Prospect Info: 71st Overall Leevi Merilainen G, Fin, Karpat Jr

[Dionysus]

even when he has a bad game he has a good game

beast

Was not rattled giving up some goals. Kept battling. Absolutely shut the door in OT and the shootout. Little help from the crossbar in OT.

 

[PlayOn]

I thought he looked a bit shaky after the bad goal and figured it was an off night, so it was really impressive to see him bounce back. So much maturity for such a young goalie.

 

[JD1]

If you go back to page 1, there's some crow being served

 

[PatrickEaves]

If you go back to page 1, there's some crow being served

Next Pekka Rinne.

What do you mean?

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

The stare at Pasternak in the SO tells you all you need to know about this guy. He’s got it.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

H

Was not rattled giving up some goals. Kept batrling. Absolutely shut the door in OT and the shootout. Little help from the crossbar in OT.

He pulled a Grant Fuhr tonight. Might've let in a soft one int he game, but held the fort when needed most.

 

[SanderSen]

He is going to have some bad games. Other teams will not be surprised or unprepared - they will be breaking down video on him. But he is just such a cool cucumber. Stoned them in the shoot-out.

I wanted to see him in a shoot-out last game, and he did not disappoint going head to head with Swayman.

 

[Micklebot]

When we picked him, we had Soogard, Daccord, Mandolese, Hogberg, and Gustavsson in the system, two of them panned out pretty good, maybe we're a goalie factory now?

 

[SanderSen]

When we picked him, we had Soogard, Daccord, Mandolese, Hogberg, and Gustavsson in the system, two of them panned out pretty good, maybe we're a goalie factory now?

.. just have to stop being a factory for other teams.

 

[Micklebot]

.. just have to stop being a factory for other teams.

So long as Levi and Ullmark continue to play great for us, I'd be thrilled to see Sogaard
Hogberg and Mando find success elsewhere

 

[SensFactor]

When we picked him, we had Soogard, Daccord, Mandolese, Hogberg, and Gustavsson in the system, two of them panned out pretty good, maybe we're a goalie factory now?

He reminds me a lot of Gustavsson. Very calm and quiet demeanor. We gave up on Gus too soon and he has been stellar in Minny.

 

[Random Comment]

He reminds me a lot of Gustavsson. Very calm and quiet demeanor. We gave up on Gus too soon and he has been stellar in Minny.

Hes starting off a lot better than Gustavsson.

 

[ACLEVERNAME]

Ullmark for 4 years is a chefs kiss if Meriläinen continues this projectory. Solid 60-40 tandem with the eventual changing of arms at year 3-4.

Haven't been this exited in Sens overall goaltending since ever probably.

 

[ottawagm]

Surprisingly, our backups are now even at 11-11.

I wonder what type of deal they will want to go with Merilainen this summer. Short term and cheap to have more room next year, or maybe something longer if they really believe in him.

 

[Whippet]

Haven’t posted here in a very, very long time. Stayed up late at nights watching games here in Sweden during my uni years about 10 years ago. The memories of trying to not wake up family up during our playoff run to the conference finals back in the days will last forever.

Have been lurking since then but still been watching every game(day after when coming home from work, keeping away from the result).

I haven’t had as much confidence in a young goalie as I have in him, not any other back up we’ve had for long time. His calmness and ways of reading the game is highly impressive considering his age. Do also like how he comes across on interviews. Has a shy northern Scandinavian vibe to him, almost seems a bit nervous based on facial expressions when questions are asked to him but answers in a calm and collected way.

As someone mentioned, felt like it was an off day when he left the fourth goal in and that might make him fold. Didnt feel he could done much on the previous goals, except for perhaps the Pastrnak goal.

As much as last night was a statement win for the team, it felt the same for Levi considering the emotion and the genuine playoff feeling which we’ve been depraved of. Haven’t yelled as loud as at the Norris’ goal since 2017.

Bit of a wall of text here but Levi has made me do it, I truly hope we’ve finally found a solid foundation in Ullmark and Merilainen for years to come.

As awful we have been quite some time, I think the lack of trust in our goalies have been a big problem with our defence. It’s night and day nowadays, we feel shaky when Forsberg(just waive/trade him please) plays due to his inconsistency. If Levi is sent down now when Ullmark is returning, I’d understand the reasoning, but think it would be a mistake since full confidence in both our goalies are needed for a playoff push.

Long may this continue.

 

[mysens]

Usually, when your team scores, the goalie hunkers down in his net and stays there,. this kid, when Ottawa would score, he would skate to his bench and fist pump the team as the players on the ice are celebrating in their little scrum at the opposite end of the ice.....this will not be shown on TV, but being there you see these little things. This kid cares. What an incredible piece we have here.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Ullmark for 4 years is a chefs kiss if Meriläinen continues this projectory. Solid 60-40 tandem with the eventual changing of arms at year 3-4.

Haven't been this exited in Sens overall goaltending since ever probably.

Leevi is exactly what we need right now, an RFA goalies who can be bridged through Ullmark's contract, and then get his big payday in 4 years.

Unless Ullmark doesn't come back and Leevi plays 30+ games at .915+, they can likely get him at 1.5M-2.5M on a 2-4 year term. Going 4 years off of a very small sample size would be risky, but if it works out it means they have a tandem locked in at around 11M and don't have to worry about paying 4M-5M for a legit #2 goalie if Ullmark can only go 40-50 games per season.

Ullmark is clearly a tandem goalie. Most teams use tandems now, but not every goalie wants to only play 40 games. I get the impression looking at Ullmark's career that he prefers that situation.

Kotchetkov in Carolina might be a comparable to look at. He was drafted a year earlier and signed 4 years at 2M with a limited NHL resume. If they go 4 years, I'd expect it to come in a bit higher, and I don't know that the Senators would want to risk that kind of term off if what might end up being a 20 game sample size.

 

[Tuna99]

Always looking for the next Cam Ward or Jordan Binnington.