Player Discussion Urho Vaakanainen

[NYR Viper]

I have to say, for as little fanfare as this guy got as part of the Trouba trade, he has been a real pleasant surprise on the 3rd pairing. He skates well, has pretty decent size, can handle the puck pretty well. Overall, he is what I would hope a teams 3rd pairing d-man would be. It's such an upgrade to go from Trouba, a guy who clearly had lost a step, to Vaakanainen who skates well. Perhaps Drury and his team were able to find a youngish d-man who they could sign to a reasonable extension to help play top-6 for the next couple of seasons

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[McRanger92]

I have to say, for as little fanfare as this guy got as part of the Trouba trade, he has been a real pleasant surprise on the 3rd pairing. He skates well, has pretty decent size, can handle the puck pretty well. Overall, he is what I would hope a teams 3rd pairing d-man would be. It's such an upgrade to go from Trouba, a guy who clearly had lost a step, to Vaakanainen who skates well. Perhaps Drury and his team were able to find a youngish d-man who they could sign to a reasonable extension to help play top-6 for the next couple of seasons

You don't notice him and he's not a bitch. 2 years 1.5? He would also be a great #7. Still only 26 and a former first too and only like 50 more games played total in his career than Zac Jones. Stranger things have happened than Scandinavian defenseman figuring things out after bouncing around. Stralman and Forsling come to mind. He doesnt need to be that but we absolutely won the Trouba trade.

 

[NYR Viper]

You don't notice him and he's not a bitch. 2 years 1.5? He would also be a great #7. Still only 26 and a former first too and only like 50 more games played total in his career than Zac Jones. Stranger things have happened than Scandinavian defenseman figuring things out after bouncing around. Stralman and Forsling come to mind. He doesnt need to be that but we absolutely won the Trouba trade.

Yeah that' really the bar. That and he skates well. Like if there is a 50/50 puck behind him and he has turned around, he likely isn't losing that footrace. He's not a burner, but he skates well.

I'd go 2 years @ $1.25-$1.3m and I'd even consider offering a 3rd year to bring the AAV down honestly. Worst case, they waive and bury him and he's a solid depth option for the organization

 

[mrmovies779]

You could do a lot worse for your 3rd pairing.Hes been steady and makes a good 1st pass...also dependable in the D zone.Cheap too

 

[noncents]

he's got solid 6/7D written all over him. trouba trade was almost half as good as kane trade was bad. almost.