Prospect Info: Canucks Take D Joni Jurmo at 82nd Overall (JYP Jyväskylä)

[VIPettersson]

Villeneuve didn’t get picked until the end of round 4. Why?

Apparently hes terrible defensively

 

[VanJack]

Canucks and their fans are fortunate that most of their top prospects are currently playing in Europe and look like they're going to get full seasons under their belts. It also gives fans on these boards some meaningful games and stats to follow.

The only Canuck prospects left in limbo could be McDonough, and a few of their picks from this year's draft--Kunz and Truscott. The seasons for Focht and Keppen are also in limbo, but not sure either will eventually be signed anyway And it's exceedingly fortunate the Canucks signed Jack Rathbone, otherwise his season might have been lost as well.

So you'd have to say that in terms of COVID, the Canucks and their prospect pool are probably in better shape this year than a lot of NHL teams.

 

[The Iron Goalie]

Some concern for Jurmo's development, as JYP's coachs are being laid off until Dec...not an ideal situation.

 

[HelloCookie]

After reading several news reports regarding JYP's situation the gist is:
- four past years have ended up in -3,7 million euros for the organisation
-furloughing two coaches is the least bad option financially for the company that runs JYP's operations, which will enable to stay afloat until the end of 2020
-second paycut for the players this year (next two salaries will not be paid in full)
-they owe 479000€ in incorrectly informed/paid taxes from paying foreign players' contracts in signing bonuses.
-furlough negotiations with team trainers/staff, front office, and catering have not yet finished

 

[Fatass]

Could our prospect, Toni Jurno, come play in the CHL?

 

[F A N]

Is CHL a good route for Jurmo to develop his defensive game? Given his size, I'm thinking he's better off playing against men?

 

[krutovsdonut]

ok, that is one for the books.

 

[VanJack]

Could our prospect, Toni Jurno, come play in the CHL?

Jurmo wasn't drafted out major junior hockey in N.A. so I'm assuming he could sign an ELC and play in Utica?

 

[Fatass]

Jurmo wasn't drafted out major junior hockey in N.A. so I'm assuming he could sign an ELC and play in Utica?

That’s even better, but maybe he’s not ready for the AHL? He’s the right age for Junior, and could dominate.

 

[The Iron Goalie]

That’s even better, but maybe he’s not ready for the AHL? He’s the right age for Junior, and could dominate.

I'd say he's definitely not ready for the AHL. I'd like him to get games at the Liiga level, but if JYP isn't going to play him... then I hope he gets sent to the U20 team, so he can play top pair mins in all situations.

Then for next year I'd hope Jurmo would be ready to play full time in Liiga, and make the move to the AHL the year after that.

This year - Liiga/U20
2021/22 - Liiga full time
2022/23 - AHL/Liiga

 

[HelloCookie]

The roster spots in Liiga aren't as certain at the moment because there are roughly 50 unemployed (liiga capable) players according to Vesa Rantanen of Ilta-Sanomat. So if - for whatever reason - Jurmo wouldn't be able to play for JYP's Liiga team, he'd likely play for the u20 team or would join a Mestis league team's ranks.

The way how this pandemic has complicated international professional sports, I would think it highly unlikely that a junior player would risk their development and practice of profession by going overseas where the uncertainty is at level or worse from how it is here in Finland.

 

[The Iron Goalie]

Looks like Jurmo's back in the lineup today as the 7th D... and it's just my luck that I can't watch today

 

[The Iron Goalie]

Was the 7th D for both games this weekend, and played 3:45 on Friday and 5:08 Saturday. On the season he's up to 5GP with 4 shots in 6:23TOI ( Games 1-5TOI = 9:41, 11:19, 2:02, 3:45, 5:08)

 

[Tank]

Jurmo not invited to WJ Camp for Finland. Ten D picked ahead of him some not even drafted this is not a good sign. I guess concerns about his hockey sense are legit.

 

[DonnyNucker]

Jurmo not invited to WJ Camp for Finland. Ten D picked ahead of him some not even drafted this is not a good sign. I guess concerns about his hockey sense are legit.

Dude, he is a 3rd round pick and 17 years old!

 

[MS]

Dude, he is a 3rd round pick and 17 years old!

I'm not going to be as fatalistic as that guy, but this is a roster you'd expect Jurmo to be on. Utanen made the final team (not just the summer camp) immediately after being a 5th rounder. The guys taken #83 and #84 overall in 2019 made the 2020 team.

He's one of the highest-drafted guys eligible on a team that has only 2 returning defenders and didn't even get an invite. I don't know if it's reason to be 'concerned', but it should tell you that the Finnish program doesn't think too highly of him, at least.

 

[krutovsdonut]

generally 6' 4" guys who skate like the wind and also have a defensive game complete enough to merit a wjc selection for a major european squad tend to go in the first round not the 3rd.

he has a bunch of hockey to learn, and we only drafted him five minutes ago, so the wjc is not on the agenda.

 

[The Iron Goalie]

Jurmo not being named to the roster for this tournament (Nov 5-7th) make sense actually, as he's played very few mins so far this season. Team Finland probably value the guys actually playing , and getting real minutes over a guy who can't stay in the lineup/plays limited #7D mins.

If you were picking a team, would you take Jurmo over any of these LD's (Be honest!)?

Liiga
Ville Heinola - 8GP 4A 18:06TOI
Mikko Kokkonen - 8GP 21:14TOI
Eemil Viro - 7GP 3A 17:31TOI
Santeri Hatakka - 9GP 1G 1A 15:12TOI
Matias Rajaniemi - 7GP 14:44TOI
Joni Jurmo - 5GP 6:23TOI

Mestis
Mico Luoto - 10GP 2G 4A 15:14TOI

The RD invitees are Ruben Rafkin (19:06TOI in Liiga), Topi Niemela, and Kasper Puutio (who could end up replaced by a LD).

Here's my best guess at the possible pairings,

Heinola (19), Kokkonen (19)
Viro (18), Rafkin (19)
Hatakka (19), Niemela (18)
Rajaniemi (18)/Luoto (19) (as a PP specialist)

Next year Viro, and Rajaniemi will be the only LD's from this group elidable to return. Speaking of next years team, I'd expect (depending on how the 2021 D prospects develop) Viro, Rajaniemi, and Niemela to return, while Jurmo, Puutio, and Rindell will be favorites to make the team.

 

[Fatass]

Dude, he is a 3rd round pick and 17 years old!

I really like this pick. Sure it’s a swing for the fences, but if we connect this one will sail right out of the park. He’s a big kid, who is a fabulous skater, and has elite hands. He’s pretty much the same as Broberg, who the Oilers took at 8OA last year. Skating with the puck they both look fantastic. When they need to think the game, there’s a lot to work on. But the raw skills, and size make for a very high ceiling.

 

[orcatown]

Very bad development. Guys that direct Junior and Tournament teams in Finland know what they are doing and are probably the best in evaluating the talent they have available.

Guys who make the NHL usually follow a similar path in terms of make their U18 teams, make U20 teams as younger players, then are leading players in their final years of U20.

Anyhow, Jurmo is probably 4 or 5 years away and seems to have lots of raw talent that hopefully can be refined. But not getting even a look here is a setback

 

[MS]

I really like this pick. Sure it’s a swing for the fences, but if we connect this one will sail right out of the park. He’s a big kid, who is a fabulous skater, and has elite hands. He’s pretty much the same as Broberg, who the Oilers took at 8OA last year. Skating with the puck they both look fantastic. When they need to think the game, there’s a lot to work on. But the raw skills, and size make for a very high ceiling.

My question would be : does he actually have a lot of upside? Or do we just automatically think BIG PLUS FAST = HUGE UPSIDE when a more detailed look into past history might show that that isn't the case?

I don't think anyone projects this guy to be a point producer. You can see his decision making with the puck isn't great, and he's probably not heading to be an NHL PP QB. And does being tall and fast rushing the puck actually project into defensive upside somehow? I don't think so, especially when the player is considered quite poor defensively at this stage.

If he 'hits', he's probably a taller Matt Bartkowski. And is a taller Matt Bartkowski really 'big upside'?

How many players who can't think the game well at 18 actually reach 'high upside'?

___________

Honestly, since the day this pick was made I've been left wondering if it isn't a better idea to convert him to forward and see if his big/fast/low offensive IQ skillset projects better as a speedy checking winger.

 

[ChilliBilly]

Very bad development. Guys that direct Junior and Tournament teams in Finland know what they are doing and are probably the best in evaluating the talent they have available.

Guys who make the NHL usually follow a similar path in terms of make their U18 teams, make U20 teams as younger players, then are leading players in their final years of U20.

Anyhow, Jurmo is probably 4 or 5 years away and seems to have lots of raw talent that hopefully can be refined. But not getting even a look here is a setback

Hmm. would go with mildly disappointing rather than setback.

He's 17, years away from knowing what we have. But having a number of large D men prospects who can skate promises that one of them can come out of left field and maybe even be another Edler. Particularly coming from Europe.

 

[krutovsdonut]

If he 'hits', he's probably a taller Matt Bartkowski. And is a taller Matt Bartkowski really 'big upside'?

.

that is a pretty weird comparison. what's his mom like?

 

[M2Beezy]

Should have drafted Jack Thompson

 

[The Iron Goalie]

Played 8:37 today as the 7th D.