RW Lauri Pajuniemi - TPS Turku, Liiga (2018, 132nd, NYR)

[SnowblindNYR]

What if he’s better than Lafreniere?

I mean he wouldn't be the first lower round pick to be better than a top pick. Odds are against him though.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I spoke to Pajuniemi last year and he told me the Rangers wanted him to play in Finland for 1 more year to take on a bigger role and work on his overall game.

I fully expect him to sign his ELC this summer. The only question mark is whether he plays in the AHL, or goes the Reunanen-route, so to speak, where he's loaned out to Liiga for another year

 

[Synergy27]

This kid has a better shot than Kakko. Very intriguing player.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

This kid has a better shot than Kakko. Very intriguing player.

What does Kakko have to do with him? Kakko would wipe the floor with this guy.

 

[Synergy27]

What does Kakko have to do with him? Kakko would wipe the floor with this guy.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

What does Kakko have to do with him? Kakko would wipe the floor with this guy.

It's an understandable comparison. They literally played for the same team in Finland, same position, both drafted by the Rangers. They even look alike.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

They all count the same.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

They all count the same.

I hope TPS wasn't playing a similarly to their opponents and play like ass.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He missed a bunch of games with a hand/wrist injury, but he’s been back for three games and has three assists. He now has the same amount of goals and assists this season, proving he’s not only a goal scorer. Last season he had a lot more goals than assists.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Pajuniemi leads all players in Liiga in goals since the start of the 2019-20 season despite missing 21(!) games due to injury. That's pretty impressive. And the kid is only 21. His contributions offensively are a bit more spread out which is great, but defensively he still has some ground to make up.

When I spoke to him last summer about his breakout season and military service, he told me his expectation was to spend 1 more year in Finland so I expect him to sign his ELC this summer and then either play in Hartford or go back to Liiga on loan like they did with Reunanen.

He isn't NHL ready (yet) but he definitely has the talent to take that next step. Between him, Lundkvist and Kravtsov it has been a season of highs following the Rangers prospects and it makes up for some others not perfoming as expected.

 

[Bevans]

That defensive coverage woof.

 

[JJTT]

That defensive coverage woof.

3v3. Anyway not sure what Zaborsky(golden helmet) was thinking

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

3v3. Anyway not sure what Zaborsky(golden helmet) was thinking

That's a Liiga tradition. The best player from the previous game wears a gold helmet.

 

[Esko6]

That's a Liiga tradition. The best player from the previous game wears a gold helmet.

Golden helmet is for the player with most points in a team. There is also a blue helmet for team leading U20 player.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Golden helmet is for the player with most points in a team. There is also a blue helmet for team leading U20 player.

Seems not very team-like.

 

[Esko6]

Seems not very team-like.

They are both sponsorship deals. The golden helmet was added in 1994 and it is a deal with the state owned gambling company and the recently added blue helmet is sponsored by Red Bull.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Synergy27]

When is the last time the Rangers had a shoot first prospect like this? I really can’t recall. The team is dying for a player of this type. Would be nice if he panned out to the point where we can trade from our glut of playmaking wingers, fill some holes, and slot this kid in.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Synergy27]

That's Ovechkin's spot, but I'll take it. The Rangers current PP could really use that exact skill.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Pajuniemi needs just 1 more goal to tie TPS legend Saku Koivu for 2nd most goals by a player aged 21 and under.