The Saint Mikael Granlund hypetrain part 2 (saucer passes turning to wine!)

[nickschultzfan]

I blame Mikael Granlund's so-so play on the WJC so far on his brother.

Man, Marcus Granlund is a turnover machine. That guy adds nothing to that line.

 

[Chief Jokinen]

the talent is there but it disappears too easily in small rink action against NA teams.

He didnt "disappear", he created opportunities for other players to score on, had a single breakway and other pretty good scoring opportunities as well. He just didn't show up big in scoreboard or make any airhook-esque flashy plays.

He also played very responsible defensive game, as first line center and a captain for team Finland should.

 

[Loffer]

I blame Mikael Granlund's so-so play on the WJC so far on his brother.

Man, Marcus Granlund is a turnover machine. That guy adds nothing to that line.

Mikael has played very well despite his brother being in his line in the FEL. Mikael was just far from his normal level against USA.

 

[Emppu]

Mikael has played very well despite his brother being in his line in the FEL. Mikael was just far from his normal level against USA.

True, Mikael hasn't played hockey yet at the WJC. He must lead the team on even strenght too and search for different plays on PP, not just passing the puck to Pulkkinen and wait for his holy slapper to work

 

[Kearns]

the talent is there but it disappears too easily in small rink action against NA teams.

This is lazy criticism, a stereotypical comment cut-and-paste on many Euros.

What I see from Granlund is a kid who protects the puck very well, and who does not shy away from board play, contact, or traffic in front. He's not big but he's strong on his skates. These are attributes that will serve him well in the NHL, probably next year. Like any 19 year old 1st round pick, he has a lot of development in front of him. His play with the puck reminds me of a Danny Briere. He still needs to work on his skating. I see him as a first line player in the NHL with an upside of 70 to 80 points.

 

[Loffer]

This is lazy criticism, a stereotypical comment cut-and-paste on many Euros.

What I see from Granlund is a kid who protects the puck very well, and who does not shy away from board play, contact, or traffic in front. He's not big but he's strong on his skates. These are attributes that will serve him well in the NHL, probably next year. Like any 19 year old 1st round pick, he has a lot of development in front of him. His play with the puck reminds me of a Danny Briere. He still needs to work on his skating. I see him as a first line player in the NHL with an upside of 70 to 80 points.

Lazy comment. Ofc he needs to work on his skating but it is easier said than done.

 

[tyratoku]

Lazy comment. Ofc he needs to work on his skating but it is easier said than done.

Zack Phillips (Minnesota's 28th overall pick 2011 draft) was knocked for his skating before the draft but stayed in Minnesota for most of the summer to work on his skating with the Wild's skating coaches. Over the course of a single summer his skating was vastly improved and is(although I haven't personally seen him) said to be one of his strengths now.

Granlund is better than Phillips now and projects to be a better player. I have no doubt that MiG can vastly improve his skating over the course of a summer or two working with the Wild's personnel.

 

[tikkanen5rings*]

Zack Phillips (Minnesota's 28th overall pick 2011 draft) was knocked for his skating before the draft but stayed in Minnesota for most of the summer to work on his skating with the Wild's skating coaches. Over the course of a single summer his skating was vastly improved and is(although I haven't personally seen him) said to be one of his strengths now.

Granlund is better than Phillips now and projects to be a better player. I have no doubt that MiG can vastly improve his skating over the course of a summer or two working with the Wild's personnel.

Kind of odd for a Finnish player. They are usually torpedos with zero hockey smarts and no hands what so ever. Mikael is the complete opposite.

 

[Hagged]

Kind of odd for a Finnish player. They are usually torpedos with zero hockey smarts and no hands what so ever.

Exactly. Like Korpikoski, Nokelainen, Miettinen, Selanne etc.

 

[Velho]

Exactly. Like Korpikoski, Nokelainen, Miettinen, Selanne etc.

 

[cenas*]

Kind of odd for a Finnish player. They are usually torpedos with zero hockey smarts and no hands what so ever. Mikael is the complete opposite.

Agree with no hands, but disagree on hockey smarts.. playing two way hockey and playing in a system has been one of our only strengths.

 

[ToBBa]

Exactly. Like Korpikoski, Nokelainen, Miettinen, Selanne etc.

Selänne? Torpedo with zero hockey smarts and no hands? SELÄNNE? TORPEDO WITH ZERO HOCKEY SMARTS AND NO HANDS?

 

[Loffer]

Zack Phillips (Minnesota's 28th overall pick 2011 draft) was knocked for his skating before the draft but stayed in Minnesota for most of the summer to work on his skating with the Wild's skating coaches. Over the course of a single summer his skating was vastly improved and is(although I haven't personally seen him) said to be one of his strengths now.

Granlund is better than Phillips now and projects to be a better player. I have no doubt that MiG can vastly improve his skating over the course of a summer or two working with the Wild's personnel.

Difficult to believe that a player (like Phillips) knocked for his skating can turn into a good/excellent skater, let alone in a summer.

Granlund has worked on his skating and it has improved but he will hardly ever be a fast skater. At WJC against NA teams he has simply looked too slow. As for now, it seems that the small rink game doesn't suit him at all. He is vastly better in the FEL using his strengths. If he cannot improve his speed he must at least change his style of playing to have any succes in the NHL. But then again, how could he change his game if he lacks speed?

Maybe it will work out if he gets good linemates and somehow adjusts to the NA hockey over a course of time. But I wouldn't bet on it.

E: Team Finland at WJC seems to lack footspeed in general. There are hardly any really fast skaters in the team, let alone on the top lines.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Difficult to believe that a player (like Phillips) knocked for his skating can turn into a good/excellent skater, let alone in a summer.

Granlund has worked on his skating and it has improved but he will hardly ever be a fast skater. At WJC against NA teams he has simply looked too slow. As for now, it seems that the small rink game doesn't suit him at all. He is vastly better in the FEL using his strengths. If he cannot improve his speed he must at least change his style of playing to have any succes in the NHL. But then again, how could he change his game if he lacks speed?

Maybe it will work out if he gets good linemates and somehow adjusts to the NA hockey over a course of time. But I wouldn't bet on it.

E: Team Finland at WJC seems to lack footspeed in general. There are hardly any really fast skaters in the team, let alone on the top lines.

So, after playing 2 1/2 (and more) years on olympic sized sheets of ice, it may take him more than 2 games to adapt to the regular size? Color me shocked (that was sarcastic). It may take him 40 games to adjust next year; it may take a full year. But I'm confident that he will. He just seems too damn talented.

The funny thing is, that you say he isn't a great skater, or a fast skater, so his game has obviously never been built around speed. But he has been producing anyways. Are you saying that his record breaking production in the FEL is solely a product of the size of the ice?

 

[Loffer]

So, after playing 2 1/2 (and more) years on olympic sized sheets of ice, it may take him more than 2 games to adapt to the regular size? Color me shocked (that was sarcastic). It may take him 40 games to adjust next year; it may take a full year. But I'm confident that he will. He just seems too damn talented.

The funny thing is, that you say he isn't a great skater, or a fast skater, so his game has obviously never been built around speed. But he has been producing anyways. Are you saying that his record breaking production in the FEL is solely a product of the size of the ice?

Just a typical example of a skilled small player who lacks top-end speed and will probably have difficulties in the NHL. His performances at the WJC haven't been that encouraging. You can't talk yourself out of a skating problem.

 

[tikkanen5rings*]

So, after playing 2 1/2 (and more) years on olympic sized sheets of ice, it may take him more than 2 games to adapt to the regular size? Color me shocked (that was sarcastic). It may take him 40 games to adjust next year; it may take a full year. But I'm confident that he will. He just seems too damn talented.

The funny thing is, that you say he isn't a great skater, or a fast skater, so his game has obviously never been built around speed. But he has been producing anyways. Are you saying that his record breaking production in the FEL is solely a product of the size of the ice?

Loffer is a stereotypical Finn driven only by jealosy and bitterness for his fellow Finn. He spends his whole life just nitpicking on other peoples faults and then one day dies as a lonely sad old man who never achieved anything. Nothing more needs to be said a bout these kind of guys.

 

[sirMcDuck]

What this guy have to prove in two games? He has proved himself in men's wc so what ever.

 

[BusQuets]

Granlund doesn't have to prove anything to anyone in a kids competition.

 

[Jim Morrison]

Granlund doesn't have to prove anything to anyone in a kids competition.

So he doesn't care/compete in "unnecessary" games? Not a very good trait to have as a hockey-player.

 

[Latex*]

One could argue that the WJC means more than the WHC when evaluating his chances of becoming an NHLer.

 

[Loffer]

Loffer is a stereotypical Finn driven only by jealosy and bitterness for his fellow Finn. He spends his whole life just nitpicking on other peoples faults and then one day dies as a lonely sad old man who never achieved anything. Nothing more needs to be said a bout these kind of guys.

I am just saying he may have difficulties adjusting to the NHL due to his size and skating. Hes been way overhyped and i have hyped him too lately because of his terrific performance in the FEL (and at the Karjala Cup)-. It has nothing to do with bitterness or jealousity. On the contrary, hope he fares well. But I am not blind like many seem to be. Isn't it obvious that big rink with more time and space suits him way better? YES. He should be one of the best players at the WJC if not the best but thus far it's been far from it. And this is just hockey, let's not take it too seriously. Granlund is a fine young man and I only hope he could - skate... and become a superstar in the NHL. But it doesn't look like it. Damn. Why are all these Finnish prospects either small or slow or both?!

 

[BusQuets]

So he doesn't care/compete in "unnecessary" games? Not a very good trait to have as a hockey-player.

Of course he cares or i sure hope he does. I'm just saying he doesn't have to prove anything until he plays in NHL.

 

[Kearns]

Lazy comment. Ofc he needs to work on his skating but it is easier said than done.

I think you meant to say lazy sentence; I could be wrong.

I agree that improving skating is easier said than done. You continue to argue that skating and size are two things that will cause MG to have a problem in the NHL. I think he's very strong on his skates and does not shy away from traffic. He protects the puck very very well in my opinion, and these traits bode well for a small player. I think it's time you acknowledged that skating can be taught, albeit challenging. The things that cannot be taught, MG already has.

 

[cenas*]

I think you meant to say lazy sentence; I could be wrong.

I agree that improving skating is easier said than done. You continue to argue that skating and size are two things that will cause MG to have a problem in the NHL. I think he's very strong on his skates and does not shy away from traffic. He protects the puck very very well in my opinion, and these traits bode well for a small player. I think it's time you acknowledged that skating can be taught, albeit challenging. The things that cannot be taught, MG already has.

That guy literally has about 50% of his comments here flaming Granlund.. you are not going to win him over.

 

[Loffer]

I think you meant to say lazy sentence; I could be wrong.

I agree that improving skating is easier said than done. You continue to argue that skating and size are two things that will cause MG to have a problem in the NHL. I think he's very strong on his skates and does not shy away from traffic. He protects the puck very very well in my opinion, and these traits bode well for a small player. I think it's time you acknowledged that skating can be taught, albeit challenging. The things that cannot be taught, MG already has.

Yes, sentence. Ofc you can taught any skill or improve technique and gain strength etc. but there's some upper limit here. Otherwise every skater were fast. Maybe you can fix it, maybe not. You never know.

That guy literally has about 50% of his comments here flaming Granlund.. you are not going to win him over.

I'm not flaming anybody, let alone Granlund. He is a terrific hockey player and if he only could skate he would actually be a top 10 player in the world. He is rather good even without skating. So, he is quite good all said and done. I just pointed out that the WJC has shown that he still struggles against NA teams and seems to have difficulties to play his game with less time and space. It's easy to see that larger ice surface suits him way better. Saying all these things is not flaming but just commenting obvious facts. He may be a good NHLer one day but he would certainly be even better if he had that extra second allowed by big rink game. Something will be missing in his game in the NHL, that's for sure.