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

[JJTT]

1 assist today. Over 20 minutes of icetime. He took some shifts as center with Simek and Lasch

Too bad his team is just flat out terrible at scoring goals. 78 shots total (42 on net) and only 2 goals.

 

[Jack DiBiase]

1 assist today. Over 20 minutes of icetime. He took some shifts as center with Simek and Lasch

Too bad his team is just flat out terrible at scoring goals. 78 shots total (42 on net) and only 2 goals.

Well they basically have no coaches, so there's that. Nice to hear they tried him at center position. I think he has the tools to play a centerman as well as winger, but we'll see. And you know them Canadians love their big centermen.

 

[JJTT]

Looks like Rantanen plays center for the whole game today. Interesting to see how he does.

 

[BusQuets]

If he can play center too his draft stock just keeps rising.

 

[chauron]

Rantanen continues to play as center today too. Local media btw compared him to more goal-hungry Joe Thornton, which is not a bad one IMO.

 

[Jack DiBiase]

In this Finnish article from jatkoaika, they are comparing him to Jumbo Joe. Also it says Rantanen himself has stated that center is his natural position.

http://www.jatkoaika.com/Kolumni/näkökulma-mikko-rantanen-on-kuin-joe-thornton/164125

 

[Esko6]

Bizarre that he played wing at the WJC then if center is his natural position and centers were the biggest weakness.

 

[Team Cozens]

Bizarre that he played wing at the WJC then if center is his natural position and centers were the biggest weakness.

They were tanking for McDavid.

 

[Unkki]

Today, Rantanen scored a goal against the best Liiga-team, Kärpät. He was again the best TPS-player with some nice work ethic. He had a chance to get even more points, for example he sent Simek to a breakaway after a nice takeaway in the 2nd period, but Simek missed. Rantanen was centering Simek and Petteri Nummelin at the beginning, but at the end he played in the wing when they tried to even the score. He played "only" 16.36, but that was mostly because home team Kärpät played PP 1/5 of the game.

I believe that in future he'll play at least 17-18 mins per game, and 30 pts is not far away with this pace.

 

[Jack DiBiase]

I believe that in future he'll play at least 17-18 mins per game, and 30 pts is not far away with this pace.

This year?! He would have to go point per game the rest of the season.

Next year he could score 30-40 points if we get to keep him.

 

[JJTT]

This year?! He would have to go point per game the rest of the season.

Next year he could score 30-40 points if we get to keep him.

Didn't he just sign a new contract?

Looked pretty solid at center. Seemed to get better hold of the puck there than he did as winger. He was surpsisingly good defensively and on faceoff's considering he had to play vs Kemppainen's line for most of the night.

 

[Unkki]

This year?! He would have to go point per game the rest of the season.

Yup, almost. 23 games left and 17 points to 30. It's of course tough and not that probable, but I was talking about the pace he has right now. He's got all the confidence with his game right now + he's been the best player for TPS in every game after WJC. I don't believe in 30 pts, but getting close is definitely possible.

 

[Jack DiBiase]

Didn't he just sign a new contract?

Risto also had a contract for us, but didn't help and left for Rochester.

Yup, almost. 23 games left and 17 points to 30. It's of course tough and not that probable, but I was talking about the pace he has right now. He's got all the confidence with his game right now + he's been the best player for TPS in every game after WJC. I don't believe in 30 pts, but getting close is definitely possible.

He is on a hot streak right now, but I don't think it will last. Plus the whole team will probably implode at the deadline.

 

[Periwinkle]

I thought he started out kind of slow but he was a lot more noticeable in the latter part of the game, scored the goal and created chances. Apparently he was good on the dot as well.

I must say this center thing came out of nowhere. If he can keep his level of play up at the center position/play both really well, it seems there's little stopping him going very high in the draft.

 

[sabrebuild]

Risto also had a contract for us, but didn't help and left for Rochester.


He is on a hot streak right now, but I don't think it will last. Plus the whole team will probably implode at the deadline.

Hopefully we steal him just like Risto. Sabres can become little Finland. Here's hoping he doesn't go to early for one of our later picks.

 

[ulvvf]

Finland has always been underrated (in my mind easily among the top 3 nations in the world at senior level), but it seems like something have happen in finnish junior hockey, they are putting up more than normal top end talent right now, and they are just keep coming.

 

[FinPanda]

Finland has always been underrated (in my mind easily among the top 3 nations in the world at senior level), but it seems like something have happen in finnish junior hockey, they are putting up more than normal top end talent right now, and they are just keep coming.

Better, yes. We need to do more though.

 

[Skip2myBordyloo]

Hopefully we steal him just like Risto. Sabres can become little Finland. Here's hoping he doesn't go to early for one of our later picks.

Good luck getting him with the Isles or Blues picks.

He'll probably go way before that.

 

[Esko6]

Finland has always been underrated (in my mind easily among the top 3 nations in the world at senior level), but it seems like something have happen in Finnish junior hockey, they are putting up more than normal top end talent right now, and they are just keep coming.

This is about the level where Finnish junior hockey production should be in "average times". There were some awful years and lost generations where countries like Denmark were looking like they had passed Finland by in junior production and had more quality youngsters in the NHL. Thankfully the hockey bosses have figured out that the lack junior production was disastrous and have taken some steps in the right direction. I totally think that Finnish hockey has the potential to produce at the same level as Sweden if things are done right.

 

[thomast]

Has been playing C position in last games. Centered first line couple days ago. Makes him more versatile. Valuable asset for NHL club.

 

[Noma]

Rantanen will be wearing an 'A' today against Sport. I'm not 100% sure but he's probably the youngest player in Liiga history to wear any letter.

 

[JJTT]

1 assist and over 24 minutes of icetime?

 

[BusQuets]

1 assist and over 24 minutes of icetime?

What? Must be some mistake?

 

[FinPanda]

11 losses for his team in last 12 games. Horrible team..

 

[thomast]

WJC highlights:


Top 10 no doubt. Just so many tools, size, upside and versatility.