Teemu Hartikainen is a fun player. Big, strong skilled, he's the kind of winger who may end up posting some very good numbers as an NHL player. Should he be able to offer a skilled center both protection and a complementary scoring option, then the good times will roll in Edmonton (Edmonton never makes a Stanley appearance without a Finn).
Hartikainen offers a lot to a young NHL team looking for useful players. He looked good in his AHL debut and then looked at least as good in one dozen NHL games (3-2-5 -3).
I think Hartikainen is going to surprise us and land an NHL job sometime this season. Not out of training camp, but early enough in the season for us to get a good look at him in the NHL.
OKC Prediction for 11-12: 30gp, 10-12-22 (.733)
NHL Prediction for 11-12: 45gp, 7-8-15 (.333)
- No way he plays 45 games this season. Well, I've got him doing exactly that; this is a guy the Oilers are going to see in pre-season doing good things and playing a physical style. When he's sent out they'll notice he's gone and Hartikainen should be the first injury callup.
- Who will he replace? Injured people. On LW, I think Hall, Smyth, Paajarvi and Eager will be the everyday setup with Hordichuk swapping stories with the other HS players most nights.
- What about RW? Well, Paajarvi can move over so if Hemsky, Eberle, Omark and Jones can't stay healthy then Hartikainen gets the call and MP moves over. That's how I see it, anyway.
- So Hartikainen is 15F opening night? No, he'd be 12F on my team--ahead of roster players Hordichuk, Jones and Brule.
- Oh, you're just picking him ahead of Ryan Jones because everyone is mad at Jones now. Certainly not, good on Jones for getting the most money he can. However, back in the spring RE's I said he'd be a better option than Jones--and a less expensive one.
- How should the coach handle him? I'd try him everywhere. You know, Hartikainen is exactly the kind of player who ends up hitching his wagon to a highly skilled center and finds chemistry and 20 goals.
- So they should play him with Nugent-Hopkins? No, I think RNH will get proven veterans (or at least Hall-Eberle) for much of pre-season. I mean maybe one night in pre-season Eberle or Hall move over to center and that line pops three goals in the second period. You never know with this stuff.
- What do you mean? I mean you can't force chemistry, it just happens.
- Okay, cupid. For crying out loud, it's true. When 99 was young, the Hockey News and the television told me over and over again about Raimo Summanen. Raimo Summanen this, Raimo Summanen that.
- So he's Raimo Summanen? NO! He's not Raimo Summanen. Hartikainen has soft hands, size and can do things along the wall plus generally beat people to things and places because he's big. And strong. That has value.
- Who might he be compared to in Oilers history? Well, Mike Krushelnyski would be a comparable type but his offensive numbers were very good (in a high scoring era). Still, I'd say that's a comp, big guy with enough skill to run with the pack.
- You really like the guy? I like him plenty.
- Is he blocked? Maybe, but these things work themselves out. It might come down to not signing Ryan Smyth next summer. If Hartikainen plays well enough, it might be an option. The easier plan is to flush Jones but he's got a contract.
Harts will take over Smyth's place.
ReplyDeleteCrown Jewel.
Great timing..just got home from work and a great posting from LT.
ReplyDeleteI used to love Tik. Wonder if Hartikainen with be better.
I like a Mike Grier comp for Hartikainen.
ReplyDeleteBig strong player who can pot enough goals to be useful on any lines 2-4 and top line in a pinch.
Grier's lifetime stats:
1024gp 162g 221a 383pts 510PIM
I remember Krush as a bigger man who used his body as more for leverage than knocking anyone around. He played a lot more C than wing too didn't he?
He might take Smyth's spot in front of the net on the powerplay some day, but that's about it. He just seems to be a magnet for the crease and that's my favorite thing about him (and there's lots to like).
ReplyDeleteBut with all the talk about his improved skating, he's still got a very long way to go in that department. He's either got to catch on with a skill center like LT said, or he's going to have a hard time getting off the 4th line. I don't see him having much success in a defensive role.
I think he's vastly underated.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at the top PF's (Or best prospects) at the PF spot, you won't find a lot who were better than Hartikainen at 20.
Vanek, Pacorietty and Brown had slightly better stuff. But they were top picks
Im always on board w your rebukes against overblowing 'reasonable expectations'.. but I think you really undercut Teemu, considering you projected 45 games..
ReplyDeleteYour post is beaming, but then your goal estimate is ugly (lower than I would like to wishfully project)..
'nothedy' - I dunno,.. but Teemu is 'nostortini', so hopefully he scores more than seven..
@Woodguy: Krushelnyski played both LW and C, winning Cups in each position. He was a versatile and useful player. He wasn't, however, a Krusher. He was, as you say, a leverage guy, used his strength and reach to hold the puck and shrug off checks.
ReplyDeleteI'm rooting hard for Harski. He's a fun player to watch, and you can never have too many of those.
Hartikainen doesn't have the same draft pedigree, but if he turns out like a Ruutu... hard-hitting, hard-skating, soft hands type, he will be a beaut.
ReplyDeleteIf he can play decent D, keep the opposing line off the sheet, he's going to have a long and useful career.
Another year in The A, only filling in for injuries on the big club, won't do him any harm. Learn gooder D, work on skating, get experience with the smaller ice, yadda yadda...
Yeah, Hartikainen's a player who could have tremendous upside given the right chemistry with a skill center and opportunity. He's certainly fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteFor most of us, his call up last season was probably the last reason to watch the Oil after the injury bug hit and the tank was on in full force.
As an aside, I always enjoy reading FPV's posts since he always as an opinion, usually has a slightly contrarian view, and brings up some interesting facts.
Corbin: I don't think he'll get heavy minutes in those 45 games. Most of them will probably be 4line minutes. Projecting him to play on the 2nd line--with this group of wingers--isn't reasonable imo.
ReplyDeleteHe could very well get there eventually (into the top 9) and this season will be about building toward it imo.
@Woodguy: Krushelnyski played both LW and C, winning Cups in each position. He was a versatile and useful player. He wasn't, however, a Krusher. He was, as you say, a leverage guy, used his strength and reach to hold the puck and shrug off checks
ReplyDeleteBruce: now, "Krusher" was at the very beginning of my "era" as an Oiler fan (I was 6 and a half years old when the Gretzky sale to LA happened, and yes, I refuse to recognize it as anything resembling a trade, but to stay on the topic, my memories of Mike K are minimal in detail), but by your description, the guy sounded like he played the game a lot like the guy we traded to LA on deadline day for Teubert and a couple of picks. Is this comparable accurate?
but by your description, the guy sounded like he played the game a lot like the guy we traded to LA on deadline day for Teubert and a couple of picks. Is this comparable accurate?
ReplyDeleteI'm not Bruce, or as old as Bruce, but I'll take a shot.
27 has the ability to over power anyone he wanted when the mood was upon him.
26 (Krushelnyski's old number) didn't have that ability, but needed to work to keep the defenders away. He played more like a smaller Thornton type of using his big reach to keep checkers at bay rather than power over them.
Now that I think about it, he was more of a Tom Gilbert type, except a forward.
Penner 6'4" 240
Krushelnyski 6'2" 200
Gilbert 6'3 205
This guy is going to be a difference maker as this team turns the corner. He's got a special and unique skillset that he uses to play a style you don't see much anymore. He bulldozes his way onto this team and never looks back. As soon as I know his NHL number, it's getting put on the back of a jersey for me. He's got IT just like Eberle does (not with the offensive numbers, though I think we'll see him put up a ton more than other people think).
ReplyDeleteWe have some very special and unique players. Our challenge is to keep and develop the right ones. He's one. Omark's another.
I have made that comp from time to time, but WG is right that Krushelnyski didn't have Penner's bulk or pure power. Still, he was one of those big guys who would never satisfy a vocal segment of the fan base because a) his legs weren't going a million miles an hour even when he was covering the ice at a good clip, and b) he didn't bash opponents through the boards once a period. Don't you know big guys are useless unless their first priority is inflicting pain? I thought then and I think now that there are other advantages to size, and guys like Krushelnyski and Penner, Gregg and Gilbert use/d those advantages even as they aren't/weren't all things to all people.
ReplyDeleteIt's the high end... but if he reaches it, Johan Franzen would be the absolute best we could hope for, no?
ReplyDeleteFrom what Google tells me, the average NHL player is 6' 1.33" and 204 lbs. This makes Hartikainen almost exactly average hight and slighty above average weight (listed at 6'1" and 215 lbs).
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I was impressed with the way he used his body to acquire/protect the puck, but we don't have a Lucic/Franzen type power forward here.
The fact that he's of relatively average height and weight, but the way he plays makes him seem bigger than average, is very promising.
PDO - Can Johan Franzen blow people up with excellent positional hits delivered through excellent technique? I don't think I've seen him do that. Hartikainen is the anti-Jacques.
ReplyDeleteClay: From what Google tells me, the average NHL player is 6' 1.33" and 204 lbs. This makes Hartikainen almost exactly average hight and slighty above average weight (listed at 6'1" and 215 lbs).
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I was impressed with the way he used his body to acquire/protect the puck, but we don't have a Lucic/Franzen type power forward here.
Actually the comparison with Franzen may be apt. Franzen is 6'3, 220 lbs and considering Hartikainen's young age, I can easily see him weighing at least 220 lbs soon-ish. The 6'3 is the other thing but I don't think two inches makes the comparison of playing style impossible.
I'm getting goosebumps thinking of all the exciting prospects in our system right now. I know not all of them will realize their potential, but given the sheer number and the nice trending, we're doing to have some real gems. I agree that Hartikanen will be one of them.Paajarvi was my first new jersey, Hartikanen might be the second. I agree that Franzen is probably the top end while Glencross might be the bottom. I don't agree with the Grier comparison, because he'll never have wheels like him.
ReplyDeletekid plays a little bigger than he is and has a gameplan and approach that isn't exacty aped on this roster,
ReplyDeleteyou can never have enough aggressie guys but I predict that if 4 and 91 play like bulls tan TH's approach looks less impressive and he's dealt away.
not this year but eventually.
you have 4-91 on the left side with Hamilton as a possibilty so someone wil have to switch sides to make it all work for him.
One thing I liked about Teemu in his short time with the team was his willingness to fire the puck into traffic in front of the net and see what happens. We could use more guys with that attitude.
ReplyDelete