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

Hagged

Registered User
Jul 6, 2009
3,375
215
That cannon of a shot is his still his biggest asset. But along with it, he now has a two-way game to go with it. If he can't make it in a top six role in NHL he would definately be an upgrade over a lot of third line wings in the NHL.

It will be fun to watch his first NHL games. Him hitting 30 goals in the NHL would be surprising, but I don't think it's too far fetched to say he still has that upside even if the chance for it is low. How high is he on the Detroit depth chart? Any chance of seeing him in the NHL this or next season?
 

The Zetterberg Era

Ball Hockey Sucks
Nov 8, 2011
41,228
12,102
Ft. Myers, FL
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.

A lot more accurate, also while this video doesn't show it because they made the mistake of having problems that gave him that kind of time and space, his delivery/release has gotten better. He has the holy slapper, but his wrist shot is very hard and what used to be an elongated dangle/curling action on that has been shortened. When he doesn't get huge time but in terms of one timers he has a shorter approach from the hip on his slapper as well with a great deal more pace than most guys can dream of.

He likes to shoot high, so occasionally he grabs the glass in behind the net, but they aren't the same kind of wild misses I remember tuning in to watch him play in SM-Liiga. He is a much better playmaker than a lot of people think, but I do like that is has been clear that he should be a shooter a lot of the time and he is listening to that. Just like the concerns with physicality, speed, shot accuracy and defense were worked on a lot and it proves out. The guy is pretty committed to improvement and kudos to him because it is paying off.
 

ricky0034

Registered User
Jun 8, 2010
15,469
7,938
what's encouraging about Pulkkinen is I actually always thought his shot was pretty overrated and he needed much better accuracy and a quicker release to actually have a legitimately great shot like people kept saying he had.

and it seems he's actually done that.
 

Anchor Town*

Guest
what's encouraging about Pulkkinen is I actually always thought his shot was pretty overrated and he needed much better accuracy and a quicker release to actually have a legitimately great shot like people kept saying he had.

and it seems he's actually done that.

His shot has always been overrated, his skating and two way game have come along though. Still needs to get his shot off quicker
 

The Zermanator

In Yzerman We Trust
Jan 21, 2013
3,519
1,510
His shot has always been overrated, his skating and two way game have come along though. Still needs to get his shot off quicker

What makes you say that? The people who've seen him live (like Zetterberg Era) rave about his shot saying it's even more impressive in person.
 

The Zetterberg Era

Ball Hockey Sucks
Nov 8, 2011
41,228
12,102
Ft. Myers, FL
Chad put this on our page, but for those that like slap shots sit back and enjoy, he has other types but here are all of his goals this season thus far.




His shot isn't overrated and he has worked on the release. If you give him the time and space he will go for the big wind up, but he has gotten a lot better at understand the time and space aspect of this. I think the way the game has sped up in NA is good for him, Finland mostly plays on ice half way in between international and NHL so that probably helped. But if he catches you backing up and give him the time to wind up extremely bad things are going to happen to you. However he has a half wind up slapper with a lot of power and he has taken a lot of the time he uses to gather his wrist shot out.

Pulkkinen has worked a lot on his game, his skating is better, he is physical to the appropriate degree, he isn't a liability defensively, his accuracy has gotten better and he was always an underrated passer. The question of where his goals went as he wound down in SM-liiga were legitimate, but it is clear he was putting in a lot of work and it is paying off. He has made a lot of gains in his game.

Also his lower body is a tank, he has a huge *** and legs like tree trunks.
 
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Top Shelfer

Bingo Bango!
Dec 22, 2008
619
1
The Motor City
His shot reminds me of Esa Tikkanen, another great Fin.
Don't think he has Esa's mean streak but like him I think this kid could score 30 goal territory like Esa in several seasons.
Looking forward to seeing him in the NHL.
 

Laser Rayzor

Cautiously Optimistic
Dec 8, 2012
4,256
32
The Underground
Making his NHL debut this Friday:

Ansar Khan ‏@AnsarKhanMLive 32m
Pulkkinen will make NHL debut Friday vs. Oilers because Jurco won't play thy game due to rib injury.
 

satchmo

Registered User
Mar 21, 2012
184
1
So what, 90% of his goals are with the slapshot. Interesting to see if he can start scoring goals with it in the nhl, because if it doesnt work, he has nothing else to give...........
 

The Zermanator

In Yzerman We Trust
Jan 21, 2013
3,519
1,510
So what, 90% of his goals are with the slapshot. Interesting to see if he can start scoring goals with it in the nhl, because if it doesnt work, he has nothing else to give...........

Not even close to reality. He did break Selanne's assists record for a rookie in the SM-Liiga. Good playmaker, his wrist shot is also quite good. He has good balance and he seems to have chemistry with just about anyone. And that slap shot...
 
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Hagged

Registered User
Jul 6, 2009
3,375
215
So what, 90% of his goals are with the slapshot. Interesting to see if he can start scoring goals with it in the nhl, because if it doesnt work, he has nothing else to give...........

It seemed more like 48% slap shots from that video but could be more. Couple of them were on a NHL level goalie too so it's not like he couldn't score goals in the NHL.

But he is a good playmaker anyway, so even if he doesn't score in the NHL he'll still show up on the score board.
 

Jack DiBiase

Team Iceland Coach
Nov 15, 2008
2,455
106
It seemed more like 48% slap shots from that video but could be more. Couple of them were on a NHL level goalie too so it's not like he couldn't score goals in the NHL.
NHL goalies maybe, but not NHL defencemen. He won't get the chances to wind up that holy slapper in the NHL as much as in AHL. But I agree that he has other offensive weapons as well.
 

newfy

Registered User
Jul 28, 2010
14,982
8,749
NHL goalies maybe, but not NHL defencemen. He won't get the chances to wind up that holy slapper in the NHL as much as in AHL. But I agree that he has other offensive weapons as well.

You can say that about most young offensive guys though. Theyre young prospects, they generally have to refine parts of their game once theyre in the NHL to get to the next level.

Theres no reason to believe Pulkinnen cant adjust his slap shot at the next level to make it work. To be fair even if he doesnt, on the PP he'll still get plenty of time to use it
 

Wolverine Wings

#thankyoubasedgod
Feb 27, 2012
898
2
Detroit
Notice how the critism is coming from people who don't even bother to watch the Griffins? Pulu is a far better than the ol' Holy Slapper video would lead most to believe. Thank heavens he's a well rounded player, he should be just fine in the NHL.
 

satchmo

Registered User
Mar 21, 2012
184
1
He cant skate for ****, but man can he shoot the puck. Looking at that video it shows how his line-mates started utilizing his shot as the season went on.
 

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