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.

 

[n8]

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

At such a low AAV, what's the downside of giving him 5 years? Take him to 31.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

He just exists with out being a disaster.

Totally fine as a 6.

 

[gump116]

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

Agreed. Seems like a reasonable risk for a solid #5-7d in his prime. Is he an RFA or UFA at the end of this year? Seeing conflicting information on puckpedia vs capwages

 

[nyr2k2]

Agreed. Seems like a reasonable risk for a solid #5-7d in his prime. Is he an RFA or UFA at the end of this year? Seeing conflicting information on puckpedia vs capwages

Unless the RFA rules changed, it's basically you have to be 27 or have 7 seasons in the league to become a UFA generally. He's only 26 and I don't think he spent enough time on the roster each of the past seven seasons to have them count as an accrued season, but I don't know that for sure. In any event I'd say it's likely he's an RFA.

 

[Jack Hanson]

I like him. Gets the job done without any fanfare. Doesnt cost a lot. Anything that improves our defense without using a lot of capital is exactly what the dr ordered.

 

[its not that serious]

He should be an arbitration eligible RFA.

Probably always a bottom pair guy and not a long term fit, but more reliable than Trouba was, for $7 million less, and came with a fourth round pick.

 

[NYR Viper]

If he can stay healthy, he’s a bottom pairing no fanfare defenseman who is on the right side of 30. Sign him to a 2-3 year deal

 

[markymarc1215]

I've warmed to him. Plus losing Trouba is addition by subtraction. Not noticing him is a good thing as a 3rd pair defenseman. As a former 1st rounder, this is a low risk addition.

 

[DanielBrassard]

He’s a serviceable 3rd pairing D, surprisingly good first pass out of the zone and nice composure under pressure.

 

[McRanger92]

Urho Vaakastralman

 

[chosen]

Arttu Hyry is my new favorite hockey player name.​

 

[Fitzy]

I'm less of a fan than others here. He's a dime a dozen. A slightly better version of Robertson. I wouldn't give a long term committment.

 

[n8]

He just exists with out being a disaster.

Totally fine as a 6.

Fine. Is that what the team needs? Would you rather we had a cost controlled player closer to Gustafsson's impact?

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Fine. Is that what the team needs? Would you rather we had a cost controlled player closer to Gustafsson's impact?

Absolutely.

I’d like both and I’d pair them together.