Summer 2010: #13
Winter 2010: #17
Although it loooks like Teemu Hartikainen is going the wrong way, he is in fact progressing nicely. The young man leads AHL rookies in powerplay goals and his role is increasing as the season rolls along.
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Redline Report: Hartikainen has good size/strength, but his feet are fairly heavy.
International Scouting Services: Real warrior who hates to lose. Great work ethic, loves to play a physical style and when he's on he's unstoppable. Has a habit of taking bad penalties. Does not have a lot of offensive flair but does have the skill set to be a reliable defensive center at the next level.
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Hartikainen was a pretty famous prospect despite not having a draft pedigree. Good size (6.01, 200), the big Finn gained a reputation for playing a gritty style and scoring goals, as well as being a no-brainer for inclusion on his nation's teams (the ones he was eligible for) in the big tournaments. Finland is a quality hockey country, so Hartikainen making the WJ team each season is no small matter. His ability to stand in front of the net and score goals from the slot became something of a caling card, with comparisons to Tomas Holmstrom commonplace.
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Most Oiler fans have a fondness for Finns. The reasons are obvious: from Jari Kurri and Esa Tikkanen to Janne Niinimaa to Jussi Markkanen and now Hartikainen, some splendid talents from that country have worn the copper and blue. Finland also seems to be made up of fun-loving, alcohol-drinking party people, which fits in well with Canadian hockey fans. Peas in a pod, that kind of deal.
There's also a work ethic most of the Oilers Finns have displayed over the years (Niinimaki aside and even he is pulling a career out of his butt in the SM-Liiga as we speak). Hartikainen is no different, the year after he was drafted Steve Serdachny gave him drills designed to improve his skating and he's come a long way from 2008 fall. Oiler fans who follow prospects closely well know that isn't always the case when it comes to a prospect working hard on an area that needs improvement.
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The Oilers are crazy with prospects at some positions. Not long ago, LW was an area of weakness. Now? Taylor Hall, Magnus Pääjärvi, Linus Omark and Curtis Hamilton give the club a completely different look and getting playing time with that depth chart might be a challenge for anyone.
Hartikainen's skills also involve a specific kind of offense: the powerplay. Here are his numbers at the AHL level currently:
- EVS: 27gp, 2-5-7 (.259) -11
- PP: 27gp, 5-0-5 (.185)
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A couple of things: That plus minus number isn't strong, but the young man is 20 and adjusting to pro hockey. The AHL is a tough damn league and the trail of lost souls who were unable to make it to the NHL is a long one. Also, Hartikainen has done the one thing prospects need to do in order to make it to the next level: show a measurable skill that can be useful to an NHL coach (tough to move from in front of the net =PP goals). That skill is also transferable (he can dominate in the corners and really in any physical battle should be able to have an impact on the result).
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Hartikainen is in a 31st place tie for rooking scoring in the AHL, but Desjardins' NHLE's suggest there's a player there. Should the young Finn catch on and play legit PP minutes he will post offensive numbers. Here are his NHLE's:
- 08-09 (18) (SML) 15-5-20
- 09-10 (19) (SML) 12-14-26
- 10-11 (20) (AHL) 10-6-16
- Schremp (06-07) 9-19-28
- Pouliot (05-06) 9-17-26
- Jacques (05-06) 14-11-25
- Trukhno (07-08) 8-12-20
- Hartikainen (10-11) 10-6-16
- O'Marra (07-08) 2-9-11
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I'm content placing Hartikainen at the top of the group that has some legit flaws that could keep them from becoming NHL players. The difference between his draft day and now is that the weakness then (speed) is no longer the main concern (his bat). I'd be shocked if he didn't get a long look at the NHL level at some point during his entry level contract, but would also be surprised if he negotiates past all of the other PP options to become a useful NHL crease crasher.
All of this comes with a giant asterisk: this young man is 20+ games into his AHL career. The chances of the back half of his season being superior are very strong. Still, this is the information available, and at this point he's slotted just outside the group with a really good chance to have an NHL career. No shame in that, this is a damn good list.
Each time he's been saddled with something, whether starting as an 18 year old in the SM-Liiga, playing while serving in the military or adjusting to the AHL, his learning curve is somewhat longer than the average fan expects.
ReplyDeleteHowever, should he follow his previously established pattern, he'll have a fantastic spring and a really good playoff.
Coach: Yeah, I think the story of his season is still unwritten for the most part. Having said that, the AHL is a tough league and we can't assume he'll blas through it in the second half as he has at other levels.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to his increased role now that Omark/O'Marra have been called up.
this is a damn good list
ReplyDeleteWell said, LT. The prospects are quality, but you've been bringing your A-game on this series.
I pray for a Holmstromesque career from Hartikainen, if only so I can keep saying his name. Har-tuh-kay-nen. Those Finnish family names are just great.
I've been worried about his boxcars, but, like you say, the guy's got a good track record and a rarely seen skillset. So, it's hard not to blue-sky his future. I just hope it's with this club.
Unrelated, but it bugs me to see skaters wearing numbers in the 30's. It looks wrong, especially numbers 30-35. They're goalie numbers, consarnit.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see, LT. He's talking about getting it now and he's getting more confident.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised to see something like 18-20 points in his last 35 games.
Coach: I'm not burying him. I like Hartikainen a lot, but the current prospect list is so strong.
ReplyDeleteHere's the current list of 20-year olds (at the start of the season) who are among the league's top 25 rookies:
1. Matt Calvert 27gp, 11-8-19
2. Cody Hodgson 24gp, 10-6-16
3. Tomas Kubalik 26gp, 9-7-16
4. Brandon Kozun 25gp, 7-9-16
5. Zac Dalpe 17gp, 10-5-15
6. Phil McCrae 25gp, 9-6-15
7. Nicolas Deschamps 26gp, 8-7-15
8. Greg Nemisz 29gp, 7-8-15
9. Joe Colbourne 24gp, 7-7-14
10. Nazim Kadri 14gp, 5-9-14
11. Mark Cundari 24gp, 4-10-14
12. Kyle Palmieri 19gp, 9-4-13
13. Adam Henrique 24gp, 7-6-13
14. Jordan Schroeder 25gp, 5-8-13
15. Teemu Hartikainen 27gp, 7-5-12
16. Lance Bouma 29gp, 7-5-12
17. Colby Robak 26gp, 2-10-12
So, he's on the list and as you say he has improved at other levels in a season's second half. I honestly don't know how unusual that is (I imagine Coby Rolbak will also improve as an example) but it is something to ponder.
As it is, we go with what we have. Here's hoping.
LT: Well Robak's a Defenseman so it's already great.
ReplyDeleteCalvert and Dalpe are 89's. Dalpe in particular, got his feet wet with 9 games last year, as did Hodgson at the end of '09.
ReplyDeleteHartikainen had an assist last night on a Giroux goal - not sure if he briefly replaced McDonald on the line with Moran or if his shift just carried over/started early. It'll be nice for him to get into the top-6 now that Omark is up.
I'd like to see Hartikainen up for a cup of coffee at the end of the year, in place of Jacques on that 4th line.
Peter: Late '89s; qualify as 20 year olds. Like Peckham did.
ReplyDeleteYes, but nevertheless, they do have a slight advantage. Both players essentially started pro hockey at age 21.
ReplyDeleteI say this because almost all players (unless they have a very late December birthday) start playing hockey within the calendar year (Jan 1-Dec. 31), not the draft year (September 15-September 14). The fact that they are late 89's, making them each 20, is a technicality, for they really have the experience of a 21 year old.
That's one of 2 main reasons why comparing Hall and Seguin was a bit unfair, (the other being the heavily stacked Windsor team vs. barren Plymouth team) - being a late '91, Hall had played an extra year of junior.
Calvert played an overage season in the WHL, where he produced great numbers and probably developed more than he would have as a 20 year old in the AHL - though he had every right to start in the AHL had Columbus felt he was ready. Dalpe started college a year late, played 2 seasons, and then started pro hockey.
The extra year makes a difference. You say it yourself - the goal is to have a player play at a level where they can and do excel before moving on to the next level. Starting pro hockey a year later affords that opportunity, especially for players who are small and physically immature, or conversely for players who are bigger and may still be growing into their bodies.
Peter: Yeah, you make a strong point. So strike the '89s from that list.
ReplyDeleteCalvert played an overage season in the WHL, where he produced great numbers and probably developed more than he would have as a 20 year old in the AHL - though he had every right to start in the AHL had Columbus felt he was ready.
ReplyDeleteThey did. He opt'd to stay with Brandon and try and win a Memorial Cup.
They did. He opt'd to stay with Brandon and try and win a Memorial Cup.
ReplyDeleteAnd scored a short-handed natural hat trick in the conference final against Calgary. :O
Seriously, I've never seen a series where the PK was as much of a threat to score as the PP was.
1G 2A in 2 games so far since the Os got called up. Seems to be responding well to increased opportunity
ReplyDeleteHis 2 goals today (including the OT winner) bring him into the top-10 among AHL rookies in goals.
ReplyDeleteOn pace for 25. With his size and nastiness, I say he has a career in store for him.
He must have heard us talking about him LT. 2G 1A tonight and they're all at even strength.
ReplyDeleteI was just reading a few Barons tidbits and here's a link about the new lines with the Oilers taking two players away; VV wasn't slated to get the promotion we'd hoped for.
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.newsok.com/barons-hockey/2010/12/10/bonk-gets-the-call-to-team-with-reddox-hartikainen/
And a cut and paste piece that tells of Coach Nelson talking about Petry in light of a recent goal he scored where he went end-to-end and scored on a wraparound.
-Nelson was particularly impressed with the play of Jeff Petry in Friday’s game. Petry scored a goal on a coast-to-coast move that finished with a wraparound and also played solid defense in the win.
“He’s got a great shot, moves the puck like a pro,” Nelson said. “He’s just playing with more confidence. He’s playing better away from the puck. That’s what we were trying to get him to do. He’s more aware in the D-zone.
“He’s coming along nicely. He’s going to be a special player in the future.”
@Doogie: A shorthanded natural hat trick??!! Wow, I've never heard the like.
ReplyDeleteAll on one penalty, or spread over how long?
Also, did I really read that last night's Hitmen-Pats game had shots on goal of 16-13, including overtime? Could the game possibly have been as boring as that suggests?
And Petry with a +3 rating tonight. Of course these things change game-to game. But that does put him at a -3 for the season.
ReplyDeleteJeff Petry is Gilbert 2.0
Good for Teemu to take this opportunity and capitalize on it.
I seem to remember Gilbert dominating the AHL in his short time there and didn't even stay a full year. Petry has been great every time I've watched the Barons, but not quite the same level as Gilbert.
ReplyDeleteOf course, Petry had the better college career, and it's still early, so I'm not about to slam the comparison completely. If Petry can become the NHLer Gilbert is, I think the Oilers will be very happy.
If Petry can become the NHLer Gilbert is, I think the Oilers will be very happy.
ReplyDeleteOilers fans, on the other hand, will be bemoaning the fact that he never seems to hit anybody, and pointing out that no other team would even give him a steady job, let alone a lucrative contract (source: Damien Cox).
Misfit: The problem with Gilbert is that he wants to be Big Sexy. And for shady reasons.
ReplyDeletehttp://cdn.nhl.com/oilers/images/upload/2009/02/20090212_gilbert.jpg