Scott Wheeler on Joni Jurmo last January ... had him at #3 at Canucks prospects back then:
Quote:
3. Joni Jurmo, LHD, 20 (Jukurit)
Jurmo is a fascinating project as a massive human who can really move. His north-south skating is really quite impressive for a 6-foot-4, 200-pound defenceman, and he uses it a lot (sometimes too much). As a result, he’s very noticeable out there (for good and bad reasons at times). The raw tools have always been appealing. He has shown, against his peers, that he can drive the game at both ends and hold the puck a lot, especially again for a player his size. Some of that has been coached out of him along the way with different teams/at different levels, but I think it’s important that the Canucks develop him for who he is: a very active, involved player who can be a transition monster when he’s playing with confidence with the puck, showing eagerness to join the rush, and using his feet to pull away from pressure. It’s going to come with some warts and some mistakes (he’s prone to bobble in control) but he’s slowly learning to think the game more consistently and force less, and that will continue with reps. There’s still work to do on his pivots and his attention to detail but he’s only 20; there’s no rush, there’s a lot to work with. As long as he’s taking steps forward instead of back, he’ll remain relevant. He may never play an NHL game (the Canucks still haven’t signed him) but I’d want to work with him and see if he can be lightly moulded into an NHL defenceman.
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Brzustewicz is easily the centre piece for me, but if Jurmo can somewhat pan out as a bottom-pairing defenseman, that's gravy.