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saskhab
'03-'04 Goalie Profiles Coming Soon!
Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 3841
Location: Saskatoon!
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 Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 9:48 pm Post subject: Detroit's Brunnstrom smoke screen pays off |
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http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2008/05/meet-ville-leino.html
I came up with a bit of a half-baked conspiracy that Detroit only entered the Fabian Brunnstrom sweepstakes to create a frenzy, diverting the rest of the NHL from the guy they really wanted. I guess my instincts were correct.
Here's what happened with Brunnstrom: a few teams were kicking the tires (notably Vancouver and Toronto), but there wasn't a huge demand for him. Detroit shows some interest, and the rest of the NHL follows, because it's a Swede that Detroit wants. Meanwhile, Detroit sticks with this until the very end, not worried about whether he pans out or not, but everyone is now convinced they have the next Zetterberg or Alfredsson available. Detroit unearths the real gem, with no hype, and wins in spite of not getting Brunnstrom anyways.
And I called it. I even told a few people around here my theory over the past 2 weeks.
_________________
"Oh my God. There she is. Lovely Sally Slater. I should speak to her. But what the hell can I say? Anything that doesn't mention that I masturbate over her memory is probably a good idea."
- Mark Corrigan, Peep Show |
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Bosc Ulrich II
OTP Resident Historian
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 3477
Location: Sweetest lid in the league
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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Posted this article in a different thread, but you beat me to it. I had no idea about this guy 
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the New Cunning Linguist
Like a good neighbor, only better
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 1962
Location: I'm here, aren't I?
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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Is it just me or does he look a lot like Zetterberg in that pic?
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... Because the old one, is well, old.
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Grgecko
Drunken Lout
Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 115
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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Hey, this guy is my second line center on my Eastside 2007 Toronto team! I though he was a random computer generated player, I had no idea he was a real dude! 
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(Working in a Call Centre) + (Being a Leafs Fan) = (One HUGE glutton for punishment)
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Bosc Ulrich II
OTP Resident Historian
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 3477
Location: Sweetest lid in the league
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 9:07 am Post subject: |
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| the New Cunning Linguist wrote: |
| Is it just me or does he look a lot like Zetterberg in that pic? |
I was thinking the same thing last night
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Av-merican
Un-Tenured Professor of Hockey
Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 2322
Location: Denver
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 9:38 am Post subject: |
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| Bastards... |
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Jyrki21
Rebel Sell + Moneyball = Life
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 2018
Location: Ottawa, ON
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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OK, here's what I don't get. Brunnström is one thing, but how does a guy leading his league in scoring really go under the radar?
I don't follow the SM-Liiga, so I have every excuse not to know about him. But what about the 29 other NHL franchises, many of which have ex-SM-Liiga players on their roster. Don't they, say, notice when an undrafted guy leads the league in scoring?
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saskhab
'03-'04 Goalie Profiles Coming Soon!
Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 3841
Location: Saskatoon!
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Jyrki21 wrote: |
OK, here's what I don't get. Brunnström is one thing, but how does a guy leading his league in scoring really go under the radar?
I don't follow the SM-Liiga, so I have every excuse not to know about him. But what about the 29 other NHL franchises, many of which have ex-SM-Liiga players on their roster. Don't they, say, notice when an undrafted guy leads the league in scoring? |
Supposedly there were more than the Red Wings after him, but Brunnstrom was overhyped because, well, Detroit wanted him and he was Swedish. This guy could very well be better (the SM-Liga, it should be noted, is a worse league than the Elitseren) but this guy was clearly the best player in this league, whereas former NHLer Esa Pirnes outplayed Brunnstrom on his own team (and also got selected for the national team).
The Brunnstrom sweepstakes were ridiculous. This guy should've gotten a lot more press than he did.
_________________
"Oh my God. There she is. Lovely Sally Slater. I should speak to her. But what the hell can I say? Anything that doesn't mention that I masturbate over her memory is probably a good idea."
- Mark Corrigan, Peep Show |
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Bosc Ulrich II
OTP Resident Historian
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 3477
Location: Sweetest lid in the league
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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He sounds like a project, at least according to his own coach
| Quote: |
There is a long silence when Doug Shedden is asked whether Ville Leino will be successful in the NHL. Shedden, Leino’s head coach with Jokerit Helsinki this season, pauses for thought before delivering his response.
“I think it’s going to be tough,” Shedden said. “I don’t know if his skating will hold him back or not. I hope he (makes it). He’s got the mentality to do it.”
The Detroit Red Wings signed Leino on the weekend to a one-year contract, a few days after being snubbed by highly-publicized Fabian Brunnstrom.
The 24-year-old center/right-winger tore apart the Finnish SM-Liiga this season, piling up 28 goals and 49 assists for 77 points. He finished a point shy of the scoring title, led the league in assists, and was named player of the year.
“It will be interesting to see how he adapts to the skating of the NHL and the smaller rink,” Shedden said. “I don’t know if it will help him or hurt him. It’s not that he’s a bad skater, it’s just that he’s not overly fast.”
Shedden raved about Leino’s determination and work ethic, traits the Red Wings often weigh just as heavily as speed and skill. It’s players such as Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom who show up to play every game, every shift, that have helped the Red Wings achieve consistent success.
“He’s a heck of a competitor — he probably led the league in practice fights,” said Shedden, who will coach EV Zug in Switzerland next season. “He loves to come to the rink, he loves to practice, he loves to put his equipment on and compete.” |
Leads the league in practice fights
| Quote: |
| “He’s a natural center and I moved him to right wing and it was better for him,” Shedden said. “He’s strong on the puck down low, he’s a good cycle guy, and he draws a lot of penalties because of his puck control.” |
That's good.
| Quote: |
Cracking the top two lines against proven NHLers would have been near impossible, and Shedden wasn’t impressed during a pre-tournament camp.
“He hangs onto the puck a lot down low and we found when he played on the national team, he didn’t raise his level to be able to score at higher levels,” Shedden said. “It will be interesting to see how he does with the Red Wings.” |
That's not.
Red Wings Central Profile
| Quote: |
SCOUT COMMENTS
“He’s a heck of a competitor — he probably led the (Finnish SM-Liiga) in practice fights. He loves to come to the rink, he loves to practice, he loves to put his equipment on and compete. He’s strong on the puck down low, he’s a good cycle guy, and he draws a lot of penalties because of his puck control.” — Jokerit Helsinki head coach Doug Shedden (May 2008).
STRENGTHS
Plays a puck-possession style that fits the Red Wings' current system to a T ... Exciting, dynamic offensive player who has the upside to be a real home-run acquisition ... Good playmaker ... Strong down low on the cycle ... Controls the puck well along the boards ... Great puckhandler who is dangerous 1-on-1 ... Soft hands ... Finishing ability has come a long way from his earlier years in Finland ... Competitive and determined ... Capable of playing center and right wing.
WEAKNESSES
Will need heavy defensive schooling ... Doesn't have top-flight speed ... Needs to show his high skill level will translate to the pace, strength and physicality of North American hockey ... Overhandles the puck ... Poor shot-pass selection, sometimes opting for neither, and eventually loses the puck ... Needs to add muscle strength to emerge as an NHL player. |
First person that came to mind for that weakness was Mikael Samuelsson
| Quote: |
PROJECTION
Leino was signed after a stunning breakthrough season in Finland, for which he earned the country's player-of-the-year award. There is a good chance he will start the 2008-09 season in the American Hockey League with the Grand Rapids Griffins adapting to the rigors of North American hockey. |
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Jyrki21
Rebel Sell + Moneyball = Life
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 2018
Location: Ottawa, ON
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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| saskhab wrote: |
| Supposedly there were more than the Red Wings after him, but Brunnstrom was overhyped because, well, Detroit wanted him and he was Swedish. This guy could very well be better (the SM-Liga, it should be noted, is a worse league than the Elitseren) but this guy was clearly the best player in this league, whereas former NHLer Esa Pirnes outplayed Brunnstrom on his own team (and also got selected for the national team). |
Like I say, Brunnström is his own story, but the two are not mutually exclusive. I just wonder how this guy gets no mention until today while leading the league in scoring.
Like you say, SM-Liiga isn't quite as good as the SEL, but we're not talking the Quebec Senior Hockey League here, it's still one of the top-tier ones.
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saskhab
'03-'04 Goalie Profiles Coming Soon!
Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 3841
Location: Saskatoon!
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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Hard to say, but I think that generally these guys don't get exposure, and Brunnstrom is merely the exception. The best forward and best goaltender from the SM-Liga have now been signed by NHL teams in the past week or so, so obivously NHL teams are noticing these accomplishments.
_________________
"Oh my God. There she is. Lovely Sally Slater. I should speak to her. But what the hell can I say? Anything that doesn't mention that I masturbate over her memory is probably a good idea."
- Mark Corrigan, Peep Show |
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Bosc Ulrich II
OTP Resident Historian
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 3477
Location: Sweetest lid in the league
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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| saskhab wrote: |
| Hard to say, but I think that generally these guys don't get exposure, and Brunnstrom is merely the exception. The best forward and best goaltender from the SM-Liga have now been signed by NHL teams in the past week or so, so obivously NHL teams are noticing these accomplishments. |
We might be seeing more of this because teams only hold the rights of drafted Europeans without a signed contract for 2 years now instead of 2523342.
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saskhab
'03-'04 Goalie Profiles Coming Soon!
Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 3841
Location: Saskatoon!
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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On Fanhouse, one of the bloggers made a comment about how weird it is that the Red Wings got the Finn and the Stars got the Swede.
_________________
"Oh my God. There she is. Lovely Sally Slater. I should speak to her. But what the hell can I say? Anything that doesn't mention that I masturbate over her memory is probably a good idea."
- Mark Corrigan, Peep Show |
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the New Cunning Linguist
Like a good neighbor, only better
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 1962
Location: I'm here, aren't I?
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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| saskhab wrote: |
| On Fanhouse, one of the bloggers made a comment about how weird it is that the Red Wings got the Finn and the Stars got the Swede. |
And you've been channeling razz... It's Bizarro-world this week!
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... Because the old one, is well, old.
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saskhab
'03-'04 Goalie Profiles Coming Soon!
Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 3841
Location: Saskatoon!
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| Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Grgecko wrote: |
| Hey, this guy is my second line center on my Eastside 2007 Toronto team! I though he was a random computer generated player, I had no idea he was a real dude! |
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/05/12/the-secret-to-detroits-scouting-success-revealed/
_________________
"Oh my God. There she is. Lovely Sally Slater. I should speak to her. But what the hell can I say? Anything that doesn't mention that I masturbate over her memory is probably a good idea."
- Mark Corrigan, Peep Show |
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