[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

Jan.12th: There aren't many players in this draft-class who have been as underestimated as RHD Samu Alalauri (6'1.5",203lbs), who earned a "C" from Central Scouting in their Preliminary Rankings, and is now 19th for European Skaters in their Mid-Term Rankings. I became a fan of his because of his performance in last summer's Hlinka Gretzky Cup, although I did note that he had some cleaning up to do in his own zone. He finished in a tie for 5th in scoring by D in the tournament, with 4 points in 5 Games (but was -3), with Finland finishing in 4th-place after losing in the Bronze-Medal game to Team Canada. With 8 points in his last 7 U20 games back home with the Pelicans, he is now tied for 4th in scoring by D in that circuit, with 22 points in 29 games. Though the quality of opposition wasn't as high in December's U-18 5 Nations Tournament, some say that he was clearly the best player there, and he posted 3 points in 4 games.

In terms of his tools, he is average, to above-average in most categories, with no real standout traits; he possesses excellent mobility in all directions, fluidity on his edges, and reliable puck skills. There are still lingering questions about Alalauri's focus, consistency, and sense in the defensive zone, at least without the puck, but he has shown proficiency in stopping the rush with well-executed gap-control, smooth backwards mobility, and well-timed stick-checks. He often steps up early in the neutral zone to cut-off attackers, and angle them to the boards to close them out- I wouldn't say he's the most physical player, but he will finish his checks in the name of separating man from puck, and puts forth the necessary battle-level to win 50/50 contested pucks. He can make incoming forecheckers look inept in retrievals with his ability to dodge checks using deception and slick one-on-one moves, and he is a virtual specialist when it comes to completing precise, error-free breakout feeds with confidence and poise to kickstart transition. Alalauri isn't too flashy or dynamic, but he will join the rush, and is very active in the offensive zone- from his post at the point, to down low below the goal-line. His shot is reasonably hard and heavy, but is made more effective by smart placement, a deceptive release, and his ability to get pucks on-net through bodies as a playmaking tool. All in all, he's projecting to be a good two-way blueliner who can log big minutes in all situations, and contribute to special teams. Alalauri is committed to UMass for the 2027-28 season.