Finland: Tukonen Unleashed

Notes on seven Finnish draft eligibles including Lauri Tukonen who continues to rise up the ranks with impressive performances in the SM-Liiga.

Lauri Tukonen W, Blues

The most promising Finn for the draft has recently been moved on to the Blues' top line .. big, fast, great range and creative with the puck .. uses his great speed and size to drive to the net and create scoring opportunities .. good instincts and anticipation, but must share the puck better as he tends to hang on to it too long .. rather adventurous in his own end and does not yet utilize his frame effectively along the boards .. natural winger also effective as a centerman every now and then .. good poise and is really having fun out there.

Petteri Nokelainen W, SaiPa

Strong player stands his own at both ends of the ice .. enjoying a solid, consistent year playing on the top-line and earning power play duty .. not an elite finisher, but has soft hands around the net and a crisp wrist shot .. that extra degree of creativity is keeping him down in the rankings, as he is only an average passer .. we like the way he utilizes his frame on the ice and is strong and hard-working cycling the puck along the boards .. still learning the pacing and intensity of the senior league, but has proven to be very adaptable and a hard worker .. he and Tukonen will play for the Finnish under-20 team at the World Juniors.

Jarmo Jokila C, TPS

Smallish, but has outstanding puck skills .. has a great fighting spirit, plays with intensity and moxie .. mostly a playmaker, he is the cornerstone of the powerplay for the junior TPS team .. very cool and patient with the puck, has good vision and does not panic with bigger guys around him .. has an explosive first step, gets to loose pucks well .. would be a first round shoo-in if not for the size factor .. upside will be questioned until he proves his mettle in the men's league.

Pasi Salonen W, HIFK

Pure goalscorer .. balanced skater with excellent acceleration .. nifty stickhandler, but has to dipsy-doodle less and drive to the net with greater spunk .. soft hands around the goal, but shooting arsenal is rather ordinary .. needs to work on shot power and is otherwise ineffective on the perimeter .. has a tendency to float and daydream .. has had a disappointing start to the season and his frustration is showing with a couple of ejections already.

Jesse Uronen W, Jokerit

Skinny winger is an elusive goalscorer .. an explosive skater leaves opposing defensemen in the dust with his fine first step and a terrific change of pace .. has a quick, accurate wristshot .. refined stickhandling skills, switches from forehand to backhand quickly .. opportunist knows where to go on the ice in order to bury his chances .. has benefitted by playing with experienced Arsi Piispanen on his wing, but needs to prove he can create plays on his own .. needs to read the play better and simplify his game in order to become a more refined playmaker.

Teemu Nurmi W, Tappara

Sturdy winger is solid but not spectacular .. cycles the puck well and is hard to contain when in possession .. hard-working player around the crease scores his goals on rebounds up close .. not sufficiently quick, which might explain why he wasn't picked up in the 2003 draft .. does not have the required first-step quickness to outrun others to the puck .. uses his size well and is a capable backchecker .. a regular in SM-liiga and on WJC team.

Lauri Korpikoski W, TPS

Explosive skater has yet to develop finish .. elusive, balanced skater with a smooth stride, he uses his speed to create scoring opportunities .. a solid playmaker with above-average stick control, but must be stronger on the puck .. a raw package he does not yet know how to fully utilize his speed; too passive and does not yet know how to position himself effectively in the offensive end .. needs to add bulk in order to win puck battles .. extremely raw, but his skills should shine through, once the mental approach develops.