Ban Hammered
Disallowed & Inhibited
- May 15, 2003
- 7,045
- 950
Not at the WJC?
The WJC doesn't start until later. He will probably play a few games with St. Cloud before going over, if he is on the team.
Any info on if/when NCAA hockey is even starting? The website doesn't have any schedules up or anything yet.
I believe St Clouds 1st game is Dec 1st
13 points in his first 11 NCAA games at St. Cloud State. Playing against some of the top schools in U.S. college hockey.
First 2 games he didn't have a point. Since then 13 in 9 games.Wasn't he held pointless in his first 3 games as well? He's on fire.
He took a unusual route for a Finish prospect in playing Jr A in his draft year to maintain NCAA eligibility. His size probably didn't help but most of the other Finns looking to be drafted were playing pro hockey so people probably just over looked him to our benefit.How did we get him so late? Because he's 5'9?
If our 2nd rounder from the same draft being better then Caufield didn't already send Hab fans over the edge our 6th rounder this year being better then him will really do it.
HAB tears aside, this kid is legitimately great. He's been a high-end player for team Finland internationally and has consistently been a top producer on every team he's played at, often playing a year up. If he went to the Liga like most of the kids his age and pedigree did, he's a first rounder and quite possibly challenging for the first half of the 1st round. The fact that he landed in our hands at 168 is beyond absurd.I love it!
HAB tears are delicious! When I read what they are saying to make themselves feel better it warms my heart! Hahaha
The fact that we pulled Amirov, Hirvonen, Miettinen, Ovchennikov from this draft is insane. Amirov was a sure-fire first-rounder but the latter 3 IMO were all challengers for the last 1st/ early 2nd slot. Niemela is the cherry on top of this draft. I fully expect all 5 of these guys at one point or another to have NHL games under their belt. Ovchennikov is the long shot because he's got the highest likelihood of getting poached by the KHL. The other 4 should see NHL time.
Let's not forget about Rindell either. Leading our defensive prospects in NHLe (only behind Korshkov & SDA) with a rel.CF% of almost 8. Playing top-pairing minutes in Liiga as a D+3.
And that's not even mentioning some guys having decent seasons so far in Schingoethe, Villeneuve, and Fusco.