Prospect Info: Ville Koivunen

[Will Hunting]

This kid deserves his own thread, IMO. He is the biggest positive of this season and going into the next season. Jumping into NHL and immediately looking like legitimate TOP6 option. Not just filling the spot, but looking very comfortable and dynamic. Exciting stuff.

What are your predicitions for him going into next season?

 

[Ryder71]

This kid deserves his own thread, IMO. He is the biggest positive of this season and going into the next season. Jumping into NHL and immediately looking like legitimate TOP6 option. Not just filling the spot, but looking very comfortable and dynamic. Exciting stuff.

What are your predicitions for him going into next season?

0 goals 60 assists.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think you keep Koivunen-Crosby-Rust together. I thought McGroarty looked good there as well, but I like how Koivunen-Rust and McGroarty-Rakell complement each other as winger duos.

Should be a top-6 winger and a PP1 guy for them going forward. His skating is a bit of a concern but the dude is a wizard with the puck. My plan would be Koivunen-Crosby-Rust as L1 with Crosby, Rust, Rakell, Koivunen and Letang as a PP unit.

 

[The Old Master]

I think you keep Koivunen-Crosby-Rust together. I thought McGroarty looked good there as well, but I like how Koivunen-Rust and McGroarty-Rakell complement each other as winger duos.

Should be a top-6 winger and a PP1 guy for them going forward. His skating is a bit of a concern but the dude is a wizard with the puck. My plan would be Koivunen-Crosby-Rust as L1 with Crosby, Rust, Rakell, Koivunen and Letang as a PP unit.

Rust and Rakell shouldn't be on the team

 

[Empoleon8771]

Rust and Rakell shouldn't be on the team

Well get ready to be disappointed because they will be

 

[Coastal Kev]

This kid deserves his own thread, IMO. He is the biggest positive of this season and going into the next season. Jumping into NHL and immediately looking like legitimate TOP6 option. Not just filling the spot, but looking very comfortable and dynamic. Exciting stuff.

What are your predicitions for him going into next season?

If he's on the first line... he could threaten ROY

 

[Ryder71]

Rust and Rakell shouldn't be on the team

Most would agree with that.

 

[Gurglesons]

Meh.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

if this kid has a big summer - look out

 

[DesertedPenguin]

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

His game kinda reminds me of Jake a bit too, in that he's a smaller guy without any exceptional skills to speak of, but he's always involved in the offensive zone and always in the right spots.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

Well get ready to be disappointed because they will be

Interesting to hear why you think both are going to be here. Understand Rust but not sure they shouldn’t take advantage of Rakells season.

Unless the FO is truly that naive to believe they actually have a chance to make the playoffs next year there should be no reason to keep Rakell.

 

[Andy99]

His game kinda reminds me of Jake a bit too, in that he's a smaller guy without any exceptional skills to speak of, but he's always involved in the offensive zone and always in the right spots.

An excellent playmaker however…so far I haven’t seen the shooting talent…more like Granlund than Jake I think…

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

An excellent playmaker however…so far I haven’t seen the shooting talent…more like Granlund than Jake I think…

I think part of that is being a bit overwhelmed/intimidated by playing with Sid. Deferring too much, etc.

 

[Sorry]

His game kinda reminds me of Jake a bit too, in that he's a smaller guy without any exceptional skills to speak of, but he's always involved in the offensive zone and always in the right spots.

Yep, like Jake, seems to be wherever the play needs him to be.

The guy had 7 assists in his first 8 games. He could've had two goals in game #82. It's cliche but he thinks the game at a high level. At one point tonight he and Sid were laughing on the bench. If he already has the Sid seal of approval, good enough for me.

Plus he wears baggy pants.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

This kid deserves his own thread, IMO. He is the biggest positive of this season and going into the next season. Jumping into NHL and immediately looking like legitimate TOP6 option. Not just filling the spot, but looking very comfortable and dynamic. Exciting stuff.

What are your predicitions for him going into next season?

It's mind boggling isn’t it? Using top 6 talented youth in top 6 usage instead of bottom 6 punishment and awful deployment?

We only get to see it for a brief 10 game period to end the season under Sullitard.

 

[Ryder71]

An excellent playmaker however…so far I haven’t seen the shooting talent…more like Granlund than Jake I think…

He's better defensively than Granlund already.

Very high hockey IQ, thinks the game at an elite level. Gotta work on his skating a bit more.

 

[Gurglesons]

An excellent playmaker however…so far I haven’t seen the shooting talent…more like Granlund than Jake I think…

It's mind boggling isn’t it? Using top 6 talented youth in top 6 usage instead of bottom 6 punishment and awful deployment?

We only get to see it for a brief 10 game period to end the season under Sullitard.

This is inherently the issue. If Koivunen continues to get force fed situations he excels in, I can easily see him being a 35-40 pt guy next year.

One only has to look at Tomasino to see how Sully will treat him once he goes cold.

 

[JRS91]

I don't think he'll be the 30-40 goal scorer Guentzel is, but I don't think 20-25 goals is out of the question.

He hasn't scored in the NHL yet, but as others have pointed out, he's very good at being in the right spots. It's only a matter of time before he starts scoring. I'm impressed with his offensive skill though, definitely was a boom or bust prospect coming in and so far he's been good.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

This is inherently the issue. If Koivunen continues to get force fed situations he excels in, I can easily see him being a 35-40 pt guy next year.

One only has to look at Tomasino to see how Sully will treat him once he goes cold.

The list of lads going cold and being treated like shit by Sullivan is very long. Not exclusive to Philly Tomato.

Sullivan better be fired within the next week. Not sure what the f*** they expect, he does the same shit when it’s always too late. They think this is a sign of better things with him? They’d have to be the dumbest f***s in the league if they do.

 

[Andy99]

I think part of that is being a bit overwhelmed/intimidated by playing with Sid. Deferring too much, etc.

I hope that’s the case…

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I think part of that is being a bit overwhelmed/intimidated by playing with Sid. Deferring too much, etc.

He was always a smart hockey player with good hockey iq and playmaking ability, I think anyone thinking he’s some 30+ goal scorer like Jake is misunderstanding the type of player Ville is.

He's more a chameleon type and adapts very quick. He is what he thinks his line needs. If he sees a better shooter he will find ways to open their game up to shoot. There’s a reason a lot of us were high on him as a return in the trade. He’s very good. I hope he joins the loser cup that Spengler whatever and continues to build on his game.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

It's not likely that it will be as easy to score next season as it was at the tail end of this season, but the fact that he got a 5-on-5 point tonight and two points total tonight is encouraging.
Plus, he has the WBS playoffs to play, so hopefully that will also help him to develop.

 

[Turin]

He slaps.

 

[Son Goku]

7 points in 8 games color me impressed