[Sandman]

C Samu Salminen, 6'3"190lbs (Jokerit U20,FIN): 17gp/10g/16a/26pts. For players with more than 10 games, he's 5th in ppg. He was Captain of Finland in the U-18s, and finished with 7g/2a/9pts (3rd on the team, 1st in goals, and tied with Lysell and Rosen for 11th in the tourney).

Salminen has put up huge numbers at every level in Finland. He's a smart play-maker, can dish as well as anyone in the draft, and consistently makes good decisions all over the ice. Has top-notch vision and IQ in the offensive zone. As evidenced at the U-18s, he can pick corners with his hard, accurate shot, and goes to the net with regularity. He also works well without the puck, and understands the game, and the Center position very well-he works very hard and exhibits good positioning. He's known to be a faceoff ace-he won 70% of his draws in the tournament, the leader by a large margin. He has strong puck skills, and stickhandling proficiency. He may not be the most physical, but he competes in the greasy areas, and will lean into guys going to the net, or along the boards. Battles for loose pucks. Apparently, he prides himself on his fitness-he's in good shape.

The bad part? His skating. I don't think it's as bad as people have said it is-he most surely improved before the U-18s, but it's a project. He looks okay in straight lines, and at top speed, but everything else needs a lot of work. If he could get it to an acceptable level, he would probably be the steal of the draft. Reminds me of the situation with Dylan Strome. THN ranks him 41st, but he could go in the third round.