Prospect Info: CBJ Prospect Thread XI

[tunnelvision]

Unsurprisingly, CBJ's press release says nothing about streaming. As of now it seems that the game vs Boston won't be streamed but at least Buffalo and Ottawa games can be watched on their websites.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1833876325020426322

 

[CBJWerenski8]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1834312640438374411

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1834312640438374411

Cool

 

[tunnelvision]

You should be able to see one familiar face behind Sabres bench tomorrow...

 

[CBJx614]

Translation?

https://x.com/i/web/status/1836008501497180288

Title at least

Attacker Oiva Keskinen  in a game day interview

"There will definitely be a tough turn. -- We have to start leading the game right from the start."

 

[ThirdPeriodTurtle]

I wanted to translate the earlier article on Keskinen but just ran out of energy. But this I can do:

3 games in the week (Tue, Fri, Sat), what kind of a week to expect?
- Tough week but nice to get to play. It's more fun than practice/training.

Based on morning skate, it's back to Puhakka-Keskinen-Halloran line [from last year I suppose], how fun is it to have "your" line back together?
- It's fun, we all (?) had some (physical) issues, but it's nice now to get to play with familiar linemates.

Facing SaiPa today (Tuesday), what to expect?
- Tough game, they've played tight games. Gotta start well and take control, that'll do it.

Note: Surprisingly hard to translate. I do not know what the physical issues are or how much they pertained to Keskinen himself (he used one of those idioms that kinda refers to self but is vague and could range from a slight cold to something bigger). But he's been in the lineup since the start of the season so I doubt there was anything too serious.

He went on to score a goal on penalty kill, and they won 3-0. Nice.

 

[CBJx614]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1837495409234551120

 

[squashmaple]

I was looking up Luca Pinelli's birthdate to point out to Hedger that he can't go to Cleveland this year, and look who's on the EP Premium ad pop up.

 

[AnonCommentary]

Kirill Dolzhenkov has been sent down from the KHL to the VHL which is basically Russian AHL. He's pretty young so feeling is he may be stashed there for a bit. Also looks like Makarov may have joined him as well.

 

[Xoggz22]

Kirill Dolzhenkov has been sent down from the KHL to the VHL which is basically Russian AHL. He's pretty young so feeling is he may be stashed there for a bit. Also looks like Makarov may have joined him as well.

Thanks. Both payers I'm pretty high on from limited viewings and readings, but hoping they can make their way to Cleveland at some point in the next couple years. I think Makarov could be very similar to Gavrikov, but maybe a little better skater.

 

[CBJx614]

Kirill Dolzhenkov has been sent down from the KHL to the VHL which is basically Russian AHL. He's pretty young so feeling is he may be stashed there for a bit. Also looks like Makarov may have joined him as well.

Hopefully he can get some minutes and play well to get keep his confidence up

 

[Doggy]

We always like to highlight the good in our prospects but statistically speaking Ivanov is off to a very slow start after his outstanding 2024-2025 debut. In six games he has an .882 Save Percentage and 4.34 GAA and was yanked from two of his last five starts. I thought Sochi could not be worse than his team last year but have no idea since I don't watch the games but he is giving up plenty of goals on not a lot of shots right now

 

[cbjthrowaway]

I was looking up Luca Pinelli's birthdate to point out to Hedger that he can't go to Cleveland this year

this meme but replace "those kids" with brian hedger

 

[Doggy]

Kirill Dolzhenkov has been sent down from the KHL to the VHL which is basically Russian AHL. He's pretty young so feeling is he may be stashed there for a bit. Also looks like Makarov may have joined him as well.

Dolzy went pointless in 4 KHL hames but has 4 Goals and 6 Points in 4 VHL games.

BTW, looks like good or bad, Sergei Ivanov is the 1A goalie in Sochi and will get the lion's share of the workload in net. While he has had more bad than good games so far this season, he took a 1-0 loss yesterday despite stopping 24 of 25 shots. Let's hope he is past his early season slump and strings together some good games now.

 

[CBJx614]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839793357469425683

 

[Viqsi]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839793357469425683

I'd forgotten to check their schedule this year.

Would certainly prefer such goals not occur against the Islanders per se, but any opportunity to hear a George Matthews call is a good opportunity.

 

[Viqsi]

And dayum, Peddle just got off one hell of a shot for his second.

EDIT:

 

[CBJx614]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839802730027856058

isn't McQueen one of the top prospects this year? Could be good for Elick to get some chemistry with him

 

[Viqsi]

Peddle potentially with the hatty. At least, George sure seems to think so.

EDIT: Official per QMJHL website.

EDIT 2:

 

[CBJx614]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839837253062852730

 

[CBJx614]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840056832192049473

 

[ThirdPeriodTurtle]

Let's continue with more prospect points... Oiva Keskinen put up a 2+1 in a 8-5 win.

The assist, the most impressive play of these in my opinion, fantastic steal by Keskinen and a good pass to put Tappara up 1-0:



The first goal, also the game winner 6-5:


The second goal - usually empty netters aren't very interesting but Keskinen did an empty netter one-timer from the D-zone. That's some style, I guess? (8-5 goal) Have to see it from the Liiga website (hopefully no geoblock...).

 

[CBJx614]

Let's continue with more prospect points... Oiva Keskinen put up a 2+1 in a 8-5 win.

The assist, the most impressive play of these in my opinion, fantastic steal by Keskinen and a good pass to put Tappara up 1-0:



The first goal, also the game winner 6-5:


The second goal - usually empty netters aren't very interesting but Keskinen did an empty netter one-timer from the D-zone. That's some style, I guess? (8-5 goal) Have to see it from the Liiga website (hopefully no geoblock...).

He's a guy I have marked as hopefully being one of those late round gems that the CBJ desperately need.

Don't get me wrong we've had some late round gems who have turned into servicable bottom 6 guys or top 4 worthy in Gavrikovs case... But we really need a pick from the bottom half to blossom into a top line player eventually. If Keskinen does eventually turn into that, he'll have a helluva battle to get there with our potential center depth.

 

[CBJx614]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840196786549318052

Here it is

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840203824197181779

 

[ThirdPeriodTurtle]

For what it's worth (not much but hey), in a local weekly show Hockey Night - tien päällä (on the road), about the national league in Finland, one local expert - former player Siim Liivik, a rougher type - highlighted Keskinen as one of five players he hopes/expects to make their debut in the Finnish national men's team this season and praised Keskinen's two-way play. The others mentioned were Lenni Hämeenaho (NJD 2023 #58), Rasmus Kumpulainen (MN 2023 #53), and Aron Kiviharju (MN 2024 #122, Kasper Kulonummi (NSH 2022 #84). So pretty good company for a #194 draft pick in 2023 for CBJ.

I would love for him to actually make an NHL impact one day. But because of that I'll try to keep my expectations to a minimum. I hope my posts don't jinx it.