RW Teemu Pulkkinen (2010, 111th overall, Detroit) II

[Uncle Scrooge]

His release and skating continue to improve, he even now has at times taken a much shorter approach to his holy slapper with similar speed, not all the way to his max like his big wind up or one timers, but still really heavy.

Watched the goalie actually bail on one in Milwaukee in their first game with the Griffins here and it went just high and smashed the glass, the crowd let out an audible gasp at just how hard he shot. Had that been going top corner the goalie was still bailing pulled his hand back in and ducking, was kind of hilarious. Honestly in the top 10 of hardest shots I have seen in person in my life and that includes a lot of NHL talent (family had season tickets to the Wings when I was growing up) when he gets a hold of it you can lose the puck in person it is going that fast.

Haha that's funny.

Nice to hear Pulu is doing well, im getting excited about him again. When he was still playing in juniors in Finland i thought he would be the next big thing, especially after he posted PPG in his first real season playing for Jokerit (my favorite team).

That slapshot is just something else. It was really funny when he was 18 and Ossi Vaananen (unless you don't remember him, he's a veteran, big strong guy) just was like "i can't beat that guy he just shoots harder than me, im glad i don't have to block those". But it was really disappointed to see that, most of the time, he couldn't be that trigger guy, even on the PP. Occasionally he managed to score with that slapper but he was never a consistent threat as a shooter during his time in FEL.

He already started to improve his overall game here and thus his production went down which was fine but it was really concerning to see that his offense didn't improve at all. Always was a great passer but there was just no improvement.

That being said im so happy he is doing well now and most likely playing the best hockey in his career. I just wish he could improve his accuracy. I want to see a real finnish sniper for once. Selanne in his best days had that lethal slapper on the PP but Pulkkinen definitely has the tools to even best that.

 

[newfy]

I think the smaller ice is making him realize he doesnt have all that time to wind up. Its showing in the stats, I really didnt expect this much production out of him this season but he looks really good with the Griffins.

His speed isnt really an issue anymore. Its not a strength but hes got a thick lower body, strong on the puck and decent enough wheels to get the job done. I think he can be a pretty solid NHLer, maybe second liner

 

[Sticks and Pucks]

How would people compare Pulkkinen's game with Jurco's? I know Jurco has made the NHL already but is that because he's better or because he has had an extra year of AHL seasoning?

 

[Anchor Town*]

How would people compare Pulkkinen's game with Jurco's? I know Jurco has made the NHL already but is that because he's better or because he has had an extra year of AHL seasoning?

Both

 

[WesNichols14]

How would people compare Pulkkinen's game with Jurco's? I know Jurco has made the NHL already but is that because he's better or because he has had an extra year of AHL seasoning?

More the extra year in the AHL than the players themselves. anyone who watch's the griffins regularly can tell Pulkkinen will be in the NHL. but at the time of the call up Jurco was off to a great start, while Pulks was still adjusting to the NA ice. If Pulkkinen was playing then like he is now, I think he would have been the call up.

Size also might have something to do with it, Babcock is a size person if you are above 6 foot you get bonus points in his book.
once the Wings get healthy again Jurco will be back in Grand Rapids on a line with Pulks and Jarnkrok.

 

[Sticks and Pucks]

More the extra year in the AHL than the players themselves. anyone who watch's the griffins regularly can tell Pulkkinen will be in the NHL. but at the time of the call up Jurco was off to a great start, while Pulks was still adjusting to the NA ice. If Pulkkinen was playing then like he is now, I think he would have been the call up.

Size also might have something to do with it, Babcock is a size person if you are above 6 foot you get bonus points in his book.
once the Wings get healthy again Jurco will be back in Grand Rapids on a line with Pulks and Jarnkrok.

In terms of potential, how would you rank Jurco, Pulkkinen and Jarnkrok?

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

In terms of potential, how would you rank Jurco, Pulkkinen and Jarnkrok?

Jurco

Jarnkrok
Pulkkinen

 

[WesNichols14]

In terms of potential, how would you rank Jurco, Pulkkinen and Jarnkrok?

Jurco

Jarnkrok
Pulkkinen

What nose said.

but all being equal I think Jurco has 1st line potential. where as I see Pulkkinen a safe bet as a guy who will excel in both a 3rd line scorer and a complementary 2nd line winger who is a fixture on the 2nd PP unit.

Jarnkrok being a center gives him the edge over pulks but they complement each other so well its almost like I view them as a line already both in the AHL and in the NHL. Jarnkrok also thinks on another level than these other two do. his moves are calculated and he's always preparing to defend which is why his numbers have taken longer to come and why its taken longer for him to adjust. Pulkkinen is a decent backchecker and plays an alright 2-way game but he is not going to be the defensive anchor every line should have.

 

[Sticks and Pucks]

Jurco

Jarnkrok
Pulkkinen

What nose said.

but all being equal I think Jurco has 1st line potential. where as I see Pulkkinen a safe bet as a guy who will excel in both a 3rd line scorer and a complementary 2nd line winger who is a fixture on the 2nd PP unit.

Jarnkrok being a center gives him the edge over pulks but they complement each other so well its almost like I view them as a line already both in the AHL and in the NHL. Jarnkrok also thinks on another level than these other two do. his moves are calculated and he's always preparing to defend which is why his numbers have taken longer to come and why its taken longer for him to adjust. Pulkkinen is a decent backchecker and plays an alright 2-way game but he is not going to be the defensive anchor every line should have.

Ah, thank you!

 

[shultzyfeelinirie20]

Ah, thank you!

i can see pulks as a jarret stoll type i know hes not a center but pulks and stoll are around the same size and can fill in that 3rd role with a nice shot and make some plays

 

[Henkka]

i can see pulks as a jarret stoll type i know hes not a center but pulks and stoll are around the same size and can fill in that 3rd role with a nice shot and make some plays

Don't see that at all. Stoll is a defensive 3rd line center + PK player and Pulkkinen is more of TOP6 winger who never sees PK.

Both have hard shot and can play the PP point, but that's about it.

 

[Jussi]

What nose said.

but all being equal I think Jurco has 1st line potential. where as I see Pulkkinen a safe bet as a guy who will excel in both a 3rd line scorer and a complementary 2nd line winger who is a fixture on the 2nd PP unit.

Jarnkrok being a center gives him the edge over pulks but they complement each other so well its almost like I view them as a line already both in the AHL and in the NHL. Jarnkrok also thinks on another level than these other two do. his moves are calculated and he's always preparing to defend which is why his numbers have taken longer to come and why its taken longer for him to adjust. Pulkkinen is a decent backchecker and plays an alright 2-way game but he is not going to be the defensive anchor every line should have.

Would someone like Mantha compliment those two in the NHL or is he not good enough defensively? They'd need someone bigger and physical to make room for them.

 

[Wolverine Wings]

Would someone like Mantha compliment those two in the NHL or is he not good enough defensively? They'd need someone bigger and physical to make room for them.

Actually Jurco would fit well with these guys (Jarnkrok & Pulkkinen). He has played incredibly physically during his latest stint and is probably the closest thing to a top-six Power Forward the Wings have in the pipeline.

---
Truthfully, I'm not too sure on Pulk's future with the Wings, because he has played really well in the AHL: he has been scoring goals, but isn't entirely reliant on his slap shot, which is equivalent to a cannon, he also has been setting guys up and isn't as puck-dominant as he was back in Europe; his defense and skating will never be first class, however he is improved in both aspects and is serviceable enough to play in the AHL.

The problem lies in the fact that Mantha plays/will play a similar role to him, but better. Mantha can score from anywhere, he has tremendous feel in the offensive zone and is a multidimensional talent with his ability to pass. Now, Mantha's defense is not as good as Pulk's (which means it needs a lot of work) but he is only 19 years old and has plenty of time to get better. Finally, the fact that he is every bit of 6'5'', will continue to fill out AND is a very good skater (this is how IMO he manages to dominate offensively) makes Mantha for a potentially dominate player.

Basically, because Pulk plays a similar offensive style to Mantha (not necessarily comparable) makes me think that he'll be traded sometime in the next few years. Which sucks.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

i can see pulks as a jarret stoll type i know hes not a center but pulks and stoll are around the same size and can fill in that 3rd role with a nice shot and make some plays

Stoll and Sheahan make a lot of sense as comparables, Pulkkinen really isn't that guy. He shouldn't pk at the NHL level, he is a stocky winger. For a rough comparison, could see him being like Michael Ryder.

 

[WesNichols14]

Actually Jurco would fit well with these guys (Jarnkrok & Pulkkinen). He has played incredibly physically during his latest stint and is probably the closest thing to a top-six Power Forward the Wings have in the pipeline.

---
Truthfully, I'm not too sure on Pulk's future with the Wings, because he has played really well in the AHL: he has been scoring goals, but isn't entirely reliant on his slap shot, which is equivalent to a cannon, he also has been setting guys up and isn't as puck-dominant as he was back in Europe; his defense and skating will never be first class, however he is improved in both aspects and is serviceable enough to play in the AHL.

The problem lies in the fact that Mantha plays/will play a similar role to him, but better. Mantha can score from anywhere, he has tremendous feel in the offensive zone and is a multidimensional talent with his ability to pass. Now, Mantha's defense is not as good as Pulk's (which means it needs a lot of work) but he is only 19 years old and has plenty of time to get better. Finally, the fact that he is every bit of 6'5'', will continue to fill out AND is a very good skater (this is how IMO he manages to dominate offensively) makes Mantha for a potentially dominate player.

Basically, because Pulk plays a similar offensive style to Mantha (not necessarily comparable) makes me think that he'll be traded sometime in the next few years. Which sucks.

How often do you watch the Griffins? because Pulkkinen has shown he is a very good passer. and has a decent 2-way game.

But yes Jurco will fit that role. It was actually when Pulkkinen joined the team last year and was put on Jurco's line that he started to take off to start this year Jurco, Pulkkinen and Jarnkrok were the 1.B line in Grand Rapids while Nyquist, Sheahan, and Ferraro were 1.A

 

[WesNichols14]

Would someone like Mantha compliment those two in the NHL or is he not good enough defensively? They'd need someone bigger and physical to make room for them.

Yes Mantha could fit well into that role. basically Jarnkrok is the 2-way playmaker Pulkkinen is alright 2-way and is a playmaker with great shooting tools, and any all offense shooter would thrive on that line. he will be put in plenty of great shooting areas to score and has Pulkkinen who can be set up himself, all the while not worrying that his style will be cost the team goals against.

 

[Jack DiBiase]

Stoll and Sheahan make a lot of sense as comparables, Pulkkinen really isn't that guy. He shouldn't pk at the NHL level, he is a stocky winger. For a rough comparison, could see him being like Michael Ryder.

Ryder is actually a pretty good comparison. Similar size, speed and skillset. The difference is Ryder has The Holy Wrister.

 

[Tatar Shots]

His slapper is unbelievable, can't wait to see this thing on the PP in Detroit

 

[Redwingsfan]

^^ Thats was great. Mazanec didn't seem to enjoy it so much

 

[Vatican Roulette]

Ryder is actually a pretty good comparison. Similar size, speed and skillset. The difference is Ryder has The Holy Wrister.

Detroit acquires Ryder...

They then have:

The holy slapper
The holy wrister
And the holy defense...

Come on, that was funny.

Really hope Detroit gives this guy a chance soon.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

His slapper is unbelievable, can't wait to see this thing on the PP in Detroit

All I can keep saying is it is even better in person, it is just so heavy. You give him the full windup and he hits the net and you're finished. I don't expect him to get the full windup often at the NHL level but the coach and goalie will be cursing out the bench when it does happen.

Really a scary option could exist where you put him on the one half wall and Sproul at the opposite point and you have a shooting gallery. Frk has struggled so we will see, but Mantha also has a hard shot though not as hard as the first three, but the most accurate and a very quick release. These tools are going to be very hard to take away. They might not all stay in the organization but it is tantalizing to think about. Over a playoff series being subjected to seven games of actually trying to block those cannons might send some guys out for the series as well.

 

[The Zermanator]

His slapper is unbelievable, can't wait to see this thing on the PP in Detroit

I could barely follow it in slow-motion!

Detroit's got their very own Fulton.

All I can keep saying is it is even better in person, it is just so heavy. You give him the full windup and he hits the net and you're finished. I don't expect him to get the full windup often at the NHL level but the coach and goalie will be cursing out the bench when it does happen.

Really a scary option could exist where you put him on the one half wall and Sproul at the opposite point and you have a shooting gallery. Frk has struggled so we will see, but Mantha also has a hard shot though not as hard as the first three, but the most accurate and a very quick release. These tools are going to be very hard to take away. They might not all stay in the organization but it is tantalizing to think about. Over a playoff series being subjected to seven games of actually trying to block those cannons might send some guys out for the series as well.

------Jurco
Pulkkinen Mantha

Sproul Jarnkrok

Scary.

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

------Jurco
Pulkkinen Mantha

Sproul Jarnkrok

Scary.

What's awesome about that unit is how they could rotate it around. Both Mantha and Pulkkinen can play the point, and Sproul is certainly comfortable playing like a forward. and Pulkkinen is absolutely not afraid to go rebound hunting, and the same for Mantha.

What's weird is that this unit doesn't even include Tatar, Nyquist, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, etc. The Wings could easily ice 2 promising PP units in the next few years.

What's even weirder is that this sort of thing is starting to look possible. Jarnkrok and Pulkkinen have turned it on in the AHL lately, and Mantha is doing his thing in the Q and Jurco is impressing in the NHL. The only real questionmark here IMO is Sproul. But it's also not a longshot for Sproul to become a solid bottom pairing PP specialist (which I think is his floor). I guess that stuff tells you a lot about Detroit's depth.

 

[Konnan511]

His slapper is unbelievable, can't wait to see this thing on the PP in Detroit

Dat poke check. He might not be fast, but he sure as heck has a nice first step.

 

[agent082]

How is his accuracy nowadays? It was painful to watch him in WJC and FEL when 1/5 of his shots went toward the net.