Quote:
Originally Posted by Flame4Ever
True but he was the highest scorer on a mediocre team. This wasn't a guy who had a great linemate to work with all season like Santorelli and Moller, Wahl and Bowman, Fadden and Boychuk.
There's only one other player on the Kamloops roster to get 50 points. He's no Ovenchkin, but I don't think that it woulld be impossible for him to put up similar numbers in QC.
I also remember that last year his coach was saying that he was one of the blazers best players in pretty much every stat including +/- and SHG, so he clearly not just a one way threat. He didn't put up good numbers and I think the flames thought he was going to be a decen two presence in the Hagman (before this year's outburst) mold. The offense is just a nice bonus.
Personally, I think he could develop into a Lehtinen-lite kind of guy.
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There could be some mitigating factors for his return to Finland. Fulfilling a compulsory military commitment would be one. Effectively taking two roster spots as an overager
and European in Kamloops would be another.
However, it still comes down to the fact that he is not under NHL contract. Being under contract would be the strongest indicator that the organization felt he had NHL upside, regardless of where he plays in 2008-09.
I think given the events that have transpired, the Flames' interest in Puustinen is lukewarm at best.