any highlight reel moves or anything like that, but pretty much all of his passes were tape-to-tape, he controls the puck very well has great reach and doesn't shy away from the physical stuff. His skating looks a little akward. Once he's cleared to start working on weights (he may still be growing?) and gets those legs of his moving, he could provide many happpy moments for Jokerit and Blue Jackets fans.

Good to hear, Jussi. I think the Jackets brass are viewing him as a long term project, someone who won't come over till he's about 22, unless he wants to come over earlier. Hopefully he fills out some more, starts pumping the iron.

He played his second game yesterday, this time filling in for Tomek Valtonen in the 1st line of Jokerit with Glen Metropolit and Marko Jantunen. I didn't see the game, but by all accounts he had a very good game and he opened a lot of eyes.

He played his second game yesterday, this time filling in for Tomek Valtonen in the 1st line of Jokerit with Glen Metropolit and Marko Jantunen. I didn't see the game, but by all accounts he had a very good game and he opened a lot of eyes.

I was at the game, and he looked really good. He made only one noticeable mistake in the game when he and Jantunen went for the same guy in the defensive zone, resulting in Piispanen's player was left free to take a shot.. Other than that he played a very good game, even throwing a few checks along the boards. He still needs to add a lot of muscle, but he sure looked willing to take the body when needed.
He made a handfull of opening passes, and was close to setting up Metropolit and Jantunen for a 2-0 attack, but Jantunen messed it up by going offside...

From the other kids playing in the game, Tommi Oksa was really impressive with his energetic game throwing good checks and playing a very good game. Laine was pretty much in the dark the first two periods, but in the 3rd he was one of the best players on the ice.

I didn't see Kalteva play at all, even if he was on the bench. Too bad, because I really think he deserves some time on the big team...

I finally managed to actually see him play again, in yesterday's game against SaiPa. He looked surprisingly comfortable with the higher tempo etc. considering it was only his fourth game in SM-liiga. He used his long reach to win one-on-ones, gave one excellent no-look pass to a team mate who got a breakaway (which resulted in a penalty to the opposition), threw a couple of nice hits along the boards and didn't look out of place at all.

His role of course was completely different from the one he has in the juniors. He was playing in the fourth line which only got a handful of shifts in the first two periods (they rolled just three lines in the third after Tomek Valtonen got ejected because of a fight). Their job was not to score, but he did get a couple of good wristers on the net after faceoffs.

He'll probably be back in the juniors after the WJC, but it's good to know that he's ready to play in SM-liiga if the gets the opportunity.

I finally managed to actually see him play again, in yesterday's game against SaiPa. He looked surprisingly comfortable with the higher tempo etc. considering it was only his fourth game in SM-liiga. He used his long reach to win one-on-ones, gave one excellent no-look pass to a team mate who got a breakaway (which resulted in a penalty to the opposition), threw a couple of nice hits along the boards and didn't look out of place at all.

His role of course was completely different from the one he has in the juniors. He was playing in the fourth line which only got a handful of shifts in the first two periods (they rolled just three lines in the third after Tomek Valtonen got ejected because of a fight). Their job was not to score, but he did get a couple of good wristers on the net after faceoffs.

He'll probably be back in the juniors after the WJC, but it's good to know that he's ready to play in SM-liiga if the gets the opportunity.

Great to hear he's doing well. Is he still 170 lbs or has he started to bulk up some? How's his defense coverage so far, from what you've seen?

Great to hear he's doing well. Is he still 170 lbs or has he started to bulk up some? How's his defense coverage so far, from what you've seen?
He still looks like 170 lbs. and is listed at that in the Finnish WJC roster, so I suppose it's still correct. He's responsible defensively, but he still does make some mistakes in his own end.