Kinda sounds like the guy he likes best there was Juolevi.
Makes sense though - Juolevi has the highest hockey sense of the 3 and that is always a common trend you hear when Conroy is talking.
Hell think he mentioned hockey sense 5 times in this interview already.
That's the only defenseman in this draft that makes me sit up and take notice. Juolevi thinks the game better than any of his peers, and as Conroy said, it isn't really close. One of the other guy doesn't have a tool box and the other guy doesn't have the upside IMO. Having said that, I don't see Juolevi cracking the top eight. There are some really interesting guys that fit the Flames checklist.
Conroy says Tod Button requested that if Treliving decides to move a bunch of picks, to do it before the day before the draft.
Don't you think that indicates the draft list may be a little more fluid this year? I would think this indicates the scouting department would want some time to re-order in the event the selection dynamic changes.
Don't you think that indicates the draft list may be a little more fluid this year? I would think this indicates the scouting department would want some time to re-order in the event the selection dynamic changes.
I think it was a joke. Conroy basically said that the whole scouting staff got hyped up on draft day last year and Treliving kind of pulled the rug out from under them.
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I think it was a joke. Conroy basically said that the whole scouting staff got hyped up on draft day last year and Treliving kind of pulled the rug out from under them.
Ah, okay. I was wondering about what he was going on about there. I get that now.
I am now expecting the Flames to use one of their seconds on a goalie. Just hope it isn't the 35th.
Was this something Conroy immplied this morning or your own thoughts?
I have thought for a while that they will be using a 2nd on a goalie with Reimer being plan C if they can't get what they want. I don't have a problem if they use the 35th pick on a guy like Pickard or the back-up from Tampa ( starts with a V). Maybe also add a waiver wire prospect like Wootherspoon in deal.
If they go Fleury , Halak, Varlamov route i am hoping they can get one of them for one of the latter 2nd round picks or a 3rd.
What are some comparables for Juolevi? Is it right to sum him up as a big, non-physical, mobile d-man with elite hockey sense and high-end first pass?
Ryan Suter?
Suter makes sense although I think Suter has a bit more bite, more physicality to his game than Juolevi. Brodie makes sense although I do think Juolevi is less explosive of a skater but has better shot blocking instincts. Brodie skates it out of trouble himself regularly whereas Juolevi is thinking pass first on the breakout. In a way Brodie and Juolevi have quite different styles of advancing the attack. On defense Brodie is a master of the pokecheck, while Juolevi is really good at using his body to block passes and shots. In the offensive zone Brodie looks to use his speed to jump up and attack up the wing and towards the net. Juolevi is more patient and poised with the puck, taking that extra second to draw a defender to him and then dish it off.
Really I think the best stylistic comparison is to call him a poor man's Lidstrom. But always dangerous to compare players to Hall of Famers. No I'm not suggesting he'll end up anywhere near Lidstrom but their style of play has some similarities. Lidstrom wasn't the fastest, wasn't the most physical, didn't have the biggest point shot but just made the right play so often. Juolevi's style of game is similar even if he doesn't have that HoF upside.
Last edited by Flames Draft Watcher; 05-25-2016 at 10:49 AM.
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Suter makes sense although I think Suter has a bit more bite, more physicality to his game than Juolevi. Brodie makes sense...
A Suter/Brodie-esque defenceman sounds just fine to me. I wonder if Juolevi could be taught to play with a little more physical edge, as he isn't small, and doesn't shy away from contact.
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Really I think the best stylistic comparison is to call him a poor man's Lidstrom. But always dangerous to compare players to Hall of Famers. No I'm not suggesting he'll end up anywhere near Lidstrom but their style of play has some similarities. Lidstrom wasn't the fastest, wasn't the most physical, didn't have the biggest point shot but just made the right play so often. Juolevi's style of game is similar even if he doesn't have that HoF upside.
I was going to suggest Lidstrom but balked in doing so because I don't think Juolevi has Lidstrom's offensive game. I think Lidstrom's point shot and overall offensive game is very underrated. This is a guy who routinely scored double-digit goals and 60+ points as a defenceman in the dead puck era.
Obviously I'm mindful of your caution that it's a stylistic comparison only, but Lidstrom was all-time elite both offensively and defensively. A pass-first guy with a meh point shot doesn't sound like Lidstrom to me.
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Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
Olli Maatta.
I've seen this a few times and personally I think it's weird to use a guy with 165 games of NHL experience as a comparable.
I was going to suggest Lidstrom but balked in doing so because I don't think Juolevi has Lidstrom's offensive game. I think Lidstrom's point shot and overall offensive game is very underrated. This is a guy who routinely scored double-digit goals and 60+ points as a defenceman in the dead puck era.
Obviously I'm mindful of your caution that it's a stylistic comparison only, but Lidstrom was all-time elite both offensively and defensively. A pass-first guy with a meh point shot doesn't sound like Lidstrom to me.
Olli Juolevi's point totals are interesting. He doesn't log as much powerplay time as Marner, Tkachuk, Dvorak do. Is that because he lacks in that area? I don't think so at all. He looks very good out there on the powerplay. But the Knights play Marner on the point and that means there's only 1 defenseman on the point for the majority of the powerplay. Juolevi splits time with Mete. He actually seemed to be more a focal point on the Finland powerplay in the WJC than he does with the Knights this year
His point shot is decent but not overpowering. He shows good mobility and passing on the powerplay. I think his totals could shoot up quite a bit if Marner graduates and the Knights lean more heavily on Juolevi for PP time and role. Right now Marner is the powerplay QB at the point for almost the entire powerplay. If Marner plays in TOR next year then Juolevi and Mete would be the PP QBs. I think Juolevi's 9 assists and play at the WJC show that he can be relied upon as a powerplay QB.
I think Juolevi may be a better powerplay option in the future than Brodie. Brodie's skill set is better for attacking on the rush than settling into a game of pass the puck around the zone on the PP. Juolevi really moves the puck well around the offensive zone. I think his passing on the PP is as crisp as any defenseman currently on the Flames. He has a good sense for when to shoot and when to pass.
Anyways I think maybe Juolevi's offensive game has been slightly underrated because the Knights don't need to lean on him for that right now. I wouldn't be too worried about his offence personally.
The two questions on him right now in my mind are, "Can he fill out?" and "Will he ever add a physical element to his game?" I think filling out shouldn't be a problem for him. However he may never be a physical defender. Does that limit his upside? Ehhh maybe. But I think he might still be a 1st unit PK option when fully developed because he's so good at getting in lanes, blocking shots, and has good mobility and size. So I don't see what is preventing him when fully developed of being a player that plays in every situation (5 on 5, PP, PK). I think he has top pairing dman potential.
I actually like Juolevi more after having had the chance to see him at the Mem Cup. He's slowly winning me over.
Last edited by Flames Draft Watcher; 05-25-2016 at 11:33 AM.
Personally, I don't like him that much but that's only from the limited I've seen. Either way, the kid has to be good to be ranked this highly. I'll trust them to take whoever but I'm still wishing that they somehow get the #3 pick somehow.
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