Prospect Info: With the 132nd Overall Pick the New York Rangers Select Lauri Pajuniemi

[GENESISPuck94]

I hope he makes it as a Ranger so I can hear the crowd: "Pooooooooooj"

"Those aren't poo's Joe, they're pooj's"

 

[007]

Pajuniemi decided that his career at this point would be best served in Europe. He could have stayed and played a major role in Hartford and gotten a couple cups of coffee with the big club, but he decided to go to Malmö.

I would love to see him come back to NY, but I don't expect it unless he gets some assurance of NHL play, which I don't think he will unless he truly dominates in Sweden.

 

[tlk]

Did we even qualify him?

edit - looks like we did.

He signed with Malmo before qual offer

 

[LeetchisGod]

Second-leading scorer for Malmo behind former Devil Janne Kuokkanen. Any chance of him returning to North America or is Europe the peak of his potential? Believe the Rangers extended a qualifying offer to retain his rights.

Given how deep the Rangers are on the wing, I doubt there's a path for him making the big club at this point.

 

[kovazub94]

Given how deep the Rangers are on the wing, I doubt there's a path for him making the big club at this point.

Agree. At best if Paju has NHL interest from some NHL club, the Rangers would hope to get a 5th or later rounder for his rights.

 

[eco's bones]

He put up respectable production numbers in Hartford and again this year with Malmo. He's a good player. I think there are doubts he's going to return or at least with the Rangers. He becomes a free agent on the 27th birthday.....you might see him giving it another shot then.

 

[Fitzy]

I think he's exactly where he should be. There are a lot of good players I've known who just weren't compatible with the NHL's speed and physicality. The Swedish league earns you a decent living, and by some personal accounts it's a little more glamorous than being a minor leaguer here.