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

[zenator]

The trade to SJ coinciding with a SJ collapse that rendered Stutzle as a lottery pick.

And the draft pick was deferred from the previous year. It may have been deferred to the next year because the Sharks made it to the conference championship (pick becomes 27-30) as a condition. Led by an in-form EK until he had to check out with a worsening groin injury.

Otherwise the Sens would have picked like 22-24 in 2019. (Sharks 101 pts)

And who would expect a team that good to collapse the next season leading to a high pick which got higher due to a lottery win?

Sens were so lucky to get Stutzle.

 

[OD99]

And the draft pick was deferred from the previous year. It may have been deferred to the next year because the Sharks made it to the conference championship (pick becomes 27-30) as a condition. Led by an in-form EK until he had to check out with a worsening groin injury.

Otherwise the Sens would have picked like 22-24 in 2019. (Sharks 101 pts)

And who would expect a team that good to collapse the next season leading to a high pick which got higher due to a lottery win?

Sens were so lucky to get Stutzle.

I don't think that's right? I thought they had to give a pick to the Sabres? If they had made the Cup Finals we would have had their 1st round pick the year after Stu?

I seem to recall us feeling a little unlucky at that point.

 

[Sun God Nika]

How did we f* it? We chose the right goalie to keep.

We kept Anderson, who played better than the other 2 going forward, and also lasted longer in the NHL.

Although if you're referring to only getting Conacher for Bishop, or blowing the 1st rounder we got for Lehner on Colin White, then I see what you're saying.

Bishop went on to be three time vezina runner up with different teams and Lehner won two Jennings on two different teams. Anderson allthough he was good was old and was consistently inconsistent going good year bad year.

Doesn't help that we botched both those trades as well.

 

[OD99]

Bishop went on to be three time vezina runner up with different teams and Lehner won two Jennings on two different teams. Anderson allthough he was good was old and was consistently inconsistent going good year bad year.

Doesn't help that we botched both those trades as well.

The real lost opportunity was that we could have gotten more for Anderson as he was more established, and then run with 2 younger guys.

Who knows how it might have worked out.

 

[Rals]

I don't get why we never picked Konency with the 1st rounder we got from Lehner.

I remember watching the draft and being excited he fell to us, only to be immediately disappointed. I think it was Eugene though; he said something about not having small sized jerseys available

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

The real lost opportunity was that we could have gotten more for Anderson as he was more established, and then run with 2 younger guys.

Who knows how it might have worked out.

Even then did we specifically covet Conacher or was he the only prospect Tampa was willing to part with? Like yeah there's no way they would trade us Kuch for Bishop, but we probably could have at least gotten Johnson or Palat for Bishop, no?

I don't think that's right? I thought they had to give a pick to the Sabres? If they had made the Cup Finals we would have had their 1st round pick the year after Stu?

I seem to recall us feeling a little unlucky at that point.

No we get 2020 regardless and if the Sharks made the 2019 cup finals, we would have gotten the 2021 pick which they used on Eklund (And we would probably have picked Clarke since he went right after).

 

[zenator]

I looked it up...

Karlsson traded to Sharks by Senators | NHL.com

Two-time Norris Trophy winner heads to San Jose; Ottawa receives four players, at least two draft picks

www.nhl.com

"Ottawa receives San Jose's first-round choice in either 2019 or 2020 (not lottery protected); if the Sharks miss the playoffs this season it will be a 2019 selection, otherwise it will be in 2020."

 

[OD99]

Even then did we specifically covet Conacher or was he the only prospect Tampa was willing to part with? Like yeah there's no way they would trade us Kuch for Bishop, but we probably could have at least gotten Johnson or Palat for Bishop, no?

I remember being underwhelmed by Conacher right away and if they did covet him, why?

No we get 2020 regardless and if the Sharks made the 2019 cup finals, we would have gotten the 2021 pick which they used on Eklund (And we would probably have picked Clarke since he went right after).

That's right...we were already locked in from the previous year when they had to push back the pick to Buff (or something like that). If we had to 2021 pick and could have taken Clarke...wow.

 

[coladin]

Great bounce back game, but I really hated the way they try and paint his last two starts on TSN. It was unfair

 

[Senscore]

 

[Sun God Nika]

Three shutouts as a rookie. Could have had a few more to be honest there were some late games where he only allowed 1 goal.

 

[starling]

I remember some team we played against last week had 2 goalies with 3 shutouts and they even made a graphic about it, something like first time in 40 years or something WOW.

Well duh, we now have 2 goalies with 3 shutouts AND another one with 2.

 

[Alex1234]

1.99 GAA
.925 s%
in 12 games this season

 

[Icelevel]

What an incredibly nice surprise.
Was hopeful but this blows expectations away.
Just what we needed.

 

[Senovision]

1.99 GAA
.925 s%
in 12 games this season

His 3 shutouts has him tied for third in the league with several goalies including some guy named Linus Ullmark ( I think he plays for us) Lol

 

[armani]

1.99 GAA
.925 s%
in 12 games this season

An NHL starter in the making, maybe more. He has the Carey Price calm and stability in net. Hard to see how he is sent down when Ullmark returns. Merilainen has been an impact player in the team’s turn around with Ullmark down and Forsberg out of form. But Forsberg is also playing well, and his experience will be valueable for this team to not only push for a spot but win a few rounds in the playoffs. Goalie depth is important, which is all of a sudden the envy of the league. Merilainen brought that stability and the team really turned around.

Quite the dilemma we have here, numbers game tells he will be sent down but how can you send down arguably one of your biggest impact players?

A good problem to have. Finally we have one of those problems.

 

[Beville]

An NHL starter in the making, maybe more. He has the Carey Price calm and stability in net. Hard to see how he is sent down when Ullmark returns. Merilainen has been an impact player in the team’s turn around with Ullmark down and Forsberg out of form. But Forsberg is also playing well, and his experience will be valueable for this team to not only push for a spot but win a few rounds in the playoffs. Goalie depth is important, which is all of a sudden the envy of the league. Merilainen brought that stability and the team really turned around.

Quite the dilemma we have here, numbers game tells he will be sent down but how can you send down arguably one of your biggest impact players?

A good problem to have. Finally we have one of those problems.

I’m very glad I’m not the Coach / Management and have to figure this “problem” out.

Logically, you’d send Leevi down purely because he is the “easier” option.

The long term saving grace? Forsy expires this season, I think, and then Leevi becomes the #2. Yes, there is the Mads situation but thankfully we can afford now to bury players in the minors and take the hit.

 

[Sensrule]

This string of success is like the Hamburgular run. If Ullmark struggles once he returns, at what point do you make Leevi the starter? I know in 2015 it burned us when we elected to go with Hammond against the Habs in the playoffs. By the time Andy saw the net, the series was basically over.

 

[mysens]

This has been the best surprise addition for this team this year. Better than most of our new acquisitions. For this kid to come in out of nowhere and put his stamp on the back end has helped us walk into the playoff race. I thought we were doomed with Ullmark out. Wow.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

This string of success is like the Hamburgular run. If Ullmark struggles once he returns, at what point do you make Leevi the starter? I know in 2015 it burned us when we elected to go with Hammond against the Habs in the playoffs. By the time Andy saw the net, the series was basically over.

Better yet, why designate a pure #1 and #2? Keep both goalies fresh and ready by simply alternating starts (or give them equal runs of games).

 

[NyQuil]

Better yet, why designate a pure #1 and #2? Keep both goalies fresh and ready by simply alternating starts (or give them equal runs of games).

Ullmark is the #1. He’s being paid like one and he has the experience to shoulder the responsibility.

But that doesn’t mean you don’t start Leevi if he’s playing better.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Leevi is giving them no reason to send him down. 4sberg has had some good games as well.

I doubt they keep 3 for the remainder . Leevi is waivers exempt according to Puckpedia... we wouldn't want to lose him.

With flakey back Ullmark we would not want to risk losing either of them

 

[BoardsofCanada]

I think Merilainen saved the season. In the first half, Forsberg was hot garbage, and Ullmark's been up and down, in and out.

Ullmark's 5 game win streak in December got us back into contention but then he goes down. The season was hanging by a thread. In comes Merilainen who goes 8-3-1 with 0.925% and a miniscule 1.99.

He rejuvenated the whole team, including Forsberg. The team is playing amazing because they know they have reliable goaltending, for a change.

Everyone keeps saying it but it bears repeating; his calm demeanor and confidence is just so impressive.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I think Merilainen saved the season. In the first half, Forsberg was hot garbage, and Ullmark's been up and down, in and out.

Ullmark's 5 game win streak in December got us back into contention but then he goes down. The season was hanging by a thread. In comes Merilainen who goes 8-3-1 with 0.925% and a miniscule 1.99.

He rejuvenated the whole team, including Forsberg. The team is playing amazing because they know they have reliable goaltending, for a change.

Everyone keeps saying it but it bears repeating; his calm demeanor and confidence is just so impressive.

Leevi was a god send... He should have been #1 in Belleville and our 1st callup. Sogaard was nothing but shakey.

Leevi plays the position with such poise and he makes tough saves look easy

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I think Merilainen saved the season. In the first half, Forsberg was hot garbage, and Ullmark's been up and down, in and out.

Ullmark's 5 game win streak in December got us back into contention but then he goes down. The season was hanging by a thread. In comes Merilainen who goes 8-3-1 with 0.925% and a miniscule 1.99.

He rejuvenated the whole team, including Forsberg. The team is playing amazing because they know they have reliable goaltending, for a change.

Everyone keeps saying it but it bears repeating; his calm demeanor and confidence is just so impressive.

I agree. I don't think they'd be where they are now had they rode Forsberg. He's given a few good spot starts and has improved from earlier in the season, but still very clearly the weaker of the 2.