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

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Slightly higher PPG this season, but his GPG is lower this season. It’s not bad though. 20 in 41 games, which is third in the league in GPG.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Slightly higher PPG this season, but his GPG is lower this season. It’s not bad though. 20 in 41 games, which is third in the league in GPG.

46 goals in the last 2 seasons, leading Liiga. Not bad for a 21-year old.

Pajuniemi is the 11th all-time and first since Saku Koivu in 1994 & 1995 to record back-to-back 20-goal seasons in Liiga at age 21 and younger

He also ties Saku Koivu for 2nd most goals by a 21-year old in TPS history with 53

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

 

[Evgeny Oliker]

Any idea if NYR plans to sign him this summer?

where is he expected to play next season?

 

[5cotland]

Any idea if NYR plans to sign him this summer?

where is he expected to play next season?

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

 

[OKR]

Another year in Liiga working on consistancy and fine tuning all aspects of his game would be ideal for him, in my opinion.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

AHL makes sense. He’s been a top player in Liiga for two seasons now.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

AHL makes sense. He’s been a top player in Liiga for two seasons now.

He's been a top offensive player, yes. Defensively there's still some major holes. It wouldn't be the worst thing to be loaned out to a Liiga team. Maybe not TPS per se, but a team where they can have him focus on becoming a more well-rounded player because right now, he will struggle immensely in tighter areas. His offense alone isn't enough to get by. He's also only 21 so there's no rush once he is signed to his 3-year ELC.

Go the Reunanen route. Unless they have a spot in Hartford for him of course, but even then he's at least 2 years away from making the NHL

 

[The Sweetness]

I feel it’s a wash between the AHL and Liiga at this stage. He will be 22 by the time next season rolls around and he should be able to handle the AHL. I don’t think staying on loan in Liiga would be a massive issue as he could still work on his overall game and his strength/skating while likely keeping his confidence high as I’m sure he will keep scoring as well. But moving to the AHL should be fine as well as he will be 22.

 

[morkkis35]

Another year in Liiga working on consistancy and fine tuning all aspects of his game would be ideal for him, in my opinion.

Not sure a Liiga Team is interested in fine tuning a player for defensive responsibility, they rather take a advantage of a high scoring player. Imo he should make the step on north american ice, to learn the game and get the fine tuning in the ahl, he should be ready to make that step.

 

[OKR]

Not sure a Liiga Team is interested in fine tuning a player for defensive responsibility, they rather take a advantage of a high scoring player. Imo he should make the step on north american ice, to learn the game and get the fine tuning in the ahl, he should be ready to make that step.

He already is one of their keyplayers and 3rd highest scoring one, they would have no issues with keeping him, especially since Kestner will probably leave for after this season. Pajuniemi is the player they expect to take Kestner’s role in the first line next season. Pajuniemi would get a bigger role in Liiga than AHL initially as well.

 

[Bevans]

How is he supposed to work on his defensive game when he's so dominant offensively? Too easy to cheat.

I think it's time for him to face stiffer competition so he can learn what will and won't work in higher leagues. Also needs reps on North American ice.

 

[Bevans]

He already is one of their keyplayers and 3rd highest scoring one, they would have no issues with keeping him, especially since Kestner will probably leave for after this season. Pajuniemi is the player they expect to take Kestner’s role in the first line next season. Pajuniemi would get a bigger role in Liiga than AHL initially as well.

I think you misunderstand Morkkis35's point. Of course, they'd want Pajuniemi. He's saying they want him to win, not to develop him for the Rangers.

 

[OKR]

I think you misunderstand Morkkis35's point. Of course, they'd want Pajuniemi. He's saying they want him to win, not to develop him for the Rangers.

He wouldn’t play a development role in TPS, he would take natural step forward from second line winger to a first line winger.

I just don’t see why Rangers or anybody would see it as better development plan to have him play his current role but in the AHL, when he still has steps to take in the Liiga too.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He wouldn’t play a development role in TPS, he would take natural step forward from second line winger to a first line winger.

I just don’t see why Rangers or anybody would see it as better development plan to have him play his current role but in the AHL, when he still has steps to take in the Liiga too.

He’d be a first liner in the AHL. We don’t have better players to use there for our AHL team.

And you can call him nominally the second line player on the TPS depth chart, but he scores like a first liner.

 

[Jalasvaara]

According to "sources" here in Turku, Paju has signed with Lukko. Naturally if Rangers sign him that doesn't matter. If he stays in Finland he will play with Lukko.

 

[The Sweetness]

According to "sources" here in Turku, Paju has signed with Lukko. Naturally if Rangers sign him that doesn't matter. If he stays in Finland he will play with Lukko.

Did his team not qualify for the playoffs? Hi can he sign so early otherwise? Sorry I don’t follow Finnish hockey that much.

 

[Jalasvaara]

Did his team not qualify for the playoffs? Hi can he sign so early otherwise? Sorry I don’t follow Finnish hockey that much.

They will play in playoffs. Just a rumour at the moment that he has signed with Lukko for next season. We will see after the playoffs if the rumour is true.

 

[NJ Fan 12]

46 goals in the last 2 seasons, leading Liiga. Not bad for a 21-year old.

Pajuniemi is the 11th all-time and first since Saku Koivu in 1994 & 1995 to record back-to-back 20-goal seasons in Liiga at age 21 and younger

He also ties Saku Koivu for 2nd most goals by a 21-year old in TPS history with 53

Not that it is his fault, but today's Liiga is far different than the league in which Saku Koivu played - when there were fewer teams and many of the top Finnish players were still playing in Finland.

With so many of the Rangers key forwards being first or second year players, his prospects in the organization are still uncertain.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

 

[Bevans]

I hope he doesn't go to KHL. I think there' a bigger risk of losing ice time there than in the status quo, SHL, or AHL.