[News] With the 156th pick the Flames select RW Eetu Tuulola.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Tuulola is easily my favorite prospect. He's shown well ever since the U-18s. He's the kind of guy built for playoff environments. I mean he's an absolute tank and when he figures out pro hockey, he's going to own the corners of the ice. Add to that some flair with the puck and a laser beam for a shot. He's yet another promising 6Th round steal.

Wouldn't classify him as a steal, I've seen him a couple times here in victoria and he has some nice attributes but needs a ton of work. Also would pump the breaks on him being your favorite prospect, he's been a 3rd line player this entire year in junior. The potential is there but he still has a long ways to go before he can even play in the AHL. Nice potential but it's been a disappointing season considering how well he looked at development camp. Unless he has a monster year next year I think he should play 2 more years in junior.

[EVERLAST]

Originally Posted by AC

Hahaha. He's the player that ran a Swedish player over, then while taunting a Swede that stole his helmet, caught it when thrown at him.

This incident reminds me of a player on our roster who does this exact stuff....hmmmm#19 anyone.

E 2 has had some shoulder issues but so did Bennett.....also our scouts apparently fought like hell to get him.

Get him healthy and working with the proper trainers and if those comparisons are true with Cammalleri or even half I'd take him.

[devo22]

looks like he's going back to Finland.

https://flamesnation.ca/2017/06/27/e...ck-to-finland/

[cannon7]

Originally Posted by devo22

looks like he's going back to Finland.

https://flamesnation.ca/2017/06/27/e...ck-to-finland/

Disappointing if true.

[Poe969]

But they can get him back right??

[Roof-Daddy]

Flames hold his rights until June 1st 2020.

This doesn't have to be a bad thing.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by cannon7

Disappointing if true.

Why?

This means he'll be playing against men in the SM-Liiga rather than vs juniors in the WHL. His Finn club HPK, who had him under contract for 3 seasons starting from 2015-16 inclusive, finally sees fit to have a need for him on their roster after loaning him out to the HPK junior team and then Everett the first two years.

We still keep E2's NHL rights until June 15 of next year. Just need to offer him an ELC and all set.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by cannon7

Disappointing if true.

Depends, if he is spending full time in the men's league then no, not a disappointment at all. Could be pretty useful development time.

Originally Posted by Poe969

But they can get him back right??

Because the Flames didn't sign him before the June 15 deadline, his contract with HPK is the ruling contract. HPK decides where he will play. They let him play in Everett last season, looks like they want him in Finland this upcoming season.

Flames still own his NHL rights though.

[cannon7]

I thought things really started to click for him in Everett after scoring six goals in ten games in the playoffs. If he sticks in the men's league in Finland, fine. But he should really be developing in North America, IMO as his style is more in line with that kind of game.

[Geeoff]

Finnish League is a good league. Will be fine for his development

[tvp2003]

Hopefully he'll still attend development camp. Interested to see how he's progressed...

[Gaudfather]

Originally Posted by cannon7

I thought things really started to click for him in Everett after scoring six goals in ten games in the playoffs. If he sticks in the men's league in Finland, fine. But he should really be developing in North America, IMO as his style is more in line with that kind of game.

A year in the men's league in Europe didn't seem to hurt Auston Matthews. If he is playing tough minutes against good competition it should help him develop. This is the final year of his contract with HPK so he will be able to go where he wishes next year.

Looks like the Flames didn't want to sign him to a contract this June as they would have had to pay compensation to HPK. That won't be an issue next spring.

[simonsays]

This is probably a good thing for his development. There isn't too much point in having a kid that big play in the Dub during his draft+2 year. If he was 6'1 170 then sure, but not at 6'3 225. He's might not going to get the minutes in Liiga that he needs to help develop his offense, but I'm pretty sure that learning how to use his size against men is going to help in the long run.

[Husky]

Likelihood of him coming back are most likely slim.

[VilleN]

Didn't Barkov play in the Finnish men's league? I remember them talking about it leading up to the draft, and it was looked at as a positive: "He's been playing against men so his transition to the NHL will be easier" ... That type of thing.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Husky

Likelihood of him coming back are most likely slim.

Seems premature to say that

[Henry Fool]

Most Finnish prospects play in Finland.

All this means is that Tuulola feels that he's going to learn more with HPK next season. There are no implications as to his future with the Flames.

[Geeoff]

This guy is a 6th round pick, so his chances of NHL success were always slim. Not any slimmer now than before

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Wasn't necessarily his choice to leave either. The team he has a contract with recalled him back to Europe

[Henry Fool]

I mean maybe he plans to do his military service too or something. I don't know anything about his reasons. But it's a completely unremarkable situation. He'll be back to play with the AHL team at some point.