Really nice to hear from a fan of HIFK. Markus seems to have been playing extremley well since the WJC.
I find some Finnish fans get down on him because of who is brother is and the fact that Markus benefits from playing with Mikael, but I'm very excited to see how Markus progresses next year when Mikael is finally in Minnesota.
BTW guys: this HF article has Joey Leach ranked as the 6th best drafted/signed defensemen in the WHL. Right behind this year's 11th overall Duncan Siemens, and even two spots ahead of 2010 10th overall Dylan McIlrath.
I accidental merged Bartschi's thread on Howse with the ticket exchange thread. My bad. Anyway, here's the post:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bartschi
He has like 4 points in like last 5 or so games is he finally finding his touch? its only 4 points in 27 games but its a start, and where do you think he'll be best case scenario??
Actually, I believe that's 4 points in his last seven. Anyways, it's nice to see him improving. He really needs to take fitness and nutrition seriously this offseason. Hopefully Ward's mid-season wakeup call can help Ryan move on from bad offseason habits.
Supposedly, he's been good on the backcheck and has played with a physical edge. I still don't have terribly high hopes for him, but he is still only a first year pro. It will be interesting to see how he can contribute next season.
The Chicago Wolves have loaned defenseman J.P. Testwuide to the Abbotsford Heat. In addition, the Calgary Flames have reassigned defenseman Jordan Henry to Chicago from Abbotsford.
Nice to see some Finnish praise for Granlund. You guys are the ones that watch the SM-Liiga, so the input is appreciated.
What is he doing to dominate? How has his game improved since last year and the beginning of this year?
He's stronger and faster than last year, but the main thing is that he's just adapted to the faster pace, stronger players and better defensemen. He looked really overwhelmed at the start of the season, now he's learned how to get by. Adapting, and the added physique (he's still got ways to go, he's still pretty scrawny) has made him able to play his own game and use his strengths.
He already had the puck skills and the IQ last year, now he's able to use them to produce. He and his brother are quite different players but they seem to think the same way, you can see the immense hockey smarts they both have, and how it helps them to progress in a very fast pace. Btw one cool thing about Markus is that he's actually pretty feisty, doesn't mind pushing and shoving a 6'3 220 defenseman if he gets angry
An HIFK fan can probably tell more and in detail, I've been trying to watch him pretty closely though
Thanks for your analysis. It's certainly excellent to see Granlund elevating his game. Hopefully he can keep improving and take his game to another level next year before maybe coming over 2013-2014..
He's stronger and faster than last year, but the main thing is that he's just adapted to the faster pace, stronger players and better defensemen. He looked really overwhelmed at the start of the season, now he's learned how to get by. Adapting, and the added physique (he's still got ways to go, he's still pretty scrawny) has made him able to play his own game and use his strengths.
He already had the puck skills and the IQ last year, now he's able to use them to produce. He and his brother are quite different players but they seem to think the same way, you can see the immense hockey smarts they both have, and how it helps them to progress in a very fast pace. Btw one cool thing about Markus is that he's actually pretty feisty, doesn't mind pushing and shoving a 6'3 220 defenseman if he gets angry
An HIFK fan can probably tell more and in detail, I've been trying to watch him pretty closely though
I think this is good analyze for Markus.
I say he has produce his game all the time and he don't need his brother anymore there, he has take his place HIFK:s 2 first lines in his own advantages. Actually, he is not clone to Mikael, they play very different like plays, but still there have some similarities.
Markus is better in skates than Mikael, Markus has harder shot and he is more sniper style than Mikael, still Markus has very good hockey IQ, he give nice passes all the time and also he don't scare to go hard places. I just wait when he get's more strength, he will be beast in all areas.
Mikael, he is playmaker, his hockey IQ is best what i have seen very rarely to anyone. Mikael has also very good shot accuraty, his passing skills are unbelievable and positioning is "Gretzky" like. Of course Mikael has lot of many other good things in his game, but i try to tell that they are not same type of players, some similarities they have and one is that they don't scare anything in the ice.
Mikael has been flu maybe 3 weeks now and Markus look better and better every game.
I say he has produce his game all the time and he don't need his brother anymore there, he has take his place HIFK:s 2 first lines in his own advantages. Actually, he is not clone to Mikael, they play very different like plays, but still there have some similarities.
Markus is better in skates than Mikael, Markus has harder shot and he is more sniper style than Mikael, still Markus has very good hockey IQ, he give nice passes all the time and also he don't scare to go hard places. I just wait when he get's more strength, he will be beast in all areas.
Mikael, he is playmaker, his hockey IQ is best what i have seen very rarely to anyone. Mikael has also very good shot accuraty, his passing skills are unbelievable and positioning is "Gretzky" like. Of course Mikael has lot of many other good things in his game, but i try to tell that they are not same type of players, some similarities they have and one is that they don't scare anything in the ice.
Mikael has been flu maybe 3 weeks now and Markus look better and better every game.
Markus has 29 points in his last 33 games.
The bold is good to hear as many people are concerned that Markus rides Mikael's coat-tails a bit. A lot of us will be watching closely next year when Mikael is not there.
And 29 pts in 33 games - he's gone into beast mode!
I say he has produce his game all the time and he don't need his brother anymore there, he has take his place HIFK:s 2 first lines in his own advantages. Actually, he is not clone to Mikael, they play very different like plays, but still there have some similarities.
Markus is better in skates than Mikael, Markus has harder shot and he is more sniper style than Mikael, still Markus has very good hockey IQ, he give nice passes all the time and also he don't scare to go hard places. I just wait when he get's more strength, he will be beast in all areas.
Mikael, he is playmaker, his hockey IQ is best what i have seen very rarely to anyone. Mikael has also very good shot accuraty, his passing skills are unbelievable and positioning is "Gretzky" like. Of course Mikael has lot of many other good things in his game, but i try to tell that they are not same type of players, some similarities they have and one is that they don't scare anything in the ice.
Mikael has been flu maybe 3 weeks now and Markus look better and better every game.
Markus has 29 points in his last 33 games.
Thanks for the analysis. I like hearing about his progression straight from Finland. Thank You.
The bold is good to hear as many people are concerned that Markus rides Mikael's coat-tails a bit. A lot of us will be watching closely next year when Mikael is not there.
And 29 pts in 33 games - he's gone into beast mode!
Yeah, the further the season has gone, he's proved more and more that he's an individual talent, and should be the one getting credit for his improvement, not his brother. He's a good prospect in his own right. Of course his point totals are slightly inflated from the games played alongside his brother (Most of the season they've played seperately though, so no that much), but that would be true with anyone as his big brother is the best player in the league, and doesn't hide the fact that MaG has been a good player as well.
His first 15 games were his adjustment period, after that on most nights he's been among the best forwards on his team, and on some nights the best even. Yeah, 29 in 33 is pretty beastly for a 18-year-old
Yeah, the further the season has gone, he's proved more and more that he's an individual talent, and should be the one getting credit for his improvement, not his brother. He's a good prospect in his own right. Of course his point totals are slightly inflated from the games played alongside his brother (Most of the season they've played seperately though, so no that much), but that would be true with anyone as his big brother is the best player in the league, and doesn't hide the fact that MaG has been a good player as well.
His first 15 games were his adjustment period, after that on most nights he's been among the best forwards on his team, and on some nights the best even. Yeah, 29 in 33 is pretty beastly for a 18-year-old
You think he can tell Mikael to not play for the Wild and come play for the Flames?
