I'm glad the Canucks passed on him for a Finnish defenceman.
From the top of my head there hasn't been many top defenceman from Finland. I wonder why that is? Either way I think there's something to that. Not many great defencemen come from Finland and I think that's not about to change with the Canucks pick. Not writing him off but I definitely wouldn't have taken him at fifth.
Depends on your definition of "top" I guess. Kimmo Timonen, Jyrki Lumme, Teppo Numminen were all more than decent. All around ~1000 games and .5 PPG. Those guys had a big part in bringing Finland all those "surprise" olympic medals. Lumme might still be the record holder for most points by a Canuck defenseman. Sami Salo was pretty good when he was healthy. Janne Niinimaa was okay.
Of course overall there just haven't been that many top players from Finland, other than goalies, and that has "only" been for about a decade.
Man, he's good. That line is all about puck movement. Reminds me of the Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler line when it was at its best.
Tkachuk is a so great down low, setting up at or below the goal line. Also has a knack for the net when looking to receive a pass. Quite a good release.
When I watch him I get the same sense as I did Monhahan in 2013 about how well I thought his game translates to the NHL. Monahan it was his assassin shot, Tkachuk his hockey sense and playmaking ability down low and in the tight areas. Maybe not a coincidence he also went at the same spot in the first round, not the flash of the top tier, but may be every bit as good in the end. I am very excite.
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It's interesting to see how often during scoring plays that Tkachuk is involved with the play while being on the "right" side of the ice, vs the left. Seems to feel at ease there. Iginla-like PP one timer from the circles.
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I love his passes from right beside the crease on the PP. It seems like the combination of him down low with Gaudreau on the half boards will be deadly.
It's interesting to see how often during scoring plays that Tkachuk is involved with the play while being on the "right" side of the ice, vs the left. Seems to feel at ease there. Iginla-like PP one timer from the circles.
If all I watched was this highlight reel, I would think that Tkachuk was a RW. Compare to Gaudreau, that usually penetrates the zone on the natural left while playing on the ride side of a power player. Tkachuk's goals and passes are pretty much all from the right side. I would not be surprised if we see Tkachuk being on the right wing by the end of the year.
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Does anyone have a link to the NBC feed of our #6 pick. I have seen the Sportsnet feed but I want to see the reaction of the analysts on NBC as I just feel they have better people like McKenzie, McGuire etc...
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Originally Posted by Itse
Depends on your definition of "top" I guess. Kimmo Timonen, Jyrki Lumme, Teppo Numminen were all more than decent. All around ~1000 games and .5 PPG. Those guys had a big part in bringing Finland all those "surprise" olympic medals. Lumme might still be the record holder for most points by a Canuck defenseman. Sami Salo was pretty good when he was healthy. Janne Niinimaa was okay.
Of course overall there just haven't been that many top players from Finland, other than goalies, and that has "only" been for about a decade.
Umm...THIS 'Hawk fan still has nightmares about Teemu, Probably the best Finn for decades to come
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Does anyone have a link to the NBC feed of our #6 pick. I have seen the Sportsnet feed but I want to see the reaction of the analysts on NBC as I just feel they have better people like McKenzie, McGuire etc...
Thanks.
Hopefully someone has link.
Button, McKenzie and McGuire all called it an absolute no brainer. The comparison to Gronkowski was amusing.
As an American, they also interviewed him afterwards.
Would watch again
Does anyone have a link to the NBC feed of our #6 pick. I have seen the Sportsnet feed but I want to see the reaction of the analysts on NBC as I just feel they have better people like McKenzie, McGuire etc...
Thanks.
I can't find it on my phone so it may be disabled for mobile, but I know I watched it on YouTube this morning on my computer. Also may have been taken down for copyright reasons but it's worth a search.
I can't find it on my phone so it may be disabled for mobile, but I know I watched it on YouTube this morning on my computer. Also may have been taken down for copyright reasons but it's worth a search.
I haven't followed him at all, and going from that highlight package I would get the sense his game is all about quick release (shots and one-time passes). That can be very effective if paired with talented players (which the Flames have). It leaves me wanting though in terms of what he can do on his own. About a third of those goals are total gifts from his linemates, and another third rely on passing plays catching the goalie moving right to left (or vice versa) - again products of good team passing. Not a lot of individual creativity in the package.
That's not necessarily a bad thing. A guy who can be a good trigger man is worth a lot, particularly paired with a disher like Gaudreau for example. But I wonder if he'll get that many open opportunities against an NHL defence even after he has a chance to mature.
Still, looks a lot like Cammalleri or (I suppose) Hull in some of those clips. And that's alright. Curious to see him in camp in the fall.
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"What a draft eligible season this kid put together. He has the bloodlines, great character, exhibiting strong drive, determination and impressive on-ice senses. His offensive skills are not all that flashy but he is always in the mix around the net but also has the skilled hands to settle pucks and get a strong shot off all in a flash. He is a work horse battling and retrieving pucks in the corners or around the crease before dishing short passes out to open line mates for second and third scoring chances. This kids a winner and will bring that with him to the NHL level due to his sheer determination to succeed." - Stewart
"It's not just that he puts up so many points, but the manner in which he does it. Tkachuk has the smarts, the physicality and the devastating hands (especially on tip-ins) to be an impact NHLer sooner than later." - Kennedy
"He finds a way to produce even if he's not on his game, and he knows where to go on the ice to be the most effective for his linemates. The numbers he posted for London in the regular season and during the playoffs were phenomenal and I know he played with two exceptional linemates in Mitch Marner and Christian Dvorak, but it should also be noted that it takes a special kind of player to play alongside those players. Tkachuk is a very special player because he can do so many things so well. His hockey sense is really high-end and from the faceoff circles to the end line, he's one of the most dangerous players in the draft. He won't win a speed race but he'll earn his money in the offensive zone. To me, Tkachuk is skilled and physical, and he exhibits more jam in the big moments than any other OHL prospect. The fact he played on a sprained ankle for the entire Memorial Cup run, and scored two goals in the final against Rouyn-Noranda, speaks volumes to his determination and character." - Morreale
"There is not really any way Tkachuk could have had a better season. He dominated the regular season with a 107 points performance on the CHL’s top line from start to finish. He was an integral part of the Knights winning the OHL Championship and the Memorial Cup. He dominated at the World Junior with USA scoring 11 points in seven games and was impressive at the CHL Top Prospect game as well. He can score pretty goals and dirty goals. He can finesse with his puck control and he can play a physical game. He can get under opponents skin and be a pest, he is defensively responsible and has a high hockey IQ. Simply put, he can beat you any way you want to play the game." - Harling
"He's the NHL's next great power forward. Piled up ridiculous numbers playing on the best line in junior hockey, but he rode no one's coattails. Plays a heavy, pro-style game and thrives in the muck. Always seems to find a way to make an impact." - Muir
"A heart-and soul-competitor who owns the "it factor" - knowing how to come up big and spearheading a scoring chance when his team needs it the most. Tkachuk has improvements to make in his stride but his 10-foot attacking distance is as impactful as anyone. His ability to create scoring chances deep in the offensive zone - behind the net and from the corners - is a highly coveted skill set. Tkachuk is going to line up well alongside any skilled pivot and will inject energy and perkiness into a team's top six well." - Ross
"1. Matthew Tkachuk - Forward - London Knights
That brings us to number one. And quite frankly, it's a really, really close year. I'm actually super excited to see what my year end media poll looks like. Honestly, I think an argument could be made for any of my top 6 ranked players to be considered the top player available from the OHL. But I'm going with Tkachuk. He's by no means the flashiest prospect around. And he's not likely to be the world's flashiest NHL player either. He has some limitations. But, I have confidence that his skill set will translate to the NHL; that it will translate to him being an extremely productive offensive player (think perennial 30/30 guy). Tkachuk plays a very pro style game. His size, his smarts, and his skill allow him to dominate below the hash marks. He's going to be the perfect compliment on an NHL 1st/2nd line, to a pair of quicker, higher skilled guys (thus the recipe for success with Marner and Dvorak). He'll do the dirty work on the line in terms of winning battles in the corners, or fighting in front of the net, but he's also a massively underrated playmaker who seems to have eyes in the back of his head. I don't know how many times I saw him this year draw a couple defenders in near the boards to try to separate him from the puck, only to find Marner or Dvorak cutting to the net, wide open. Tkachuk is also really strong in close, using his size, and his smarts, to get good scoring chances near the blue paint. Is he the world's best skater? No. He's only average in that area and I do think he'll need to become a tad more explosive to be a better player 5 on 5. Is he a true power forward like his father? No, I wouldn't classify him as that. He doesn't really throw his body around, but he will use his size to his advantage offensively. Is he the most dynamic of puck handlers? No. But he produces. Size, smarts, and hands will take you a long way at the NHL level and Tkachuk has that. If I'm picking inside the top 5, I want to make sure I get an impact NHL player and Tkachuk is the guy that I think is the most guaranteed to be that."
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He can do one timers from the right side. Our only player now that can do that. He'll be getting powerplay time sooner as opposed to later. Camalleri was the last guy who could pull off one timers.
He can do one timers from the right side. Our only player now that can do that. He'll be getting powerplay time sooner as opposed to later. Camalleri was the last guy who could pull off one timers.
Wideman and Giordano are the only players on our roster I've seen do one-timers during the last 2 seasons with regularity. And Wideman magically lost that skill last season. But otherewise, I agree. It very much seems to be a lost skillset amongst our forward group but Tkachuk's looks like a bomb. That's going to be quite a weapon with Gaudreau and Bennett feeding him passes.
Super excited for him the more I watch his highlights and read what others have to say.
