LEFT WING LOCK?
By Lowetide
11 years ago
In the life and times of a hockey prospect, there are opportunities and then there are OPPORTUNITIES. For Teemu Hartikainen, this fall and winter in Oklahoma could be the springboard for an NHL career.
COMPETITION
The Edmonton Oilers sent down their kids today as the prepare for the lockout. The list is a knockout:
- Cameron Abney
- Mark Arcobello
- Tyler Bunz
- Dane Byers
- Philippe Cornet
- Yann Danis
- Brandon Davidson
- Jordan Eberle
- Taylor Fedun
- Curtis Hamilton
- Teemu Hartikainen
- Tanner House
- Anton Lander
- Martin Marincin
- Ryan Martindale
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
- Magnus Paajarvi
- Kristians Pelss
- Tyler Pitlick
- Alex Plante
- Toni Rajala
- Olivier Roy
- Justin Schultz
- Colten Teubert
- Antti Tyrvainen
- Chris VandeVelde
LEFT WINGERS
The cool job for Barons wingers will be the L slot beside the Nuge and Eberle on the ‘hero’ line. Although Hartikainen will have competition for the position–Magnus Paajarvi is a potential match and Phil Cornet has skill–there are reasons why Hartikainen should probably be considered the front runner.
First, Paajarvi is likely to be paired with countryman Anton Lander on a line. They’re familiar with each other and there’s a chance the duo will one day form the nucleus of a 2-way 3rd line in Edmonton. Dane Byers is another LW option and he has experience, size and a mean streak–all things coach Todd Nelson might want to place on the portside with the two franchise forwards. Cornet–despite a strong year in 11-12–is unlikely to be an NHL regular during the ‘teens.
Hartikainen’s skill set, which includes size, hitting and some skill, dovetails nicely and gives the Oilers a chance to find chem with a guy who could be around for many years with the NHL team.
REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS
In the AHL, Hartikainen has averaged .632 points-per-game. If he plays much of the season with Nuge-Ebs, who are two guys who should post north of a point-per-game, I think something close to that level is reasonable. Hartikainen’s seasons:
- (age 20) 66, 17-25-42 .636
- (age 21) 51, 14-18-32 .627
I’d peg Hartikainen’s RE at about 60, 20-30-50 .833 allowing for the improved AHL (some of the names playing in the minors this season will rival the Spezza-Parise bunch from the last Bettman winter) and for Hartikainen’s linemates.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
Opportunity rarely knocks like this: Teemu Hartikainen is a notorious slow starter, but must find a way to establish himself as the best available LW option for the Nuge-Eberle duo. If he does that, he might just find his ticket punched when the lockout ends and the NHL goes back to work.
I doubt he gets this kind of opportunity again.
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