Value of: Kristian Vesalainen, HIFK

[Jersey Fan 12]

Just saw where former first-round pick has 10 goals in 17 games.

Is he doing anything differently or is this more a reflection of the competition level in Liiga?

Is he someone worth pursuing as a FA for an NHL club?

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[Albatros]

It's the Pakarinen-Lehterä-Vesalainen line as a whole that is clicking. If you want to try and replicate his individual contribution in the NHL then you'll have to give him a place in the top six, no one's going to go for that.

 

[JabbaJabba]

IFK top line is scoring like crazy. I think it's an anomaly. Maybe the talent in the league is diluted now that there are more teams than before. At this moment after 19 games Lehterä is on a pace for 108 points, Pakarinen for 82 points (69 goals! wtf!) and Vesalainen for 79 points. It will be interesting to see how many points they end up getting but I doubt they'll get that high. Could still end up being one of the highest scoring seasons ever.

Maybe some team wants to take a chance on Vesalainen after checking out his stats and remembering that he's a former 1st rounder. I imagine that he at least gets a two-way contract type of deal offered to him though I don't know if he takes it. More likely he goes to Switzerland after this season I think. Usually when European players return to Europe after trying to break into the NHL, they rarely go back.

 

[Albatros]

I think Luke Martin is the most likely to take that deal, not the next Brian Rafalski but he has much more than just ECHL stardom in him.

 

[mattihp]

Jori Lehterä looks incredible on that line. Imagine if he had at least the speed of Jason Allison.