C/LW Viljami Marjala,6'0"179lbs (Quebec,QMJHL): 30gp/5g/22a/27pts, and added 5pts in 6 playoff games-third in scoring on the team, and second in the playoffs. Drafted 14th overall by Quebec in 2021. Last year, he was top-scorer for Finland's U17 team, ahead of such players as Koivunen, Huuhtanen, Salminen, and Kapanen. 3rd in scoring for Q rookies, which is quite impressive for a kid coming across the pond to play on smaller ice with a new team. Smart, unselfish, team-first player. Excellent offensive instincts, vision, and skill. Displays poise with the puck, and makes good decisions on the fly.
Marjala has soft hands, and shines in the playmaking department-uses elite deception to open space. Doesn't hold on to the puck for too long-relies on quick passes to avoid turnovers. Marjala shows decent finish, and shoots the puck well with a hard, accurate shot. He's a crafty player around the goal, and in-tight. His numbers would pop a lot more if he was to shoot in Quebec at the same rate he did with Karpat last year-it's puzzling to me, as he was more of a dual-threat over there. Very cerebral-he thinks and excecutes simultaneously, with safe, smart outcomes, always two steps ahead. He does many positive things that don't show up on the scoresheet. Skates well, with strong balance due to his low center of gravity-great edges and agility for tight areas. He's a rover on the PP, and runs the play from the half-wall-dissects defenses with his reads.
Viljami is reliable defensively, has great hockey-sense and understands his responsibilities. Hyper aware of where everyone is on the sheet, and competes hard for the puck. Exhibits good positioning, and plays bigger than his 179lbs-uses his body quite well. Wins battles, and prevents chances-he doesn't need to hit everything in sight. He backchecks hard and smart-he's often the first forward back in his own zone. Battles hard along the wall, and the dirty areas. Moving forward, Marjala needs a bit of work on his skating-he's fast, doesn't yet possess elite, or breakaway speed. He also of course, needs to shoot more. This is a player that will be good in any team's middle-6, but we'll see what his numbers look like this upcoming season before judging. 3rd/4th round.
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