2016 Draft Thread | 7

[TARS]

Virtanen already is Virtanen-heavy though.

A rich man's Virtanen then.

 

[biturbo19]

For those that are familiar with the D's of this draft class, in your opinion how wide is the gap between the top rank D vs #3/4? If theCanucks dropped to #5 or #6OA, and the top forwards are gone, should they trade down (hypothetically #10 and add a 2nd rounder) and pick the #3/4 rank D? Or stand put and pick the #1 rank D, whoever that may be.
I feel that the top 4 rank D's (OJ, sergachev, JC, bean) are all very interchangeable, based on what I read. If we are picking 6th and dead set on a D, I would like to trade down. What do you guys think?

I think they're all pretty close in the consensus sense. But there's still plenty of separation in the sense that everyone has their order on these guys. And if you're the guy actually turning in the card and walking up there to make that pick...you want your player. You're not going to trade back and essentially let other teams make the pick for you, by waiting for whichever of them "falls" to you. Not in the top-10 of the draft.

 

[biturbo19]

I'd say they play pretty similar styles and have similar talent levels, it's a comparison I made as well. Hampus is maybe a little chunkier, but neither are really physical players despite their good frame. Lindholm hasn't scored 50 points, but you still think, wow that's a good player.

Agreed. I think the "projection" for Juolevi is something fairly in-line with Hampus Lindholm. A lot of similarity to their game overall. And that's an extremely valuable player - even if neither may ever break the 50pt plateau as defencemen. Though in the right situation, feeding the right sort of forwards...

I feel like defensive ability is often treated too much like a binary attribute-- Almost like every player adept at two-way play is close to equally adept at two-way play.

Puljajarvi has a solid two way game, but there is no indication that he'll be even a fraction as good defensively as Bergeron, who is arguably the best defensive forward in the league. He doesn't play that role even at the Junior level.

Bergeron would probably be ~10 points more valuable than an equally productive player even if they have strong defensive abilities, IMO.

Very true. I think it's more than just defensive ability that tends to fall into a bit of this trap. But it's definitely among the qualities that tends to be dumbed down to a simple check box, yes/no assessment.

PLD reminds me of Hossa or Linden. It's the shot, and he is very attentive to his Dzone coverage. Pulju is more instinctive/energetic/frantic. It's difficult to find a comparable for him, IMO.

Agreed on both points. I think Hossa/Linden is a great comarison for Dubois. But when it comes to Puljujarvi...it's more difficult. He's a kind of unique player, and a bit of tougher projection.

A lot of the time he reminds me a bit of an Evander Kane type player. But even that comp is full of holes and doesn't really accurately describe him overall. Though i think that's closer to the level of player he projects as.

I'm still surprised by the number of comments, particularly recently which pop up suggesting Puljujarvi is some kind of "playmaker". Doesn't really jive for me. Yess he can make passes, and he picks up assists by crashing play toward the net in various ways as well. But i really wouldn't describe him as a playmaker.

 

[Peen]

I've not been able to put a finger on a puljujarvi comparison yet. he's unique.

 

[ginner classic]

I've not been able to put a finger on a puljujarvi comparison yet. he's unique.

I agree

 

[thefeebster]

But when it comes to Puljujarvi...it's more difficult. He's a kind of unique player, and a bit of tougher projection.

A lot of the time he reminds me a bit of an Evander Kane type player. But even that comp is full of holes and doesn't really accurately describe him overall. Though i think that's closer to the level of player he projects as.

I'm still surprised by the number of comments, particularly recently which pop up suggesting Puljujarvi is some kind of "playmaker". Doesn't really jive for me. Yess he can make passes, and he picks up assists by crashing play toward the net in various ways as well. But i really wouldn't describe him as a playmaker.

I don't really see Kane so much, Virtanen is more E.Kane. I think he projects at a much higher level than Evander. You really think Puljujarvi tops out as only a 45-50 point sniper? Bleh. I can't help but think that would be a disappointment for Puljujarvi.

I am not so surprised with the comments about his playmaking ability. He shows very good vision and ability to thread some passes on the PP. The PP runs through him.

However, i would consider him more of a dual threat, shooter and passer. Button at the U18s mentioned it several times. When Puljujarvi has the puck on his stick, you don't know how to defend him, because he is good at finding open team-mates as well as being a threat with his shot (which is still a good shot, its just not the most accurate).

As a comparison, it is tough, he is a unique player. I agree with you guys. Sometimes he reminds me of Ovechkin, with the way he commands the puck on the PP with the frequent beaver taps or the way he unloads his shot from that left side. Sometimes Malkin with the way he carries the puck through players. Sometimes Wheeler on the rush. Sometimes Kovalchuk as well.

 

[Nucky]

Yeah, I see some Malkin/Wheeler in Puljujarvi as well in terms of style but he is a pretty unique/versatile talent and hard to really find comparable a for his style of play.

 

[biturbo19]

I don't really see Kane so much, Virtanen is more E.Kane. I think he projects at a much higher level than Evander. You really think Puljujarvi tops out as only a 45-50 point sniper? Bleh. I can't help but think that would be a disappointment for Puljujarvi.

I am not so surprised with the comments about his playmaking ability. He shows very good vision and ability to thread some passes on the PP. The PP runs through him.

However, i would consider him more of a dual threat, shooter and passer. Button at the U18s mentioned it several times. When Puljujarvi has the puck on his stick, you don't know how to defend him, because he is good at finding open team-mates as well as being a threat with his shot (which is still a good shot, its just not the most accurate).

As a comparison, it is tough, he is a unique player. I agree with you guys. Sometimes he reminds me of Ovechkin, with the way he commands the puck on the PP with the frequent beaver taps or the way he unloads his shot from that left side. Sometimes Malkin with the way he carries the puck through players. Sometimes Wheeler on the rush. Sometimes Kovalchuk as well.

This is probably way outside the box...

But when it comes to the PP, the guy Puljujarvi really reminds me of is PK Subban. That same RHer, want to bang that one-timer sort of mentality. But like Subban, it feels like Puljujarvi has sort of adopted that passing option as a coping mechanism for the way teams key on them. Just strikes me as more of a "i don't have the shot i want, so i'm going to give it to someone else and beavertap until i get it back to try again" mentality. Not really a "playmaker" so much as...trying to get that shot set up right. I'd describe it as more of a focal point to a PP, than strictly running through either of them. Like Stamkos as well. Great skillset, but the PP doesn't really run through him so much as end with him.

And then i see stretches of Puljujarvi off the rush where i see that Evander Kane type player...a bit of North-South tunnel vision, the "i'm going to skate fast at the net ignore everyone else and shoot the puck" type approach. It's really not the right comp overall...but i see some real elements of that to him. Just a tough comparison to find really.

The one thing i don't see though, is what i'd describe as a "playmaker".

 

[thefeebster]

This is probably way outside the box...

But when it comes to the PP, the guy Puljujarvi really reminds me of is PK Subban. That same RHer, want to bang that one-timer sort of mentality. But like Subban, it feels like Puljujarvi has sort of adopted that passing option as a coping mechanism for the way teams key on them. Just strikes me as more of a "i don't have the shot i want, so i'm going to give it to someone else and beavertap until i get it back to try again" mentality. Not really a "playmaker" so much as...trying to get that shot set up right. I'd describe it as more of a focal point to a PP, than strictly running through either of them. Like Stamkos as well. Great skillset, but the PP doesn't really run through him so much as end with him.

And then i see stretches of Puljujarvi off the rush where i see that Evander Kane type player...a bit of North-South tunnel vision, the "i'm going to skate fast at the net ignore everyone else and shoot the puck" type approach. It's really not the right comp overall...but i see some real elements of that to him. Just a tough comparison to find really.

The one thing i don't see though, is what i'd describe as a "playmaker".

Definitely don't see this coping mechanism theory where he is just moving the puck and waiting for the puck to come back to him. I'm not sure how one can watch him at the U18s and say the PP didn't or can't run through him. He made several great passes on the PP to Tolvanen, on the right side, to set him up for a one timer, often through several opponents. Also made so many passes to a man in the slot or in front of the net for the deflection or tip, which i believe is some kind of set play they must have been running since he did it so often, at least a dozen times by my count. He was, for all intents and purposes, their QB on the PP; it ran through him. Although like i said, i see him as a dual threat with his shot and drive for the net but he is still an adept playmaker, IMO, with above average passing ability and good vision. On Karpat, it was moreso run through Aho, from what i watched.

 

[TARS]

Puljujarvi has a pretty insane wrist shot. Not in the traditional power/accuracy sense like Laine, but how fast/unexpectedly he can get it off when the puck is in front of him. He'll just be stick handling near the circles and with no wind-up at all the puck is just hurtling towards the net. Thats very hard to defend against because he still has full control stick handling until the puck is already gone.

Kind of hard to explain, but the puck is almost always in front of his feet on his wristers, and not mid-stance or behind like most guys do to get power behind it. Not a lot of telegraphing happening (I'm looking at you, Kesler).

 

[Horse McHindu]

I've not been able to put a finger on a puljujarvi comparison yet. he's unique.

I've heard comparisons to Jarri Kurri and Jere Lehtinen.

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

Lehtinen is a comparison I've heard, too.

Fine player but...at #3? Yeesh.

Edit - That being said, Lehtinen actually is a guy who could be described as playing Bergeron-level defense.

 

[monster_bertuzzi]

Lehtinen is a comparison I've heard, too.

Fine player but...at #3? Yeesh.

Edit - That being said, Lehtinen actually is a guy who could be described as playing Bergeron-level defense.

lol Pulju has more talent than a 45-55ish point winger like Lehtinen was.

 

[Nucky]

I've heard comparisons to Jarri Kurri and Jere Lehtinen.

I don't understand the Lehtinen comp.

 

[TARS]

I don't understand the Lehtinen comp.

Same. It probably originates from Finnish writers making comparisons that most Finns would be familiar with.

I mean outside of Kurri, Selanne and Koivu there aren't a lot of high end talents to compare to.

 

[CanaFan]

Might be way off on this comp - I've only watched Puljujarvi in a few periods at U18's so very limited exposure - but would Jakub Voracek be a reasonable style and ceiling comp for him? Big, lanky, strong skater, puck possessor. More pass than shoot. Upside in the 60-80 point range from year to year. Not a Finnish comp but is the best one I could think of (could be way off though).

 

[clay]

I've not been able to put a finger on a puljujarvi comparison yet. he's unique.

Marian Hossa? Puljujarvi's skating style is actually more fluid and he's better in that department, but the reach, puck protection, and vision are similar.

 

[Icebreakers]

Hes a Blake Wheeler clone. Its literally the perfect comp. Voracek and Hossa dont have the motor to be that alike to Puljujarvi.


Hossa is a two way monster as well. One of the best defensive wingers in the past generation. Dont think Puljujarvi is going to get on that level.

 

[ATypicalCanadian]

Saw this on Twitter..

 

[polarbearcub]

Watch the canucks pick chychrun at 6

 

[Nuckles]

A year of extremely unentertaining hockey and pissing away more assets just to land Olli Juolevi...

 

[Grub]

****

Things like this make me more demotivated in watching this team....

1 year of torture and we move 3 spots down... our ******* luck.

 

[Canadian Canuck]

Watch the canucks pick chychrun at 6

We're picking 5 smh. Can everyone stop ***** and complaining? Holy **** honestly.

We're taking Tkachuk/Dubois

 

[absolute garbage]

****

Things like this make me more demotivated in watching this team....

1 year of torture and we move 3 spots down... our ******* luck.

Good. It's what they deserve. Hopefully this (getting a worse player) means we're one step closer to new management.

 

[Quinning]

****

Things like this make me more demotivated in watching this team....

1 year of torture and we move 3 spots down... our ******* luck.

Two spots.

Pretty **** outcome but not worst case scenario.

On another note, **** Columbus. How many ****ing yeas have they pissed away top picks