Rajala should regularly play in the SM-liiga next season to be drafted high, but his coach does not trust young players. So his stock is dropping. Kivistö will play in Canada and that's why he is rising.
I actually talked to Toni Rajala via facebook and he says he'll be playing most of his season on JrA. I felt so awkward but he was really nice.
yea I was facebook creepin. I got Joni Karjalainen, Eric Haula, Joni Ortio, Anton Lander, Victor Hedman, Magnus Paajarvi, William Wallen and Taylor Hall down too yeaa
I saw Rajala first time in U-18 Finnkampen and to me he didint show anything special, but neither did others in Finlands 2-7 loss to Sweden. Rajala seemed pretty fast in skating competition, at least he was faster than the swedish competitor. Generally Swedes were clearly bigger than Finns.
I was more impressed with Granlund, he´s got a bit of same feistiness as Saku Koivu. Anyway it was only a one game.
This weeks Kiekkolehti also mentioned the size issue. U-18 team was at a clear size advantage that surely can't be blamed on Nuori Suomi. Rautakorpi said that there's a clear lack of big players that can skate adequately at this level. Either the Swedes are doing something with their big kids or their recent junior classes just happen to be stocked with these behemoths.
yea I was facebook creepin. I got Joni Karjalainen, Eric Haula, Joni Ortio, Anton Lander, Victor Hedman, Magnus Paajarvi, William Wallen and Taylor Hall down too yeaa
There are lots of young players using facebook, but I it is very rare to see an over 30 old players there. Or the same goes with any people.
Scouts often put too much value on performance in a single tournament... the U18 World Championships next April. Another tournament that is extremely important and overvalued by many scouts and GM's.
Actually it may not be the tournaments that are over-valued but the selection process for the various teams vs. the desire of scouts to simply find the best players. Many NHL teams still do not scout Finland very thoroughly but instead rely on the judgement of the coaches selecting the national teams. As a result, the only exposure they get to some players is their performance either in National Team camps or in the various showcase tournaments. As a result, those players not involved in the national team process receive little or no exposure. And those in the national team groups may get just a glimpse in a handful of games. The Finnish Association, on the other hand, tries to get as many players involved as possible from fifteen on to insure that the national team remains competitive.
Actually it may not be the tournaments that are over-valued but the selection process for the various teams vs. the desire of scouts to simply find the best players. Many NHL teams still do not scout Finland very thoroughly but instead rely on the judgement of the coaches selecting the national teams. As a result, the only exposure they get to some players is their performance either in National Team camps or in the various showcase tournaments. As a result, those players not involved in the national team process receive little or no exposure. And those in the national team groups may get just a glimpse in a handful of games. The Finnish Association, on the other hand, tries to get as many players involved as possible from fifteen on to insure that the national team remains competitive.
Thank you for pointing that out, I think that you just widened my perspective in this subject.
I actually talked to Toni Rajala , I got Joni Karjalainen, Eric Haula, Joni Ortio, Anton Lander, Victor Hedman, Magnus Paajarvi, William Wallen and Taylor Hall down too yeaa
But not Manelius, Pulkkinen nor Kivistö :wink:
Them jokers can keep their ground
I actually talked to Toni Rajala via facebook and he says he'll be playing most of his season on JrA. I felt so awkward but he was really nice.
yea I was facebook creepin. I got Joni Karjalainen, Eric Haula, Joni Ortio, Anton Lander, Victor Hedman, Magnus Paajarvi, William Wallen and Taylor Hall down too yeaa
You did well Nothing personal. And I have not seen all these boys play, so some comments are just stats wise. Pretty sure I went way off in some cases. These smilies on a second thinking...
1988, not such as good than 87's, but still pretty good
Goalies
Niko Hovinen (Jokerit)
Riku Helenius (Ilves)
Atte Engren (Lukko)
Mikko Tolvanen (HPK) ...
Defensemen
Jesse Turkulainen (Huddinge) ...
Teemu Eronen (Jokerit)
Tony Vidgren (TPS) ...
Forwards
Pekka Jormakka (JYP)
Eero Elo (Lukko)
Martin Tuominen (TPS)
Samuli Valvisto (Lukko)
Mika Erkkilä (HPK)
Joonas Rask (Ilves)
Matias Myttynen (Ilves)
Niko Rajakallio (Ässät)
1991 at this point, 91's look's even stronger than 83's
Goalkeepers
Jere Ringbom (Lukko)
Jani Sihvonen (SaiPa)
Defensemen
Sami Suorsa (Kärpät)
Nico Manelius (Jokerit)
Jere-Veikko Pulli (SaiPa)
Santeri Palsola (JYP)
Tommi Kivistö (Jokerit)
Forwards
Toni Rajala (Ilves)
Erik Haula (Ässät)
Moses Mustonen (Blues)
Jesse Mankinen (SaiPa) ...
Janne Kumpulainen (JYP)
Joonas Nättinen (JYP)
Juho Iloviita (Sport)
Joni Karjalainen (HIFK)
Jere Laaksonen (Lukko) ...
Apparently Santeri Arousva made his debut in Jr.A today: LINEUP
The higher risk of an injury is obvious, so I'm not sure how sensible this is, but lets hope this benefits him in a long run.
How big is he? He already had his first point in A-juniors as well with assist. I think A-juniors will just benefits, IF he will get enough playing time.
...
19th TOMMI KIVISTÖ
27th JOONAS NÄTTINEN
29th ERIK HAULA
Rajala has dropped out of their top30. Perhaps a bit surprising after his strong performance in Lake Placid tournament, so there must be something else in addition to the size issue that's troubling their mind.
...
19th TOMMI KIVISTÖ
27th JOONAS NÄTTINEN
29th ERIK HAULA
Rajala has dropped out of their top30. Perhaps a bit surprising after his strong performance in Lake Placid tournament, so there must be something else in addition to the size issue that's troubling their mind.
It doesn't really make any sense of all that they have him first 15th before and then actually getting better dropping him over 15 places. And I would still pick him first of all those finns. Biggest potential. Kivistö raised way too much just by moving to NA and still too high.
Finland Skaters:
1. F -91 NÄTTINEN Joonas, Blues
2. D -91 VATANEN Sami, Jyp
3. F -91 RAJALA Toni, Ilves
4. D -90 NÄKYVÄ Kristian, Blues
5. F -90 JORMAKKA Pekka, JYP
6. F -89 SALLINEN Tomi, Blues
7. F -90 SALLINEN Jere, Blues
8. D -91 RISSANEN Rasmus, Kalpa
9. F -90 RASK Joonas, Ilves
10. D -90 ERONEN Teemu, Jokerit
11. F -90 HELENIUS Jani, Jokerit
12. F -90 BLOMQVIST Sami, Blues
13. D -90 VIDGREN Tony, Lukko
14. D -89 JYRKKIÖ Jesse, Ässät
15. F -91 PAKARINEN Iiro, Kalpa
16. D -91 MANELIUS Nico, Jokerit
17. F -91 KARJALAINEN Joni, HIFK
18. F -91 LAAKSONEN Jere, Lukko
19. F -91 TALBERG Teemu, HIFK
20. F -89 ROPPO Antti, Ilves
21. F -90 PITKÄNEN Ilmari, Jokerit
22. F -91 TERVONEN Sami, Jokerit
23. D -90 VITTASMÄKI Veli-Matti, TPS
24. F -91 KUMPULAINEN Janne, JYP
25. F -90 MYTTYNEN Matias, Ilves
Finland Goalies:
1. -88 KOSKINEN Mikko, Blues
2. -91 ORTIO Joni, TPS
3. -89 RAANTA Antti, Lukko
4. -91 TUOHIMAA Frans, HIFK
5. -91 HAKONEN Matti, Kalpa
Erik Haula is ranked among US High School West list as an A rating player. That means that he's a must see player who is predicted to be a potential First or Second Round Draft selection in the upcoming NHL entry draft.
I've been following these -91 and -92 agegroups closely for couple of years now, and i have to say that i'm impressed with all these "big names" Rajala, Granlund, Pulkkinen etc.
Yesterday, when i was looking at A-junior stats i noticed this:
KURONEN Mikael Ilves 3 2 +3 =5 +3
He's -92 born forward who has played in national teams, but hasn't been hyped much in here, so if someone has seen him play, could you please tell something about his style and is there any nhl-potential?
Yesterday, when i was looking at A-junior stats i noticed this:
KURONEN Mikael Ilves 3 2 +3 =5 +3
He's -92 born forward who has played in national teams, but hasn't been hyped much in here, so if someone has seen him play, could you please tell something about his style and is there any nhl-potential?
Thanks.
Quite skillfull, at least decent skater, but still lacking vision, tactical areas of game, some mental issues(taking stupid penalties, etc.) and strenght. Is there any NHL-potential? Yes. Is it big? No.
Haven't seen him this season tho, but at least couple of times last season, can't be sure how many.
Quite skillfull, at least decent skater, but still lacking vision, tactical areas of game, some mental issues(taking stupid penalties, etc.) and strenght. Is there any NHL-potential? Yes. Is it big? No.
Haven't seen him this season tho, but at least couple of times last season, can't be sure how many.
yeaa
Nothing personal. And I have not seen all these boys play, so some comments are just stats wise. Pretty sure I went way off in some cases. These smilies on a second thinking... 
