F Niko Huuhtanen - Jukurit, Liiga (2021, 224th, TBL)

[Artorius Horus T]

Led all Sm-Liiga rookies in goals (17) points (30), points per game (0.63), penalty minutes (72), shots (282), power play goals (10)
game winning goals (3), 6th highest ice time per game average (14:57).

 

[JabbaJabba]

Huuhtanen won the rookie of the year award. Well deserved. AHL/NHL next season?

 

[Jukurit]

I think rookie of the year should have been Leevi Meriläinen.

Huuhtanen won the rookie of the year award. Well deserved. AHL/NHL next season?

Tampa hasn't signed Huuhtanen yet. Still has a year left on Jukurit contract. So AHL/NHL next season probably not.

 

[JabbaJabba]

Tampa hasn't signed Huuhtanen yet. Still has a year left on Jukurit contract. So AHL/NHL next season probably not.

Contract is a matter of time and after that AHL/NHL are an option regardless of his contract with Jukurit.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Good start, 4 points in first 3 games. With +2 marker.
Jukurit have won 2 games and lost 1 game (OTL).

game #1 0+0
game #2 1+0
game #3 0+3 (2 were primary).

 

[Artorius Horus T]

1+1 for Niko Huuhtanen

 

[JabbaJabba]

Great start to the season for him. I was a bit surprised that Huuhtanen didn't already go to AHL or try to get a spot in Tampa. Nothing wrong with marinating in Liiga though when he gets good amount of playing time. Next season then.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Another game, another goal

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Huuhtanen with 7 points (3+4) already.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

 

[mattihp]

Great start to the season for him. I was a bit surprised that Huuhtanen didn't already go to AHL or try to get a spot in Tampa. Nothing wrong with marinating in Liiga though when he gets good amount of playing time. Next season then.

AHL has an awful track record with Finnish forwards. Seldom a good idea

 

[JJTT]

AHL has an awful track record with Finnish forwards. Seldom a good idea

Yep. Tampa has his rights for 2 more years, no need to rush him. Working with Jokinen has been really good for him.

Look what happened with Eetu Tuulola, similar type of player to Huuhtanen, came back worse than he was before leaving for AHL. Samuel Helenius seems to be in the same path, looks like Kings want him to be a fighter or something.

Other than Hintz and Rantanen no one has really developed in the AHL.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

Other than Hintz and Rantanen no one has really developed in the AHL.

Maccelli, Lindell, Granlund, Teräväinen, Tolvanen and Välimäki just to name some of the currently playing ones. This is bullshit. A lot of the better prospects don't have to go through AHL because they play their D+whatever in Liiga. You're either good enough and can play the NA game or you can't. AHL does not ruin anyone. The only chance Samuel Helenius has ever had to become an NHL player is to be a 4th line gritty grinder, because that's all he's good for.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

scored a goal in his team Finland debut

 

[Artorius Horus T]

18 goal, 50 point, 40 pim pace.

| 10+17=27 (0.87 ppg) |

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Why was he drafted so late?

Or was it just a case of him really not being that good in his draft year and then he caught fire the following season?

Was impressive in Everett after he got drafted and then his stats look good since then while in Finland

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Why was he drafted so late?

Or was it just a case of him really not being that good in his draft year and then he caught fire the following season?

Was impressive in Everett after he got drafted and then his stats look good since then while in Finland

Bad scouting?

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Bad scouting?

Orrrr maybe good scouting cause maybe he was a total nobody in his draft year?lol

Either way though he seems like a solid prospect... Puts up points and plays physical from what I read

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Orrrr maybe good scouting cause maybe he was a total nobody in his draft year?lol

Either way though he seems like a solid prospect... Puts up points and plays physical from what I read

yes

but less physical stuff this season, focused more on other things, scoring

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

yes

but less physical stuff this season, focused more on other things, scoring

That's good... But also nice knowing he has that physical play up his sleeve if needed

 

[mattihp]

Orrrr maybe good scouting cause maybe he was a total nobody in his draft year?lol

Either way though he seems like a solid prospect... Puts up points and plays physical from what I read

The job of scouting is not just looking at the now

 

[Erikfromfin]

Why was he drafted so late?

Or was it just a case of him really not being that good in his draft year and then he caught fire the following season?

Was impressive in Everett after he got drafted and then his stats look good since then while in Finla

He was terrible skater younger

 

[Artorius Horus T]

1+2 game

on a 4 game goal streak

32 points in 35 game

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Not many right shot guys with a bomb of one T like him. Laine like

 

[JJTT]

Now up to 34 points in 36 games. 10 points in the last 5 games.

Great find by Tampa. Big gritty power forward with hands and lethal shot.

He was one of the worst skaters i've ever seen as a 17 year so compared to that he is actually decent now.

Probably spends one year in the AHL next season to work on his skating a bit.