Finnish Top Prospects ( In Future)

The Saw Is the Law · 03-18-2012, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edd1e

What, do you think someone cares about you not caring?

It doesnt change the fact that the odds are against us. Period.

Dont be an ass in here.

I meant no matter do we get him or not but I want him to our training camp despite he might already done his decision of future national jersey.

sry about that sentence

Tormentor · 03-18-2012, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToBBa

Artturi Lehkonen scored against Ässät.

He deserves much more hype.

It seems that Lehkonen had a little encounter with Kristian Kudroc just before the goal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by edd1e

Jääkiekkoliitto should definitelly send him an invite asap. But the odds are against us, i think.

Yep, the odds are definitely heavily against us, but it doesn’t hurt to give it a try. Playing for Finland might have some benefits in comparison to Canada. For example it’s easier to make the WJC roster as a draft prospect and later on the chances of getting to play at the Olympics are higher.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChadS

Does that mean he's coming to Finland to do his military service or just coming to visit? It only says his dad was born in Finland, so I have no idea if the kid is actually half-Finnish.

The article doesn’t mention anything about military service, but I guess that in his case it really doesn’t make any sense to even consider that option. He’s probably going to be playing in WHL for next few seasons and if things go well it’s NHL/AHL after that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChadS

Minnesota must have a good prospect pool since Haula isn't on the top10? 46 points in 40 games makes him tied for 12th in the NCAA.

Minnesota had 5 players in the top-40; Granlund, Brodin, Coyle, Hackett and Larsson. Not the easiest top-10 to break into.

YARR123 · 03-18-2012, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormentor

It seems that Lehkonen had a little encounter with Kristian Kudroc just before the goal.

Nice goal, best way to get back at a guy who has landed hits on you all night is to score a goal right infront of him, "How do you like me now old man?"

I bet Kudroc was a little pissed.

Alberta tough · 03-19-2012, 10:56 PM

Not sure if this was posted.

http://dansallows.com/interview-alek...kov/#more-1959

Mathletic · 03-20-2012, 12:17 AM

do you think Markus Kojo has a future? Big stay-at-home guy.

Korkki · 03-20-2012, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathletic

do you think Markus Kojo has a future? Big stay-at-home guy.

Just three words: Work, work and harder work (wait, were there five). Anyway, he is really far from being even ready to Finnish league. But I have understood that his ethics are good.

Quethas · 03-20-2012, 02:45 AM

Yeah he isn't even close to play in SM-liiga at the moment. I can see him as a pretty good defensive defender in SM-liiga in the future but that needs a lot of work. Kojo is pretty physical and can do pretty good job in the own end but he has some major weaknesses. His skating is huge problem at the moment and he looks very slow in juniors. Also I don't think that he has much to offer for offense now or even in the future.

Hege · 03-21-2012, 08:04 AM

"Aleksi Saarela" is a name to remember. He plays for the Rauman Lukko U16 team and has dominated the scoring leaderboards throughout the regular season and the playoffs, despite the fact that his team is really not the best out there. In many instances he has carried his team to victory over some of the top teams.

What's amazing is that he does all this against kids older than him. He is bound to play with the U18 (Maybe even U20, who knows?!) already next year. He is only 15 at the moment and has tremendous potential. In a few years he will be making his SM-Liiga (Finnish Elite League) debut. Trust me I've seen this kid play and he is GOOD!

YARR123 · 03-21-2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hege

"Aleksi Saarela" is a name to remember. He plays for the Rauman Lukko U16 team and has dominated the scoring leaderboards throughout the regular season and the playoffs, despite the fact that his team is really not the best out there. In many instances he has carried his team to victory over some of the top teams.

What's amazing is that he does all this against kids older than him. He is bound to play with the U18 (Maybe even U20, who knows?!) already next year. He is only 15 at the moment and has tremendous potential. In a few years he will be making his SM-Liiga (Finnish Elite League) debut. Trust me I've seen this kid play and he is GOOD!

Could you describe his game if you've seen more of him?

You should hold back your expectations a bit concerning next year. He's yet to make a NT debut in any age group, so most likely he will play U16 and U17 next year. I don't think there ever has been a player playing in U18 team while being two years "underage". Let alone 4 years.

YARR123 · 03-21-2012, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alberta tough

Not sure if this was posted.

http://dansallows.com/interview-alek...kov/#more-1959

Nice writeups, thanks for posting

Hege · 03-21-2012, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YARR123

Could you describe his game if you've seen more of him?

You should hold back your expectations a bit concerning next year. He's yet to make a NT debut in any age group, so most likely he will play U16 and U17 next year. I don't think there ever has been a player playing in U18 team while being two years "underage". Let alone 4 years.

Here are his statistics so far:
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=94117

I've seen him a couple of times and he is a very skillful playmaker who can also score a load of goals. His stickhandling is very good and he has an excellent eye for the game. He is also relatively big for his age 178cm/75kg (age 15). Also, his father Pasi Saarela, who played in the Finnish Elite League is coaching his team at the moment.

No he hasn't made a NT debut but he just got accepted to the newly formed Finland U16 squad. They will start playing international games soon and we can evaluate his skills again after that, but as for now I can say that he is really much ahead of all other players in his age group and +1 years.

If he keeps up the good work we could be dealing with a new superstar... but then again only time will tell and maybe age 15 is too early to draw conclusions about him.

MiGician · 03-22-2012, 09:12 AM

Aleksi Saarela will be playing with the -96 age group in Finnkampen against team Sweden.

I'm excited to see what he can do against older high level competition

http://leijonat.fi/index.php/maajouk...kampeniin.html

Jussi · 03-24-2012, 10:09 PM

Lukko won the C-juniors bronze medals, beating Kärpät 5-3. Aleksi Saarela had 2+2 in the game and a total of 14-15 in 9 games, a new record for the C-juniors playoffs.

Needles · 04-03-2012, 05:42 PM

There's a rumor going around, that Artturi Lehkonen isn't going to re-sign with TPS. Another case-Granlund in Finnish hockey?

E: Some rumors claim that KalPa is his future employer.

LOFIN · 04-04-2012, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Needles

There's a rumor going around, that Artturi Lehkonen isn't going to re-sign with TPS. Another case-Granlund in Finnish hockey?

E: Some rumors claim that KalPa is his future employer.

If Ika Lehkonen has been acting like some wannabe agent for his son and they have asking for some overprized contract, I can maybe understand that. If not however, the head of TPS organization can go ******* itself. I'm so pissed off atm.

YARR123 · 04-05-2012, 06:24 AM

Niklas Tikkinen will make his SM-liiga debut with Espoo Blues in tonights match against Pelicans. Not the easiest situation to make one's debut as a 17-year-old

The Saw Is the Law · 04-08-2012, 06:17 AM

I'd like to see 'players to watch' lists for 2013, 2014, 2015 and maybe 2016 drafts?

SashaBarkovFan · 04-10-2012, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Saw Is the Law

I'd like to see 'players to watch' lists for 2013, 2014, 2015 and maybe 2016 drafts?

2013

Goalies:
Ville Husso (!!)
Juuse Saros (!!)
Kevin Lankinen
Atte Tolvanen
Antti Karjalainen

Defenders:
Rasmus Ristolainen (!!)
Atte Mäkinen (!)
Mikke Levo
Matias Pulli
Alex Lintuniemi
Jimi Kuronen

Forwards:
Aleksander Barkov (!!!)
Juuso Ikonen (!!)
Artturi Lehkonen (!!)
Joose Antonen (!)
Jonatan Tanus
Saku Salminen
Aleksi Mustonen
Timi Lahtinen

2014

Goalies:
Juuso Kannel (!)
Kaapo Kähkönen (!)
Riki Markkanen
Matias Ruoppa

Defenders:
Joni Tuulola (!!)
Jaakko Hälli (!!)
Eetu Sopanen (!)
Markus Haapanen
Jere Rouhiainen
Kalle Tervo
Petrus Pietiläinen

Forwards:
Kasper Kapanen (!!)
Joel Kiviranta (!!)
Waltteri Hopponen (!)
Manu Honkanen
Alex Levänen
Miikka Pitkänen
Otto Nieminen
Alex Olkinuora
Juho Lammikko
Niko Ahoniemi
Antti Kalapudas

2015

Goalies:
Arttu Kulmala (!)
Joona Voutilainen
Nico Viksten
Lasse Likola

Defenders:
Rene Lindemann
Otto Saarimaa
Veeti Vainio
Ville Järvinen
Atte Töyry (!)
Niklas Murto
Jarkko Parikka

Forwards:
Aleksi Saarela (!!!)
Roope Hintz
Rasmus Smedberg
Joonas Niemelä
Joni Tuominen
Julius Nättinen (!!)
Sebastian Aho (!!)

2016

Goalies:
?

Defenders:
Markus Niemeläinen
Jesper Mattila

Forwards:
Jesse Puljujärvi (!!!)
Arttu Ruotsalainen (!)
Eetu Tuulola (!)
Aapeli Räsänen (!)
Otto Mäkinen

I probably forget someone..

Sparta2009 · 04-10-2012, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Saw Is the Law

I'd like to see 'players to watch' lists for 2013, 2014, 2015 and maybe 2016 drafts?

There are already a lot of names above, but I thought I could still do my list. I only list the most promising players that I have seen this season.

2013

Ville Husso, Goalie, HIFK
Kevin Lankinen, Goalie, Jokerit

Erik Autio, Defenseman, Blues
Mikke Levo, Defenseman, Ilves
Jimi Kuronen, Defenseman, HIFK
Matias Pulli, Defenseman, TPS
Rasmus Ristolainen, Defenseman, TPS
Santeri Saari, Defenseman, Jokerit

Aleksi Ainali, Forward, HIFK
Aleksander Barkov, Forward, Tappara
Juuso Ikonen, Forward, Blues
Artturi Lehkonen, Forward, TPS
Kasperi Ojantakanen, Forward, Jokerit

2014

Alex Lintuniemi, Defenseman, Jokerit

Waltteri Hopponen, Forward, Blues
Antti Kauppinen, Forward, HIFK
Joel Kiviranta, Forward, Jokerit

I have seen the 1997 born players and younger a limited amount of times, so I can´t comment a lot on them. But at least Aleksi Saarela, Petrus Palmu and few others have been promising in the games that I have seen.