RW/C Mikko Rantanen (2015, 10th, COL)

[landy92mack29]

I'm really liking his game other than him not using his size to full potential yet. Look forward to watching him more though

 

[Virtanen2Horvat]

Well if Benning is looking for more size this is definitely a pick in the Canucks range if he doesn't move up. I kind of want this kid. He has a couple of things to work on but if he is developed well he should be a great player.

Think he is capable of being a 1C? Don't know him too much.

 

[kelsier]

Well if Benning is looking for more size this is definitely a pick in the Canucks range if he doesn't move up. I kind of want this kid. He has a couple of things to work on but if he is developed well he should be a great player.

Think he is capable of being a 1C? Don't know him too much.

Rantanen doesn't play center (RW). Unfortunately a lot of finnish prospects have wrong position listed in their respective topics here. Laine f.ex isn't LW either.

 

[Virtanen2Horvat]

Rantanen doesn't play center (RW). Unfortunately a lot of finnish prospects have wrong position listed in their respective topics here. Laine f.ex isn't LW either.

I guess he would make a good RW'er.

 

[Brooklanders*]

Looks like a future star.

 

[Bures Elbow]

Fantastic prospect.

 

[edd1e]

Rantanen seem to love the smaller rink.

 

[JJTT]

Rantanen seem to love the smaller rink.

Been saying this for a while now.. He should go to CHL/AHL/NHL whatever next year and get a far away from TPS as possible.

 

[Finnished]

Been saying this for a while now.. He should go to CHL/AHL/NHL whatever next year and get a far away from TPS as possible.

I think he should go to CHL too unless the team that drafts him feels he would be better developed in the AHL. Liiga really isn't that great for these young players especially if you are stuck in a crappy team like TPS. Yeah he would be playing with grown men but when the playing level of those men gets worse and worse every year it's not that great for young players who are trying to get better.

 

[SprDaVE]

Really impressed by his showing so far. Much more impressed by his game then Crouse to be honest.

I think he'll shoot up the rankings by the draft.

 

[199991]

I like this player, I like his skills, his skating and his vision. Some issues with the physicality. But there's room to improve.

 

[Unkki]

Here's some parts of the message I posted in the Flames Draft Thread:

At the moment, Rantanen is TPS's biggest talent, and I have to admit that he has been even more impressive here than Sabres's Ristolainen before he left. Of course he's playing different position, but he has been pretty good player for us in this horrible season. His points doesn't tell the whole truth (30gp, 1+9=10). He has played in TPS's second and third line, with players who don't have that good hockey IQ. He hasn't had so many scoring chances because of that - in fact he has created most of the chances himself, and if he played with better players, he would have more assists too. He hasn't have so much PP-time neither, so I think that ten points in these circumstances is ok for him.

Now in the WJC, after 4 gp, he has scored 3 goals. He has been clearly the best forward of Finland's team so far (much better than Kapanen for example), and it has been great to see that he has started to shoot and go in front of the net more. In the Finnish Hockey League he hasn't been shooting that much, although he's got a pretty good wrister. I also believe that Rantanen's game fits better to the small rink, because he has found a way to use his size better.

Rantanen is playing well everytime in the national team, so in my opinion it tells that he can step up when the games matter even more. Best word to describe Rantanen is versatile. He knows his responsibility on the defensive game too, and he's also very good in forechecking. He's a team player, who should fit quite well to the Flames's playing style. I guess that he's going to rise in the rankings after this WJC-stint.

 

[thomast]

Here's some parts of the message I posted in the Flames Draft Thread:

At the moment, Rantanen is TPS's biggest talent, and I have to admit that he has been even more impressive here than Sabres's Ristolainen before he left. Of course he's playing different position, but he has been pretty good player for us in this horrible season. His points doesn't tell the whole truth (30gp, 1+9=10). He has played in TPS's second and third line, with players who don't have that good hockey IQ. He hasn't had so many scoring chances because of that - in fact he has created most of the chances himself, and if he played with better players, he would have more assists too. He hasn't have so much PP-time neither, so I think that ten points in these circumstances is ok for him.

Now in the WJC, after 4 gp, he has scored 3 goals. He has been clearly the best forward of Finland's team so far (much better than Kapanen for example), and it has been great to see that he has started to shoot and go in front of the net more. In the Finnish Hockey League he hasn't been shooting that much, although he's got a pretty good wrister. I also believe that Rantanen's game fits better to the small rink, because he has found a way to use his size better.

Rantanen is playing well everytime in the national team, so in my opinion it tells that he can step up when the games matter even more. Best word to describe Rantanen is versatile. He knows his responsibility on the defensive game too, and he's also very good in forechecking. He's a team player, who should fit quite well to the Flames's playing style. I guess that he's going to rise in the rankings after this WJC-stint.

Ristolainen had pretty good tournament in WJC at barely 17 year old. Ristolainen wasn't so good in FEL but you could see his upside. He was aggressive, had smooth+good skating ability, size, shot and incredible poise. Ristolainen had alot of tools but he had to figure out to put it together. Now that he has he is looking to be top pairing defenseman in the future with leadership qualities. Maybe even #1. I don't see Rantanen having similar bag of tools. He is more ready prospect and has potential to be very good 2nd line player or below average 1st line player. Blake Wheeler type of player if he reaches his potential.

 

[Unkki]

Ristolainen had pretty good tournament in WJC at barely 17 year old. Ristolainen wasn't so good in FEL but you could see his upside. He was aggressive, had smooth+good skating ability, size, shot and incredible poise. Ristolainen had alot of tools but he had to figure out to put it together. Now that he has he is looking to be top pairing defenseman in the future with leadership qualities. Maybe even #1. I don't see Rantanen having similar bag of tools. He is more ready prospect and has potential to be very good 2nd line player or below average 1st line player. Blake Wheeler type of player if he reaches his potential.

Yeah I understand this and know that Ristolainen's tools and upside made him even a better prospect than Rantanen is. I just meant that Rantanen has been more visible in FEL than Ristolainen was, and I also admit that this is an unfair argument towards Ristolainen.

However, I think that Rantanen is far from a ready prospect, although he's more ready than Ristolainen was couple of years ago. He could be pretty big asset after improving his balance, poise and getting all the benefits from his big body.

I agree with your projection, Rantanen could be like a mix of Wheeler and Voracek, although I don't believe that he could have the same ability to score points as Voracek has right now. His biggest assets are his hockey IQ, protecting the puck and versatility.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Rocket of a wrist shot to score just now.

This guy is possibly top 15 worthy IMO.

 

[Oan]

Only possibly? Imho top 10.

 

[JJTT]

Top 5 for sure..

 

[Jack DiBiase]

Dammit. I was hoping he would fall to the Habs. But looks like he is at least top-15 bound.

 

[Alexandrov]

I see him going in the 15-20 range

 

[Erikfromfin]

Great tournament for Mikko. ISS headscout in Quebec said in podcast his going somewhere in top10.

 

[FinPanda]

One of the best tournaments for Draft eligible player. Best player for team Finland.

 

[w e l o s t b o y s]

Top 2 I think

 

[landy92mack29]

10-15 range. hope the avs take him if they're picking 10 or later

 

[thomast]

How is Lawson Crouse better than him? Isn't he projected to be in the top 10? Rantanen is going to be top 10.

 

[agent082]

He was Finland's best player in the tournament. It's hard to see that WJC didn't raise his stocks. I think he is close to top 10 player in the draft if he was top 15-20 before it, because he showed he can play in a small rink and his finishing was better than early this season.