Only players yet to be drafted from Finland. Some names that I know of now but I'm not sure about a top 10 list.Any is input is welcome. Thanks in Advance.
Toni Rajala F (2009)
Erik Haula F (2009)
Teemu Pulkkinen F (2010)
Mikael Granlund F (2010)
Joonas Donskoi F (2010)
Riku Harma G (2010)
Markus Granlund F (2011)
In no particular order some of my favorites that come to mind, that might get drafted in the 08-, 09- and 10-drafts:
late born 89s: (star goalie from the U20 WC team and a offensive defender)
G SÄTERI Harri 29.12.1989 Toijala 181 82 FIN L Tappara
D KLUUSKERI Niko 03.11.1989 Heinola 180 75 FIN L TPS
90-born's: (three small and skilled forwards that have played well this season)
F SOINTU Matias 10.02.1990 Tampere 177 67 FIN L Ilves
F RASK Joonas 24.03.1990 Savonlinna 178 73 FIN R Ilves
F JORMAKKA Pekka 14.09.1990 Jyväskylän mlk 174 80 FIN R JYP
91-born's: (lot's of alternatives, but here's my favorites)
D MANELIUS Nico 12.03.1991 Vantaa 181 86 FIN L Jokerit
D KIVISTÖ Tommi 07.06.1991 Vantaa 186 87 FIN L Jokerit
D VATANEN Sami 03.06.1991 Jyväskylä 172 64 FIN R JYP
F KARJALAINEN Joni 13.04.1991 Helsinki 174 74 FIN L HIFK
F NÄTTINEN Joonas 03.01.1991 Jämsä 188 79 FIN R JYP
F RAJALA Toni 29.03.1991 Parkano 175 67 FIN L Ilves
F HAULA Erik 23.03.1991 Pori 178 72 FIN L Ässät
92-born's: (perhaps a bit too early to judge, but here's some that have stood out)
G HÄRMÄ Riku 22.01.1992 Oulu 170 63 FIN L Kärpät
D VÄKIPARTA Riku 02.02.1992 Pietarsaari 177 77 FIN L Lukko
F GRANLUND Mikael 26.02.1992 Oulu 174 73 FIN L Kärpät
F PULKKINEN Teemu 02.01.1992 Vantaa 178 77 FIN R Jokerit
F DONSKOI Joonas 13.04.1992 Raahe 180 70 FIN R Kärpät
F HALINEN Petteri 08.04.1992 Espoo 189 74 FIN L Blues
In no particular order some of my favorites that come to mind, that might get drafted in 08-, 09- and 10-drafts:
late born 89s: (star goalie from the U20 WC team and a offensive defender)
G SÄTERI Harri 29.12.1989 Toijala 181 82 FIN L Tappara
D KLUUSKERI Niko 03.11.1989 Heinola 180 75 FIN L TPS
90-born's: (three small and skilled forwards that have played well this season)
F SOINTU Matias 10.02.1990 Tampere 177 67 FIN L Ilves
F RASK Joonas 24.03.1990 Savonlinna 178 73 FIN R Ilves
F JORMAKKA Pekka 14.09.1990 Jyväskylän mlk 174 80 FIN R JYP
91-born's: (lot's of alternatives, but here's my favorites)
D MANELIUS Nico 12.03.1991 Vantaa 181 86 FIN L Jokerit
D KIVISTÖ Tommi 07.06.1991 Vantaa 186 87 FIN L Jokerit
D VATANEN Sami 03.06.1991 Jyväskylä 172 64 FIN R JYP
F KARJALAINEN Joni 13.04.1991 Helsinki 174 74 FIN L HIFK
F NÄTTINEN Joonas 03.01.1991 Jämsä 188 79 FIN R JYP
F RAJALA Toni 29.03.1991 Parkano 175 67 FIN L Ilves
F HAULA Erik 23.03.1991 Pori 178 72 FIN L Ässät
92-born's: (perhaps a bit too early to judge, but here's some that have stood out)
G HÄRMÄ Riku 22.01.1992 Oulu 170 63 FIN L Kärpät
D VÄKIPARTA Riku 02.02.1992 Pietarsaari 177 77 FIN L Lukko
F GRANLUND Mikael 26.02.1992 Oulu 174 73 FIN L Kärpät
F PULKKINEN Teemu 02.01.1992 Vantaa 178 77 FIN R Jokerit
F DONSKOI Joonas 13.04.1992 Raahe 180 70 FIN R Kärpät
F HALINEN Petteri 08.04.1992 Espoo 189 74 FIN L Blues
If we were to rank them it would probably look like
1. Teemu Pulkkinen 2010
2. Toni Rajala 2009
3. Erik Haula 2009
4. Mikael Granlund 2010
5. Riku Harma 2010
6. Jiri Niemi 2008
7. Joonas Donskoi 2010
8. Harri Sateri 2008
9. Joonas Rask 2008
10. Mikael Granlund 2011 (Still a long time to see how he developes)
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11. Joonas Nattinen 2009
12. Joni Karjalainen 2009
13. Nico Manelius 2009
14. Niko Kluuskeri 2008
15. Joni Ortio 2009
16. Jere Ringbom 2009
Nice List. Jiri Niemi I don't really know much about. But now I'm curious where do you think he'll get picked this year? and I think at #10 you meant markus
Nice List. Jiri Niemi I don't really know much about. But now I'm curious where do you think he'll get picked this year? and I think at #10 you meant markus
That I did. Niemi can be a late first to late second pick. I like him alot especially with his mobility.
I know that this list won't probably be anywhere close to the list that you can make of these players in 5 to 15 years and I might subconsciously be making the list look more like a list of my favorites, but I still couldn't resist of making my own top10 list of 90-92 born players(List will probably look a lot different next season):
1. Mikael Granlund (2010) -Versatile player that IMO has the best hockeysense and creativity of these players, plus lots of skill. 2. Toni Rajala (2009) - Almost like Pavel Bure(Almost!) 3. Teemu Pulkkinen (2010) - Not as versatile offensively as Rajala and especially Granlund, but great in what he does and could be Teemu the II(there has been other Jokerit-youngsters in the past that were more or less declared as the next Selänne: Eero Somervuori, Teemu Laine, Jani Rita...,that have failed to reach the high expectations). 4. Joonas Nättinen (2009) - Big guy that's a good skater and has fairly soft hands(NHL scouts love this kind of players). 5. Joonas Donskoi (2010) - His skill and movement combined is something that you rarely see, smooth skater with great agility and skill. There is still a lot to be done in his overall game, but he could be a great goal scorer in the future(This kind of players are extremely rare in Finland) 6. Sami Vatanen (2009) - Might go undrafted cause of his size, but he still is the best offensive defenseman in these age groups. Fast as a lightning, carries the puck well, able to shoot pretty good onetimer's, makes good openings and not that bad defensively either. Reminds me of Petteri Nummelin. 7. Erik Haula (2009) - Has quite a lot of skill, but doesn't really shine exceptionally well in any areas of the game(not yet), but there is still something that elevates your interest, you just can't tell what it is(at least I can't). 8. Tommi Kivistö (2009) - A good all around defender that has the size to make it to the NA. 9. Matias Sointu (2008) - Another player that will probably go undrafted because of his size, but he has great skill and a good vision to utilize it. 10. Riku Härmä (2010) - The most talented goalie prospect in these age groups and the only reason why he is this low is his height.
From what I've heard mobility could be the biggest problem in his game, then again it's just hearsay because I haven't seen him play, but are you sure about his mobility?
I know that this list won't probably be anywhere close to the list that you can make of these players in 5 to 15 years and I might subconsciously be making the list look more like a list of my favorites, but I still couldn't resist of making my own top10 list of 90-92 born players(List will probably look a lot different next season):
1. Mikael Granlund (2010) -Versatile player that IMO has the best hockeysense and creativity of these players, plus lots of skill. 2. Toni Rajala (2009) - Almost like Pavel Bure(Almost!) 3. Teemu Pulkkinen (2010) - Not as versatile offensively as Rajala and especially Granlund, but great in what he does and could be Teemu the II(there has been other Jokerit-youngsters in the past that were more or less declared as the next Selänne: Eero Somervuori, Teemu Laine, Jani Rita...,that have failed to reach the high expectations). 4. Joonas Nättinen (2009) - Big guy that's a good skater and has fairly soft hands(NHL scouts love this kind of players). 5. Joonas Donskoi (2010) - His skill and movement combined is something that you rarely see, smooth skater with great agility and skill. There is still a lot to be done in his overall game, but he could be a great goal scorer in the future(This kind of players are extremely rare in Finland) 6. Sami Vatanen (2009) - Might go undrafted cause of his size, but he still is the best offensive defenseman in these age groups. Fast as a lightning, carries the puck well, able to shoot pretty good onetimer's, makes good openings and not that bad defensively either. Reminds me of Petteri Nummelin. 7. Erik Haula (2009) - Has quite a lot of skill, but doesn't really shine exceptionally well in any areas of the game(not yet), but there is still something that elevates your interest, you just can't tell what it is(at least I can't). 8. Tommi Kivistö (2009) - A good all around defender that has the size to make it to the NA. 9. Matias Sointu (2008) - Another player that will probably go undrafted because of his size, but he has great skill and a good vision to utilize it. 10. Riku Härmä (2010) - The most talented goalie prospect in these age groups and the only reason why he is this low is his height.
From what I've heard mobility could be the biggest problem in his game, then again it's just hearsay because I haven't seen him play, but are you sure about his mobility?
From what I've heard mobility could be the biggest problem in his game, then again it's just hearsay because I haven't seen him play, but are you sure about his mobility?
I may have gotten Niemi and Naittenen mixed up. I don't think Granlund is ahead of Rajala or Pulkkinen yet.
Ok Finnerican, since you like Finnish prospects so much perhaps you could project the potential ok this Teemu Pulkkinen guy, what is his potenial in the NHL, does he have dazzling puck skills like Robbie Schremp mixed with the dynamic offensive game of Sidney Crosby and mixed with the two-way game of Steve Yzerman? what tell me, what is it that makes him a dead on lock for 1st overall in 2010? what makes him an absolute sure-fire Ovechkin/Crosbiesque like player? would he blow guys like Brandon Gormley or Taylor Hall right out of the water to be the 1st overall pick in June 2010? if you explain and convince me than I will get on the Teemu Pulkkinen Band Wagon with all the other loyal Finnish Users. (Will he win the Art Ross some day? Calder, Selke, Hart?)
You know what this is useless, I feel silly here I mean This thread is aimed at Finnish people only, it's only natural your going to assume that those Finnish prospects ar ethe best in the world, just like Canadians think that there prospects are the best in the world, or even Americans and Swedes say the exact same thing, every single one of them I've all heard stuff like " yeah that Svensson Paajaarvii is the next Forsberg" or "Yeah that Schroeder is definately the next Madono" or " did you hear about that Stamkos? he's suppose to be the next Sakic". So yeah sorry about the Sarcasm above, if that even qualifies as sarcasm.
I really do think that Granlund will be better than Pulkkinen. He is already ahead of Pulkkinen in B-juniors. Astonishing point total so far, 17 games 35 points, Pulkkinen has 19 games 30 points. Pulkkinen has scored more in international games though. Time will tell, but I wasnt that impressed on Pulkkinen's play when I saw him. Crosby-like skills? I dont think any prospect in the world has Crosby-like skills, and certainly not Pulkkinen. But both are Top-10 picks, if the draft would be today.
I really do think that Granlund will be better than Pulkkinen. He is already ahead of Pulkkinen in B-juniors. Astonishing point total so far, 17 games 35 points, Pulkkinen has 19 games 30 points. Pulkkinen has scored more in international games though. Time will tell, but I wasnt that impressed on Pulkkinen's play when I saw him. Crosby-like skills? I dont think any prospect in the world has Crosby-like skills, and certainly not Pulkkinen. But both are Top-10 picks, if the draft would be today.
Pulkkinen's game and his size are more ready to play against higher competition tho. That's compared to Granlund's. And Crosby surely has nothing to do with Pulkkinen, since obviously gap between their skilllevel. And Pulkkinen is playing very differently. As I mentioned in another thread, Pulkkinen is Oveckin without Ovy's checking game and with a bit lesser shot.
You know what this is useless, I feel silly here I mean This thread is aimed at Finnish people only, it's only natural your going to assume that those Finnish prospects ar ethe best in the world, just like Canadians think that there prospects are the best in the world, or even Americans and Swedes say the exact same thing, every single one of them I've all heard stuff like " yeah that Svensson Paajaarvii is the next Forsberg" or "Yeah that Schroeder is definately the next Madono" or " did you hear about that Stamkos? he's suppose to be the next Sakic"
Don't take it that seriously cause people are mostly writing to these boards for fun and "homerism/patriotism" is just natural. Plus I haven't seen Finnish posters directly declaring that Finnish prospects are the best in the world, just some bold predictions. It's just so fun to speculate about Rajala, Granlund and Pulkkinen, because there hasn't been young Finnish talent like this since Tuomo Ruutu, Mikko Koivu, Joni Pitkänen and Kari Lehtonen(I'm not saying that R,G&P are future NHL'ers). And I for one as a Finn can say that Sweden has some great players growing up and that one of them is Svensson-Pääjärvi. Svensson-Pääjärvi is an exceptional junior player and could be an exceptional player when he grows up as well, although I think that S-P won't be the next Forsberg because his style of play is different from Forsberg.
You know what this is useless, I feel silly here I mean This thread is aimed at Finnish people only, it's only natural your going to assume that those Finnish prospects ar ethe best in the world, just like Canadians think that there prospects are the best in the world, or even Americans and Swedes say the exact same thing, every single one of them I've all heard stuff like " yeah that Svensson Paajaarvii is the next Forsberg" or "Yeah that Schroeder is definately the next Madono" or " did you hear about that Stamkos? he's suppose to be the next Sakic". So yeah sorry about the Sarcasm above, if that even qualifies as sarcasm.
What is wrong wit you man! This thread is aimed for people with any knowledge of prospects from Finland. What's the big deal I live in the US and I like any and all good players from around the world. Besides Finland is a great country and a hockey hotbed.
Ok Finnerican, since you like Finnish prospects so much perhaps you could project the potential ok this Teemu Pulkkinen guy, what is his potenial in the NHL, does he have dazzling puck skills like Robbie Schremp mixed with the dynamic offensive game of Sidney Crosby and mixed with the two-way game of Steve Yzerman? what tell me, what is it that makes him a dead on lock for 1st overall in 2010? what makes him an absolute sure-fire Ovechkin/Crosbiesque like player? would he blow guys like Brandon Gormley or Taylor Hall right out of the water to be the 1st overall pick in June 2010? if you explain and convince me than I will get on the Teemu Pulkkinen Band Wagon with all the other loyal Finnish Users. (Will he win the Art Ross some day? Calder, Selke, Hart?)
I lied. I am responding to you. Two very intellegent people (one a scout) have ranked him first overall in 2010 (http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=470293&page=3), along with alot of other people in other threads. When have you seen Pulkkinen? Maybe when you take off the Red and White homer-goggles you can see the world for the players they supply.
Finland is loaded with talent in the next few years.
What about Joonas Nattinen is this guy still ranked ahead of Rajala and other finns for 2009. Could someone maybe give a brief scouting report on him?
Finland is loaded with talent in the next few years.
What about Joonas Nattinen is this guy still ranked ahead of Rajala and other finns for 2009. Could someone maybe give a brief scouting report on him?
He has better size than the more touted prospects. I like him more just for that. Size matters. That said, I haven't seen any of these guys play
I really do think that Granlund will be better than Pulkkinen. He is already ahead of Pulkkinen in B-juniors. Astonishing point total so far, 17 games 35 points, Pulkkinen has 19 games 30 points. Pulkkinen has scored more in international games though. Time will tell, but I wasnt that impressed on Pulkkinen's play when I saw him. Crosby-like skills? I dont think any prospect in the world has Crosby-like skills, and certainly not Pulkkinen. But both are Top-10 picks, if the draft would be today.
About those b-juniors stats, Pulkkien has apparently looked a little tired recently and they re-called some guys from the A-juniors so Pulkkinen's ice time decreased.
):
. Plus I haven't seen Finnish posters directly declaring that Finnish prospects are the best in the world, just some bold predictions. It's just so fun to speculate about Rajala, Granlund and Pulkkinen, because there hasn't been young Finnish talent like this since Tuomo Ruutu, Mikko Koivu, Joni Pitkänen and Kari Lehtonen(I'm not saying that R,G&P are future NHL'ers). And I for one as a Finn can say that Sweden has some great players growing up and that one of them is Svensson-Pääjärvi. Svensson-Pääjärvi is an exceptional junior player and could be an exceptional player when he grows up as well, although I think that S-P won't be the next Forsberg because his style of play is different from Forsberg.
