@cambabs17 on Twitter: What is so special about Robin Salo and is there any chance he is still available for our second round pick?
Ha! The Robin Salo hype train has caught on! You’ve been paying attention!
Here’s what makes Robin Salo special: Nobody — not potential top-5 pick Miro Heiskanen, not Rasmus Ristolainen — has played as significant minutes or generated as many shots as a draft-eligible defencemen out of Liiga as Robin Salo did this year, in recent memory. Aside from a mediocre stride, he is an elite defender offensively and defensively in one of the top pro leagues in the world as a teenager. If he had a little more puck luck offensively (just one goal on nearly 200 shots) this year and he’d made Team Finland at the World Juniors (his omission was was criminal), he’d be a surefire lock for the first round. You’re looking at a kid who handles the puck as well as anyone, defends extremely well, and played 20 minutes a night while doing it.
Highlights obviously don't show the low points.The report says he is an awkward skater, but I didn't see a ton of awkwardness in those highlights. He does seem to be quite shifty when passing the puck at the offensive blue line, and has a quick release.
Highlights obviously don't show the low points.
But yeah, his skating is kinda awkward. He has to improve a lot on changes of direction and stop&start. Prospects board thread about him has some more info.
As a season ticket holder for Vasa Sport that watched every Liiga game he played this year I feel that his biggest strengths are good hockey IQ and positioning. Weakness is that his first steps need a lot of work. Gives supporters gray hairs at times when choosing to make a play in the D-zone in stead of just dumping the puck. Has a lot of poise. Good at creating space for himself on the PP but has quite a weak shot.
PS. Have never liked the rangers and now I guess I have to start following the Islanders a little closer with my hometown boy in the organisation. Rangers hate incoming...
Future Considerations had Salo at #34
ISS had Salo at #60
Hockey Prospects Black Book had Salo at #74
Hockey News had Salo at #66
So definitely somewhat of a reach. Most had him in the late second to mid third round. Would've preferred Comtois, Lipanov, Safin or Popugaev.
As a season ticket holder for Vasa Sport that watched every Liiga game he played this year I feel that his biggest strengths are good hockey IQ and positioning. Weakness is that his first steps need a lot of work. Gives supporters gray hairs at times when choosing to make a play in the D-zone in stead of just dumping the puck. Has a lot of poise. Good at creating space for himself on the PP but has quite a weak shot.
PS. Have never liked the rangers and now I guess I have to start following the Islanders a little closer with my hometown boy in the organisation. Rangers hate incoming...
You listed some of the worst rankings to go by. Guy's like Salo always end up as 2nd rounders. Ville Pokka is a similar level talent/prospect.
Popugaev is a poor man's Grigorenko. In other words, I would put money on him never making it. I watched him a lot in the dub over the past two years. He is awful.
I assume you mean you think Popugaev is "never going to make it?" I ask because you made one heck of a segue from Salo to Popugaev.
Yes, Popugaev. I thought it was pretty evident, two separate paragraphs. One for each player. Not to mention, only one of them plays in the dub. Sorry if it wasn't clear.
Alll good. I assumed so, but the post you replied to didn't mention Popugaev at all so didn't understand why he was being brought up at all.
No worries. I just double checked, Popugaev was the last guy he mentioned. I probably threw you off because I didn't comment on any others, I skipped over them to mention Popugaev. I did that, because I really don't think anyone who watched this guy play, especially last year, would actually want their team to draft him. Think Kvasha with less effort (yes, less effort than Oleg) and softer than Nelson.
Whatever NHL player is the opposite of that description is my type of player.
As a season ticket holder for Vasa Sport that watched every Liiga game he played this year I feel that his biggest strengths are good hockey IQ and positioning. Weakness is that his first steps need a lot of work. Gives supporters gray hairs at times when choosing to make a play in the D-zone in stead of just dumping the puck. Has a lot of poise. Good at creating space for himself on the PP but has quite a weak shot.
PS. Have never liked the rangers and now I guess I have to start following the Islanders a little closer with my hometown boy in the organisation. Rangers hate incoming...