Kevin27NYI
Registered User
- Aug 5, 2009
- 20,352
- 6,316
RD Ville Pokka (2012, 34th, NYI; traded to CHI)
- Thread starter Marshal Rochambeau
- Start date
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SI90
Registered User
No doubt he will sign. NHL is very big thing for every Finnish prospect and he has a change to play there next year.
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If I was in Pokka's position I might be a little hesitant signing with the Islanders. He basically will go into camp with Reinhart, Pulock and Pelech as first year players fighting for a spot and lets be honest here given draft position Reinhart seem like an almost lock to be the king of the hill. The Islanders also signed a College UFA who they want to see have a successful year as well and add to that we have Mayfield in the AHL.
From an Islanders perspective tough competition can only be a good thing, that being said I wouldn't be surprised if one of the 3 non Reinhart(Pulock, Pokka, Pelech) guys becomes part of a trade to improve the team(and maybe even Reinhart for a big enough name)
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Pokka was one of the better defencemen in the FEL this year and #1 D for team finland at WJC this year. To me he was #1 last year WJC too. There is decent chance that Pokka will suprise everyone at the camp and gets picked over Reinhart. Is that likely? No, but he is pretty underrated here. I think that he would benefit from 1 more year in FEL or AHL. In the end the performance at the camp will determine where they will play next year not the draft position. Ask Olli Määttä.
Jester9881
Registered User
Being a RHD, Pokka is really only in competition with Pulock and Mayfield (who is still very very raw). He should be ahead of both those guys developmentally.
Sorry but can't justify picking Pokka over Ristolainen in the WJC even if Risto had one awful game.
1 bad game < best player par with Teuvo/Saros and GWG vs Sweden.
Reinhart has one thing Pokka sorely lacks and the Islanders need, which would be size. That being said experience works strongly in Pokka's favor(which is why I think I would not be surprised if he did make the team or at least was the first callup over Pulock). I would also rate Pokka's defensive awareness way ahead of Pulock. Pulock basically beats every Islander prospects on one hell of a PP shot, but I don't think the Islanders can afford with their defense having anybody who has a questions d-zone game at this point.
As you said 1 more year in the FEL or AHL might do Pokka good and for Finish fans, the Islanders abundance of guys who will either be in their first or 2nd year of the majors(NHL or AHL) that might work in FELs favor if they feel having him stay their one more year can help both Pokka and the other players.
SI90
Registered User
Finish coaching these days is pretty impressive. I would mind him spending another year in Europe play top min and be a number #1 defenseman.
AHL would be great too but he likely won't play the huge min he would in Europe. And f he did play big min with BPORT, that would take TOI away from Pulock Pelech Mayfield mayby.
This way they can all get top min with thier respective teams.
Who knows. He may come over and make the NHL team out if camp. Either way I'm really excited about Pokka. He fits the mold of what the isles love in dman prospects HiGH hockey i
IQ and puck moving ability.
AHL would be great too but he likely won't play the huge min he would in Europe. And f he did play big min with BPORT, that would take TOI away from Pulock Pelech Mayfield mayby.
This way they can all get top min with thier respective teams.
Who knows. He may come over and make the NHL team out if camp. Either way I'm really excited about Pokka. He fits the mold of what the isles love in dman prospects HiGH hockey i
IQ and puck moving ability.
1 bad game? Rewatch the games please. Ristolainen was horrible until 2 final games. But i agree that Ristolainen was beast on 2 last games but Pokka was better because of his consistency.
QnebO
Wheel, snipe, celly
- Feb 11, 2010
- 9,763
- 644
You guys do realize he has played well in AHL and NHL after that tournament? So if he had 2 bad games there after injury, but then was the key in Gold medal game and did very well in the NHL and AHL after it, you guys still think he is bad because of those two games that didin't stop us Winning the whole tournament?
Yeah what ever..
Yeah what ever..
We were talking about who was the #1 defenseman at the WJC. Ristolainen played like true #1 in final 2 games. In other games he was arguably worst defenceman on team finland.
Calm down. We all know that Ristolainen is more talented than Pokka.
Relax guys it was just one opinion and I think too that Pokka was our best dman in WJC. He is just ridiculously calm already and I can see how a lot of forwards will curse playing against him in the future. He doesn't know what panic is.
But I agree that Ristolainen was a beast in the last two games and he has more potential than Pokka. Our -94 defenseman are amazing.
But I agree that Ristolainen was a beast in the last two games and he has more potential than Pokka. Our -94 defenseman are amazing.
Add Teräväinen and we have the best age group since 83's. Was almost comparing it to them, but then I started counting the players and we have Lehtonen, Pitkänen, Koivu, Ruutu, Jokinen and Niemi in the NHL. Määttä, Ristolainen, Teräväinen and Pokka reaching even close to that level would be great for Finland. The potential is there, though.
About Pokka. Someone has said he needs to find one real strenght to make himself useful in the NHL. He is good all over the ice and in most areas of the game, but the concern is he might not shine enough to make himself a #1 PP D. He's good defensively, but is he big and strong enough to be the cornerstone of the D who can be placed on the ice to hold the lead?
I think if he's able to improve his skating like Granlund did last summer he could be a really good two-way d-man in the NHL, too. Not everyone can make such change, though.
His good traits do show, though. He is able to hold the puck really well and is able to get the shot past the blocking forward from the point. He could use his hard shot by itself more, but he likes to throw low shots that could be tipped in. I'd say he has improved on this area, anyway, and we have seen some booming one timers, too. Partially due to Kärpät's working PP, of course.
His biggest strenght is probably his ability to control the pace of the game on his own end. He never seems to panic and most of the time finds a free teammate with a tape to tape pass. Hockey IQ is something that allows players to fit in different roles, and if he won't ever make it as a top 4 d-man, he might still be useful in limited role with some PK and PP with injuries.
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Very good analysis about his game. I think too that his puck moving ability is his best attribute. His first passes are outstanding, he can do it very quickly for counter attacks or slowly when his team needs to break the trap and he is pretty effective on that. I would say that Pokka is better puck mover than Olli Määttä but isn't as steady defenceman and not as good in rushes as Määttä is. Määttä is pretty special player when it comes into reading the plays and knowing the right timing for the rushes.
SI90
Registered User
this is great to hear.Sound a lot like what Calvin de Hann has brought to the isles blue line...He also has the "no Panic" attribute to his game, his great in his own end, and moves the puck up the ice with great poise and efficiency by either tape to tape passes or carrying it himself...de Hanns skating however is very good, something that Pokka needs to improve on...
If Pokka can improve upon his game and keep making strides I think he will be a real solid DMAN for a long time..
He needs to improve his shooting a lot. Over 200 shots this year and only 6 goals. Too many times when he has a change take a slapshot he just throws a weak wrister on goal, looking for deflection.
I mean his slapshot is pretty good but he very rarely gets in towards goal with full power.
I mean his slapshot is pretty good but he very rarely gets in towards goal with full power.
I was wondering that statistic, that he had 200 shots. Because in my mind he really doesn't shoot that much. I think those more like the kind of passes for deflections. He really don't seem to even try to hit the goal with those ones.
- Stoat
Yeah i meant he needs to actually shoot more, not look for deflections all the time.
FinPanda
Barkov Stanley cup champ!
SI90
Registered User
Love Pokka's game.
I reckon he's going to shock a lot of Islander fans when he finally joins and is ahead in his development compared to more highly touted prospects like Pulock.
Pokka is flying under the radar in a big way to most Islander fans, out of sight out of mind almost.
Can't wait till he gets over to North America.
I reckon he's going to shock a lot of Islander fans when he finally joins and is ahead in his development compared to more highly touted prospects like Pulock.
Pokka is flying under the radar in a big way to most Islander fans, out of sight out of mind almost.
Can't wait till he gets over to North America.
Uncle Scrooge
Hockey Bettor
One thing i always noticed in WJC's was that Pokka often struggled against NA teams. The pressure and quickness of Canada and US always led him to bad decisions that he often got away with. No way was he our best defenseman in this year's tournament, me and my friends had a few heartattacks that i can still remember.
Still, overall he's always been solid for team Finland and even better in FEL from what i've understood. I haven't watched FEL at all this year but his stats sure seem damn impressive.
I think he'll have some adjusting to do (well, like anyone) in NA, and probably won't be anything special next year or year after that if he gets a chance to play in the NHL but damn Pokka could blossom any year after into a top 4 defenseman.
Still, overall he's always been solid for team Finland and even better in FEL from what i've understood. I haven't watched FEL at all this year but his stats sure seem damn impressive.
I think he'll have some adjusting to do (well, like anyone) in NA, and probably won't be anything special next year or year after that if he gets a chance to play in the NHL but damn Pokka could blossom any year after into a top 4 defenseman.
FinPanda
Barkov Stanley cup champ!
5 semifinal games 2+4. He assist the game winning goal against SaiPa in overtime. Kärpät won the game 2-1 and he will play in FEL finals.
