[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Unknown

Topi Rönni plays in FEL's best team Tappara, and it's going to be interesting to see, how next season is going to be for Topi. In fact, Tappara is one of two FEL-teams from Tampere (Ilves is another, the same team Juuso Välimäki played as a junior before going to Canada, and also a short period after his knee injury). Rönni, I think, has a possibility to play 3rd line center next season at Tappara. He's going to have many experienced mentors at that team: Kuusela, Savinainen, and Jori Lehterä, who you might remember of playing with Tarasenko in St. Louis. Tappara as a team is the reigning FEL-champion, and they're also going to be the biggest favourites next year. Tappara's game, structure and their head coach rely on defensive system, which I think is a good thing for Rönni's development. Biggest NHL-stars who have come to the NHL from Tappara are Alexander Barkov and Patrik Laine.

Realistic expectation for Rönni is to solidify his role with Tappara's FEL-team, but it's not going to be easy. Tappara's material is maybe the best of the whole league. If I look at the Finns drafted in the first round (Kemell and Lambert), both of those players played in much weaker clubs last season, and at those teams I think Rönni would have been able to play much more. So for the next season, Rönni has a huge challenge ahead of him, because it's the best team in FEL he's trying to solidify his spot. Knowing Tappara's style of game and reputition, I only think that this is a good place for him to spend the next 1-2 years. Comparisons to Backlund and Danault are fine, but ofc there's a long road ahead of Rönni. Rönni's fitness results don't surprise me at all (he has a backround in athletics and basketball) and he's also a smart kid at school. Let's hope for the best!

What a great writeup. Thanks.

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