Toggle sidebar

LD Juuso Valimaki (2017, 16th, CAL)

  • Xenforo Cloud has upgraded us to version 2.3.6. Please report any issues you experience.
  • We are currently aware of "log in/security error" issues that are affecting some users. We apologize and ask for your patience as we try to get these issues fixed.
bobermay said:
For those familiar with Valimaki, would you put him in the Joulevi/Sergachyev/Chychrun Tier??
Click to expand...

I wouldn't....I am not now, and wasn't as high on Juolevi as most, but I would take him ahead of Valimaki. Chychrun and Sergachev in my opinion are a level ahead of Juolevi. I would say he fits in more with the Jake Bean/Charlie McAvoy tier from last draft. (I had Chychrun at #4 last year - I'm a big fan)
 
FinnHockeyFan said:
http://www.iltalehti.fi/jaakiekko/201611152200027845_jk.shtml
Juuso Välimäki has been called to the President of the Republic of Finland Independence Day celebrations.
Välimäki has responded to the invitation and intends to participate
Click to expand...

Tomorrow is the big day for Välimäki. Talked to him before the weekend, and he wasn't quite sure what to expect.

Välimäki, who captained Finland’s U-18 team that captured the gold medal in Grand Forks, ND in the World Under-18 Championship last April, will represent the team at the Independence Day Celebration in Helsinki on Dec. 6, 2016.

“That’s going to be pretty cool,” Välimäki said. “It’s a big honor for me. That’s the biggest honor you can get, for sure.”
Click to expand...

http://futureconsiderations.ca/valimaki-to-be-honored-at-independence-day-reception/
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mitts
Last edited:
Juuso Valimaki - Tri-City Americans, WHL (2017 Draft)

I am just curious why more people are not discussing Juuso Valimaki and his draft position for 2017. He has been extremely impressive in the WHL this season IMO.
 
I think he is going to be the first defenseman taken in the 2017 NHL draft and I think he will go high. People may say I am crazy, but I am basing it in part on what scouts seem to like in past drafts.
 
Goulet17 said:
I think he is going to be the first defenseman taken in the 2017 NHL draft and I think he will go high. People may say I am crazy, but I am basing it in part on what scouts seem to like in past drafts.
Click to expand...

I think he goes 2nd, after Timmy. Reminds me so much of Morrissey when he was in the WHL.
 
Goulet17 said:
I think he is going to be the first defenseman taken in the 2017 NHL draft and I think he will go high. People may say I am crazy, but I am basing it in part on what scouts seem to like in past drafts.
Click to expand...

Liljegren will be first drafted defenceman in 2017 draft
Välimäki goes TOP10 no doubt on it
 
FinnHockeyFan said:
Liljegren will be first drafted defenceman in 2017 draft
Välimäki goes TOP10 no doubt on it
Click to expand...

I think Liljegren falls, we are already starting to see that potential in some of the rankings. Part of the reason that I think Valimaki goes first is that he is playing in NA in the CHL. Scouts and management types don't like uncertainty or risk at the top of the draft. They will feel more comfortable projecting Valimaki based on his play in the CHL.
 
Added a goal and an assist yesterday, giving him 52 points (18 goals) in 49 games for Tri-City to this point. I think it is really impressive for a defenseman in the WHL.

Regarding Liljegren, I am surprised by how many are still expecting him to go top-5 or even top-10. If you have been following drafts for any length of time, I believe that it is becoming clear that he will slip from the top of the draft board. How far he slips is really the question IMO.
 
Last edited:
What's up the low amount of posts in this thread when he is having a great season statistically? Just no "wow" factor or what?
 
Rambokala said:
I don't follow WHL at all - How good is his season, compared to other NHL D -men who have come out of the same league?
Click to expand...
Statistically its pretty good for a guy in his 18 year old year in the WHL. By draft year it would be viewed as better but that isn't an option on elite to narrow down the numbers. Offensively his numbers are better than Provorov's draft year for example. But, scouts aren't that sold on him for a variety of reasons. Reading game reports on him, the main knocks are his footwork and trouble defending against speedy/agile forwards due to this. Seemed people were way more impressed with Heiskanen at the WJC.
 
93LEAFS said:
Statistically its pretty good for a guy in his 18 year old year in the WHL. By draft year it would be viewed as better but that isn't an option on elite to narrow down the numbers. Offensively his numbers are better than Provorov's draft year for example. But, scouts aren't that sold on him for a variety of reasons. Reading game reports on him, the main knocks are his footwork and trouble defending against speedy/agile forwards due to this. Seemed people were way more impressed with Heiskanen at the WJC.
Click to expand...

Yeah, i just checked out some of the D -men that have come out of WHL. The scoring doesn't exactly play a big role, it's more about what the scouts are seeing, just like you said. Too bad, i'm hoping that Finland starts producing more NHL d -men.
 
Rambokala said:
I don't follow WHL at all - How good is his season, compared to other NHL D -men who have come out of the same league?
Click to expand...

Very rare for WHL defenseman to put up PPG numbers on their draft year.

Points totals from recent first round picks:

Code: 
[I][SIZE="2"]Jake Bean[/SIZE][/I] (2016 draft) 64 points in 68 games
[I][SIZE="2"]Lucas Johansen[/SIZE][/I] (2016 draft) 49 points in 69 games 

[I][SIZE="2"]Noah Juulsen[/SIZE][/I] (2015 draft) 52 points in 62 games
[I][B][SIZE="2"]Ivan Provorov[/SIZE][/I] (2015 draft) 61 points in 60 games[/B]

[I][SIZE="2"]Julius Honka[/SIZE][/I] (2014 draft) 56 points in 62 games
[I][SIZE="2"]Haydn Fleury[/SIZE][/I] (2014 draft) 46 points in 70 games 
[I][SIZE="2"]Travis Sanheim[/SIZE][/I] (2014 draft) 29 points in 67 games

[I][SIZE="2"]Seth Jones[/SIZE][/I] (2013 draft): 56 points in 61 games
[I][SIZE="2"]Josh Morrissey[/SIZE][/I] (2013 draft) 47 points in 70 games
[I][SIZE="2"]Mirco Muller[/SIZE][/I] (2013 draft) 31 points in 63 games
[I][SIZE="2"]Shea Theodore[/SIZE][/I] (2013 draft) 50 points in 71 games

[I][SIZE="2"]Ryan Murray[/SIZE][/I] (2012 draft) 31 points in 46 games
[I][SIZE="2"]Griffin Reinhart[/SIZE][/I] (2012 draft) 36 points in 58 games
[B][I][SIZE="2"]Morgan Rielly[/SIZE][/I] (2012 draft) 18 points in 18 games[/B]
[I][SIZE="2"]Derrick Pouliot[/SIZE][/I] (2012 draft) 59 points in 72 games
[I][SIZE="2"]Matt Dumba[/SIZE][/I] (2012 draft) 57 points in 69 games
 
Finnished said:
What's up the low amount of posts in this thread when he is having a great season statistically? Just no "wow" factor or what?
Click to expand...

more that everyone is just dismissing this draft already. Probable top 5 guys in Tippett+Vilardi have even less attention.


I think Valimaki has made good progress this year and closed the gap between him and Foote for top WHL d-man in this draft. Wouldn't be surprised at all if Valimaki ends ends up the best D from this draft though
 
Glad to see he is getting a bit of love in this thread.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=2117313

In the 2016-17 pre-season I made my top-5 picks for the '17 draft.

Patrick
Vilardi
Yamamoto
Valimaki
Hague

It would be a lil dif right now, but not for Hague or Valimaki.

There hasn't been a time in the past year I haven't had Valimaki top-5, or a time in the past year where I HAVE had Timmy top-5. Maybe I am utterly wrong, but I've been citing surprise and confusion for over a year now about Timmy's often times as high as #2 or even #1 projections by damn near every one.
 
By mid-November I expanded and updated my list.

Again, it wouldn't be the same now. But, I have been too busy working to watch a lot of games, outside of Hischier's games mostly. So I haven't and won't make a new list.

1. Nolan Patrick
2. Gabe Vilardi
3. Vesalainen
4. Valimaki
5. Hague
6. Tippet
7. Kailer
8. Ivan Lodnia
9. Foote
10. Liljegren
11. Klim Kostin
12. Hischier
 
TheTechNoir said:
By mid-November I expanded and updated my list.

Again, it wouldn't be the same now. But, I have been too busy working to watch a lot of games, outside of Hischier's games mostly. So I haven't and won't make a new list.

1. Nolan Patrick
2. Gabe Vilardi
3. Vesalainen
4. Valimaki
5. Hague
6. Tippet
7. Kailer
8. Ivan Lodnia
9. Foote
10. Liljegren
11. Klim Kostin
12. Hischier
Click to expand...
Interesting list for sure. Vesalainen at 3rd even in november is quite off the board.
 
Valimaki is an interesting prospect, he's definitely been a great points producer at the junior level but his defensive awarness doesn't always seem to be there.

Kind of the other way w/ Foote, he's solid defensively but i don't know if much of his o-game will transition well into the NHL.
 
Really hoping the Jets pick him up. I see lots of Duncan Keith in him but with better vision. I see him being the steal of the draft, even if it's not the Jets who pick him up they're gonna be so lucky.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Ad

Top Bottom