C/W Ville Koivunen - Kärpät, FIN (2021, 51st, CAR, traded to PIT)

[mattihp]

Koivunen is a good young player, but I'm worried about his skating. It's pretty bad. Not very big guy and not very strong. Feels like he might struggle in more skating oriented and physical NA game. Only had 1 point in 12 games in AHL last season. His skating needs to improve a lot for him to be NHL player.

He's not a bad skater, but his acceleration isn't amazing. Once he gets his feet moving constantly it will look better. Anyone who isn't fast and quick or tenacious sticks out against Jukurit though. They skate like demons right now..

 

[JJTT]

Great finish to the season for Koivunen with 31 points in the last 25 regular season games and 13 points in 12 playoff games.

He will continue his season in the AHL after Kärpät won the bronze medal.

Probably needs a year in the AHL until he is NHL ready but he was elite on the powerplay this season. Might help the pens there.

PP assist from today

 

[Jacob]

Great finish to the season for Koivunen with 31 points in the last 25 regular season games and 13 points in 12 playoff games.

He will continue his season in the AHL after Kärpät won the bronze medal.

Probably needs a year in the AHL until he is NHL ready but he was elite on the powerplay this season. Might help the pens there.

PP assist from today

Is he RW only or can he play LW?

 

[JJTT]

Is he RW only or can he play LW?

Played mainly RW this year but he is better at LW.

 

[Sombastate]

So I just randomly got him in a Dynasty fantasy league. What should I expect from this guy? I've not paid much attention to him, but I knew he was doing a good job as a Carolina prospect

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Solid production in the A for Wilkes Barre so far.

 

[Gurglesons]

Solid production in the A for Wilkes Barre so far.

Meh. Not super impressed by his footage. Hope he works out for us tho.

 

[JabbaJabba]

Meh. Not super impressed by his footage. Hope he works out for us tho.

What is the problem then?

 

[Intangir]

What is the problem then?

Mainly straight-line skating, not the greatest physicality, a lackluster shot, and 5-on-5 defensive play.

At this point Koivunen's path to the NHL is basically a spot in the middle-6 as a secondary offensive contributor or nothing at all as I don't really know if Koivunen's game can evolve enough to adapt to a more checking role at the highest level.

And that's not a bad prospect at all to have really, you just have to be realistic. Same for a lot of prospects in the AHL too (a guy like Joshua Roy on the Canadiens comes to mind as being in that same situation given his very clear lack of skating ability despite skill and smarts on his side).

The reality of it all is that only a handful make it despite all hopes. All you can really do is pay attention to the prospects you like and hope everything goes well for them.

I say that, but it doesn't mean Koivunen can't develop further and make many like me look foolish for "pigeon-holing" his potential in the NHL. He absolutely could.

 

[mattihp]

I think he has the same issue as Pesonen did. The AHL is kinda boring. Only youngster who got a chance on youth hating Kärpät. Has bundles of talent and is smart. His skating is not the fastest, but more efficient than it looks. His shot... Whilst not elite is much better than what he is showing in the AHL.

The AHL usually grinds now Finnish skaters, few get better there. His totals look no more than decent for the player he is, hope he picks it up so he gets to show what he could do in the NHL.

 

[Turin]

Weirdly negative last couple posts for a guy who’s doing very well in his first season in NA so far.

 

[SEALBound]

What is the problem then?

The problem is, this poster has a major vendetta against Kyle Dubas (frankly worse than even the most deranged Toronto fan because his boy Hextall got canned in favor of him) and is automatically against any move he makes. He loathed the Guentzel trade and has been bitching about it for 9 months. It has nothing to do really with Koivunen himself. He could 2 PPG in the AHL and he would find SOMETHING to bitch about. It's just who he is.

 

[Gurglesons]

What is the problem then?

@Intangir summarized it perfectly.

He's the exact type of tweener who has success in lower leagues, but once he hits the NHL his skating, size, and lack of physical abilities will add up when he doesn't have the same time and space.

Hope he works out like I said. He's essentially the main piece within the Guentzel trade. I just don't see what his role in the NHL would be. Maybe if the Penguins are completely crap he's one of those guys who puts up 50-60 pts because he's getting a ton of TOI and PP time on a bad team?

The problem is, this poster has a major vendetta against Kyle Dubas (frankly worse than even the most deranged Toronto fan because his boy Hextall got canned in favor of him) and is automatically against any move he makes. He loathed the Guentzel trade and has been bitching about it for 9 months. It has nothing to do really with Koivunen himself. He could 2 PPG in the AHL and he would find SOMETHING to bitch about. It's just who he is.

I'm judging the player on who he is.

If you want to put words in my mouth feel free.

Happy to talk prospects in here, but I think that may be a little outside your range.

 

[Jacob]

I think he's doing well but also there are a finite amount of top-6 spots available, and even fewer PP1 spots available.