Finnish prospects: strengths and weaknesses

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[Jolli]

Markus Granlund
Center/Winger
Shoots: Left
178 cm / 5'10"
77 kg / 170 lbs
4/16 1993
HIFK Helsinki

+ Decent speed
+? ...Can't think of anything else

- Extremely inaccurate wrister (Miettinen-level-accuracy)
- Skinny as hell
- Tries too hard
- Hands of stone
- Selfish

Future:
At best: Borderline top-9 forward in a weak team. Antti Miettinen/Jason Blake/Andrew Cogliano.
At least/probably: Top-6 forward in Sm-Liiga

HF rating: 6,0 G

[Zamuz]

Aleksander "Sasha" Barkov
Center
188 cm / 6'1
88 kg / 194 lbs
9/2/1995
Tappara Tampere

+ Forechecking
+ Playmaking abilities
+ Intelligence on ice
+ Two-way play
+ Accurate shot

- Not very smooth skater yet
- Physical play

Future:
At best: top line center, NHL.
At least: Great career in european leagues.

Comparable: Pavel Datsyuk (without any hesitation)
HF rating: 8.5 B

[PocketNines]

Anyone have a solid scouting report on Jani Hakanpaa and Teemu Eronen? Especially interested in Eronen since I'll get to see Hakanpaa play at WJC. Based purely on stats it looks like Eronen has taken a step forward this year but also missing some games – is he hurt?

Thanks in advance.

[QnebO]

Originally Posted by Gabranth

Mikael Granlund


HF rating: 5,0D

Can you send hfboards quotes to Facebook fails?

[MiGician]

Teemu Eronen
Defenseman
179 cm / 5'10"
82 kg / 181 lbs
11/22/1990
Jokerit Helsinki

+ good with the puck
+ good positioning
+ offensively skilled
+ good skating

- he should shoot more often
- also his shot isn't special
- sometimes "forgets" his player in defensive zone
- very thin at the moment. he has to bulk up

Future:
At best: 2nd/3rd pairing offensive defenseman in NHL
At worst: 2nd/3rd pairing offensive defenseman in the top leagues in Europe

Comparable: How was Kimmo Timonen defensive play when he was young, at the moment Timonen is elite two-way d-man but I have always liked this Timonen-lite comparison
HF rating: 6.5 C/D

[edd1e]

Originally Posted by Ifk2k11champs

Markus Granlund
Center/Winger
Shoots: Left
178 cm / 5'10"
77 kg / 170 lbs
4/16 1993
HIFK Helsinki

+ Decent speed
+? ...Can't think of anything else

- Extremely inaccurate wrister (Miettinen-level-accuracy)
- Skinny as hell
- Tries too hard
- Hands of stone
- Selfish

Future:
At best: Borderline top-9 forward in a weak team. Antti Miettinen/Jason Blake/Andrew Cogliano.
At least/probably: Top-6 forward in Sm-Liiga

HF rating: 6,0 G

A bit harsh estimate i think.

Inaccurate shot, Hands of stone?

Care to enlighten us a bit?

[PocketNines]

Originally Posted by MiGician

Teemu Eronen
Defenseman
179 cm / 5'10"
82 kg / 181 lbs
11/22/1990
Jokerit Helsinki

+ good with the puck
+ good positioning
+ offensively skilled
+ good skating

- he should shoot more often
- also his shot isn't special
- sometimes "forgets" his player in defensive zone
- very thin at the moment. he has to bulk up

Future:
At best: 2nd/3rd pairing offensive defenseman in NHL
At worst: 2nd/3rd pairing offensive defenseman in the top leagues in Europe

Comparable: How was Kimmo Timonen defensive play when he was young, at the moment Timonen is elite two-way d-man but I have always liked this Timonen-lite comparison
HF rating: 6.5 C/D

Much appreciated.

[sinettiseura]

Few words about Barkov. Watched the game against Canada last night and I was quite impressed about his play.

His skating (acceleration and top sdeed) aren't great but he was still quick enough to hold up with Canadians. I was little concerned that the small rink and more speedy game in WJC than in FEL is still too much for him and he couldn't play with his strengths. But I was wrong. He played quite well for 16 year old and his speed was decent. That is great because I think that there still is a lot room to improve his skating and if it is decent enough now I think that it isn't barrier for him to become a very solid NHLer. He is big and strong for his age but if you look at him he has room to add muscle and power and that could boost his skating quite much. And also the skating technique has some things that he could improve to get an extra gear.

Some people in other threads said that he has to be more brave and add confident in his game but I have to disagree a bit.. Obiviously he isn't used to the tempo that is in smaller rink and in this level of play and that was the thing why he wasn't able to stood up more in this pre-game. He always plays with patient and calmness and I think that he was few times a bit too calm and did his decisions too slow because he is used to had more time. The pregame against slovakia and I think that he gets used to the tempo and knows what works in this level and what doesen't.

I dont expect miracles from him but I think that he could still imrove his game from last night's game and maybe score few points in the tournament.

BTW: The thing what people IMO have to pay attention when watching Barkov play is how he uses his stick to get the puck. It's just amazing. He plays with very long stick and uses it very well to steal the puck.