Olli Juolevi | #48 | D

[JeremyCuddles]

A guy I am quietly excited about to see next season. There will be immense competition for the left d spot next season. I think guys like Tanev, Guddy, and Stecher have the right spots locked down. Chatfield can challenge for the extra righty depth spot but other than that we have no righties looking to break in. We have Edler, MDZ, Pouliot, Hutton, Juolevi on the left side. Brisebois could throw his hat in the ring as an extra body. Juolevi will likely start in Utica because of the surgery. Give him some time to get his legs under him a bit more. Says he should be ready for camp but obviously he is missing out on training and such as he recovers.

 

Juolevi was never gonna be a flashy prospect. He was always a steady player, a somewhat "sure thing" pick or at least the closest you could get. Which at the time made sense to take, since we had 0 top D prospects. So may as well grab a Bo Horvat type D prospect. Bo isn't flashy, but he works hard and does all the little things right. That's kinda like Juolevi. He'll be top 4 in the NHL, just won't knock your socks off. That's what Hughes is for anyway  

[Cromeslab]

https://theathletic.com/472659/2018/08/14/a-deep-dive-into-olli-juolevis-year-in-finland-and-what-to-expect-from-him-next-season/

[rekker]

8 minutes ago, Cromeslab said:

https://theathletic.com/472659/2018/08/14/a-deep-dive-into-olli-juolevis-year-in-finland-and-what-to-expect-from-him-next-season/

Nice. I think some negative types forget he was still a junior eligible player last year. Perspective people.

[Phat Fingers]

On 2018-08-13 at 11:14 AM, N7Nucks said:

A guy I am quietly excited about to see next season. There will be immense competition for the left d spot next season. I think guys like Tanev, Guddy, and Stecher have the right spots locked down. Chatfield can challenge for the extra righty depth spot but other than that we have no righties looking to break in. We have Edler, MDZ, Pouliot, Hutton, Juolevi on the left side. Brisebois could throw his hat in the ring as an extra body. Juolevi will likely start in Utica because of the surgery. Give him some time to get his legs under him a bit more. Says he should be ready for camp but obviously he is missing out on training and such as he recovers.

 

Juolevi was never gonna be a flashy prospect. He was always a steady player, a somewhat "sure thing" pick or at least the closest you could get. Which at the time made sense to take, since we had 0 top D prospects. So may as well grab a Bo Horvat type D prospect. Bo isn't flashy, but he works hard and does all the little things right. That's kinda like Juolevi. He'll be top 4 in the NHL, just won't knock your socks off. That's what Hughes is for anyway  

OJ is another sure fire London Knight. He is a guy that will be a Hamhuis style d man.  He could easily lead the blue line in points this season if he starts in Van. We will definitely have our eyes on Hughes and many won’t notice OJ once he gets comfortable in the show. That’s what is great about good him. He is the type of player that you don’t notice, but other teams will. He was considered unforecheckable in junior. 

[Phat Fingers]

3 minutes ago, rekker said:

Nice. I think some negative types forget he was still a junior eligible player last year. Perspective people.

No $&!#. The instant gratification fan drives me crazy. The guy just turned 20 and will be the most skilled defender on the roster this season... at least until Hughes signs  

[blackpluto96]

On 8/13/2018 at 8:42 AM, Eastcoast meets Westcoast said:

I still don’t know what happened to Hutton. Where did his game

go?  

 

Work ethic, awareness and determination all disappeared. 

 

After last year I don’t know if he will find it again... of all the players on the roster that could

beneifit from a change in scenery I think Hutton is the guy. 

 

Wonder which other team out there has a similar situation and cap hit to send back. 

 

Any ideas. 

Utica

[Kanukfanatic]

1 hour ago, Cromeslab said:

https://theathletic.com/472659/2018/08/14/a-deep-dive-into-olli-juolevis-year-in-finland-and-what-to-expect-from-him-next-season/

Why post this if you have to pay? or give your info? 

 

Just askin...

[MoneypuckOverlord]

5 hours ago, Cromeslab said:

https://theathletic.com/472659/2018/08/14/a-deep-dive-into-olli-juolevis-year-in-finland-and-what-to-expect-from-him-next-season/

can you copy the article content into a post? not interested in paying or subscribing.  thanks.

[VancouverIteinSanDiego]

Just gonna put this out there, but being in San Diego I watched Brandon moutour for the ahl team, great player, just looking at wiki he played for a couple years there before being promoted Olli being in ahl isn't gonna make him a worse player, same with Shea Theo remember watching him too both stood out head n shoulders above 

[alfstonker]

8 hours ago, Eastcoast meets Westcoast said:

OJ is another sure fire London Knight. He is a guy that will be a Hamhuis style d man.  He could easily lead the blue line in points this season if he starts in Van. We will definitely have our eyes on Hughes and many won’t notice OJ once he gets comfortable in the show. That’s what is great about good him. He is the type of player that you don’t notice, but other teams will. He was considered unforecheckable in junior. 

Don't forget Ashton Sautner. I was very impressed by his attitude and the way he fitted in seamlessly when he came up last season. He played 5 games and was +4 with 2 points.

If there is a threat to Hutton and Pouliot I reckon it is this boy.

[Dungass]

So I'm pretty satisfied with Olli.  I think that he was perhaps the victim of his own success and a classic example of a player inflating his value because of a single tournament.  Juolevi absolutely flew around the world juniors in 2016, was maybe the best defenseman in the tournament.  

 

However, that success has been impossible to replicate before and since.  I'm not dissatisfied with the pick, even in hindsight passing over who we did in the draft.  I think that he projects to be a solid-second pairing guy, perhaps could even put up 30-35 points which would be fantastic.  

 

I look for him to have a slow start in Utica, both because he missed off-season training and because he'll need some time to adapt to the pace and skill of the minors.  Hopefully he'll pick up as the season moves and might even see a few games in Vancouver as an injury call-up.  Next year will be the year he'll be expected to make the team.  

[wildcam]

On August 12, 2018 at 8:38 PM, messier's_elbow said:

Don’t sleep on Juolevi folks. He didn’t win a memorial cup and a junior gold in the same season for no reason. He might take awhile to get going after rehabbing his back, but by season end he will be a fixture on the big club. He’s added size to a lean frame and improved his skating last season. Going to be in the league for 15 years. 

I agree with your post..I think Juolevi will start the season in Utica and will get called up by November..

Sure hope Juolevi stays healthy as he will gain good experience and add talent to a weak defence.

I say Juolevi plays 55 games 5 G  13 A - 18 points -- 3rd pairing some PP time..

[Rush17]

4 hours ago, wildcam said:

I agree with your post..I think Juolevi will start the season in Utica and will get called up by November..

Sure hope Juolevi stays healthy as he will gain good experience and add talent to a weak defence.

I say Juolevi plays 55 games 5 G  13 A - 18 points -- 3rd pairing some PP time..

I like your positive attitude. I'm predicting he gets between 20-25 points. Jim always talks about his smooth skating puck moving ability and strong defensive play. The truth in the matter though is he is a very well rounded defender who can also put up the points.  

 

I am excited to see him in action at the NHL level. I am honestly more excited to see Juolevi then Pettersson at this point. I think that's because Pettersson now has the respect and praise of the fanbase. It still feel Juolevi is slighted by some fans. I think he will do really well. I wouldn't be surprised if we need to wait closer to Christmas to see him though. 

 

If the team moves on MDZ one would think a body from the AHL would be added. Unless breezer, Chatfield or Sautner get the call first but that would be surprising. I would not be surprised at all if Sautner gets claimed this fall if sent down. I like the kid too which would stink if it does happen.

[TGokou]

18 hours ago, MoneypuckOverlord said:

can you copy the article content into a post? not interested in paying or subscribing.  thanks.

https://theathletic.com/472659/2018/08/14/a-deep-dive-into-olli-juolevis-year-in-finland-and-what-to-expect-from-him-next-season/

 

By Janik Beichler

 

Olli Juolevi’s first professional season was one of ups and downs. With the year in the rearview mirror, however, he looks like a lock to become a top-four defenceman for the Vancouver Canucks for many years.

The Canucks’ 2016 first-round pick had little more to gain in junior hockey and decided to make his way back home instead of sticking with the OHL London Knights for another year. While he needed some time to adjust, his decision to join TPS Turku in Finland turned out to be the right call.

Following a difficult start to the season, he continuously improved. And despite being a healthy scratch for a couple of games after the World Junior Championship, Juolevi arguably became Turku’s best defenceman by season’s end.

At this point, Juolevi looks like a strong all-around defenceman who can be an NHL contributor for years to come.

 

Juolevi had a rough start to his first pro season, being on the ice for five five-on-five goals against in his first four games and ten goals against in his first nine games. In that same time span, he was on the ice for just eight goals, four of which came in a single game, as illustrated in the graphic below, courtesy of CanucksArmy’s Jeremy Davis.

However, his game greatly improved as the season progressed and he got acclimated to the new surroundings and professional hockey. In the remaining 29 games, Juolevi was on the ice for 23 goals and only 15 against.

A lot of this was due to Juolevi’s personal production. After going pointless in his first four games of the year, he had a three-point night in his fifth game of the season and went on a four-game point streak. Thanks to more consistent production after that slow start (except for a little slump after the world juniors), he was awarded an average of 17:52 in ice time per game, which even increased to 22:57 in the postseason.

Juolevi finished the regular season with 0.5 points per game before adding two goals and seven points in 11 postseason games.

 

What really stands out – both positively and negatively – when watching Juolevi play is that he keeps things simple. The Canucks drafted him in hopes of getting an offensive contributor and power-play quarterback, and while fans envisioned someone flashy to fill that role, we have to accept that Juolevi won’t be that type of player.

But, while he’ll never be a Quinn Hughes type, Juolevi does contribute offensively and spent a significant amount of time on Turku’s power play.

The Finn has everything he needs to be successful at the highest level: he’s smart, he can pass and shoot the puck, and he’s a solid skater as well. So, let’s take a deep dive into some game footage of Juolevi’s play last season to see what he really brings to the Canucks.

For this analysis, we’ll work our way from the neutral zone to defence and then back up ice. In all of these clips, Juolevi wears No. 4 in black and white.

 

One of Juolevi’s big defensive strengths is his mobility along with his reach. He possesses the ability to transition from offence to defence quickly and move laterally to react to oncoming attackers and defend well against the rush.

In the clip below, Juolevi moves into open space on the attack, making himself available for a cross-ice pass. When the forward’s shot gets deflected to the left boards, Juolevi reacts quickly, taking a turn and a quick crossover stride to intercept the puck. Thanks to an unlucky bounce, however, the puck moves back to the middle where an opponent picks it up to drive down the centre lane. Juolevi is able to recover, close the gap, and use his reach to knock the puck loose before turning play the other way with a bank pass.

Also note how he keeps his right arm close to his body to hide his reach, allowing him to jump out at the attacker with a quick poke check only when the time is right.

Below is another example. He tries to stay inside the dots, but when the attacker gets past the forechecker, Juolevi takes a quick step over, turns around and angles his opponent perfectly to break up the play.

However, there’s one thing Juolevi still needs to work on to make even better use of his toolkit: stay on the inside.

In the clip below, Juolevi is the player at the left boards near the red line in a 2-3 forecheck. In this system, he is required to close down the left side – but not at all costs. The only opponent on his side is closer to the middle than the boards, far on Juolevi’s inside. With that, Juolevi gives him the centre lane, forcing his teammate in the middle to cover two players.

Of course, the attacker on Juolevi’s side isn’t the one who ended up getting the breakout pass, but the fact that Juolevi didn’t cover him, forced the middle defender to move over, giving the breakout attacker extra space.

Below is another example where Juolevi runs into trouble because he’s too far on the outside. While there is no way to know for sure, it looks like Turku’s strategy on the backcheck is to cut the ice in half, but Juolevi realizes too late that he’s too far on his left. This causes him to transition from forward skating to backward to close the gap, which then makes it more difficult to react to the cross-ice pass.

Again, this doesn’t make the goal against Juolevi’s fault. The goal is scored by a defenceman joining the rush, who should be covered by Turku’s F3 (the last forechecker to reach the D-zone). However, had Juolevi stayed in position throughout the play, he would have had an easier time reacting to the defensive breakdown.

If he irons this out, Juolevi will be even more effective against the rush.

An encouraging side note: Juolevi didn’t struggle with his positioning or angling against the rush when he played for Team Finland at the 2018 world juniors. The slower pace of junior hockey may have been a contributing factor, but it may also be an indication that he has an easier time playing in the smaller North American rink.

In the D-zone, Juolevi is one of those players who stand out by not standing out at all. He just plays his part without any flash – and without many mistakes. His skating, smarts, reach, and frame allows him to play a strong, pro-style defensive game that should translate well to the NHL.

So, instead of watching video of plays where nothing happens because everyone’s in perfect position, let’s take a look at something Juolevi could still improve in the D-zone.

When Juolevi is on the ice for a goal against, it’s often because someone else screwed up. In the clip below, Turku is in possession and starting a breakout, with Juolevi staying back to present a support option below the goal line. His teammate plays a dangerous pass through the middle for a turnover and big-time scoring chance against.

As said, Juolevi wasn’t really part of the play and should get no blame, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing he could have done. He quickly realizes his team turned the puck over and moves to the front of the net. However, instead of taking a couple of quick strides to pressure the puck-carrier, he freezes in front of the net, trying to block the shot – and failing. Had he closed the gap more quickly, he might’ve had a chance to intercept the puck.

Below is another example where Juolevi makes a questionable decision. After joining the attack in the offensive zone, he’s the last player back on the counter attack. When he arrives, however, the puck is in the corner and he could easily move into proper position – which would be covering the net. Instead, he moves behind the net. Who knows what he was thinking, but the fact is, he leaves an opponent wide open in the slot.

Juolevi generally reads the play well and has all the tools to be successful in the defensive zone. But if there’s one thing he can still improve, it’s his decision-making in unplanned game situations.

 

On the breakout, Juolevi’s game is more of the same: solid, but nothing special. No Hughes-like end-to-end rushes, no fancy footwork and quick turns. Just simple puck-moving.

In the offensive zone, Juolevi has a clear strength: Seeing openings and jumping in to create chances.

The clip below is a perfect example of Juolevi’s hockey sense. More specifically, he displays excellent offensive awareness and vision. Juolevi’s D-partner is deep in the offensive zone with the puck and making his way back toward the blueline. Rather than staying back to support, Juolevi takes a small risk by pinching into the open space.

He gets a pass, finds a teammate on the other side, and gets a cross-ice pass through traffic for a perfect assist.

Below is a similar example, only this time, Juolevi elects to shoot the puck rather than setting up a teammate. His shot isn’t elite, but when he’s got space, Juolevi can get hard, accurate wrist shots at the net.

In 2017-18, Juolevi averaged three shots on net in the regular season, and that number increased to 4.18 in the playoffs, which is extremely encouraging to see from a rookie. Juolevi likes to shoot, and he manages to get pucks through to the net consistently, both after pinching and from the blueline.

However, his tendency to get shots off quickly and frequently – while in part due to Turku’s offensive strategy of crowding the net and shooting from the blueline – also shows an aforementioned deficiency in his game. In the sequence below, Juolevi receives a pass at the point and fires it at the net from a bad angle. When he’s without immediate passing options, he picks the simple play because he lacks the dynamic skating ability and creativity to walk the blueline and get himself into better position.

Again, Juolevi is a smooth skater with solid puck skills who can deke around defenders occasionally when he’s granted the space (as seen below), but he generally picks the safe play.

Power play

On the man advantage, Juolevi brings one exciting attribute: versatility. While the Canucks were and likely still are hoping Juolevi can become their power-play quarterback, that’s not the only role he filled with Turku last season.

His ability to pinch up the left side and get open for shots comes in handy on the power play as well. In Vancouver, this is Brock Boeser’s spot on PP1 and it will be for many years. But, Juolevi has proven he can be a dangerous second option in this position thanks to his wrist-shot accuracy and vision.

At the world juniors, Juolevi was consistently deployed on the left side of a 1-3-1 formation as well, and he had great success there, both as a shooter and a playmaker.

Likewise, Juolevi is a solid option on the right side, though this is unlikely to become a regular gig for him in Vancouver. In the play below, he shows the ability to get open and create lanes for cross-ice passes. He also manages to bury the puck with a quick snap shot for a nice power-play goal. However, he neither has a lethal one-timer nor the dynamic playmaking ability to create chances for others from his off-side.

As the right half-boards are likely to become Elias Pettersson’s spot on PP1 anyway, Juolevi’s ability to lead the power play from the point is, of course, the most important one. Luckily, this is also where he spent the most time with Turku last season.

With extra space, Juolevi is much better at using his smooth skating and puck skills to his advantage. While he plays a rather simple style on the man advantage as well, he is able to make the penalty-killing unit move and create space for himself and his teammates.

In the play below, Juolevi receives the puck on the right point off the zone entry. He then moves toward the middle of the ice, opening up in the process to have his upper body facing up ice, allowing him to see and evaluate his options. He plays a pass back to the right side, gets it back, and fires it at the net for a goal through traffic.

While this sequence shows he has the tools to run a power play from the point, he again ends up finishing the play with a shot through traffic despite a wide-open teammate to his left. The power play is all about quick passes and shifting the play around to make the penalty-killers move. So, even though it worked out this time, shots through traffic are generally not the ideal play – and there’s still room for improvement.

 

There is one thing that’s always apparent when watching Juolevi play: he keeps it simple and doesn’t have the tools to be a game-changing offensive dynamo and No. 1 NHL defenceman. But, he’s effective in all three zones and still has time to get better, so there’s little doubt about his ability to join the Canucks sooner rather than later.

Given Juolevi’s age, last season’s development, and the state of the organization, there is no point in waiting any longer to give him a chance at the highest level. Looking at the Canucks’ depth chart, there is currently no room for him, but the club should do everything in their power to give him a chance to prove his worth. Even if he doesn’t make the team out of training camp – whether it’s due to his play or waiver implications – we will see Juolevi in a Canucks uniform soon.

 

At this point, the Canucks have to admit Juolevi isn’t becoming what they wanted to get when they selected him fifth overall in 2016. But, he has what it takes to become a minute-munching top-four defenceman and power-play contributor at the NHL level. And with Boeser, Pettersson, and Hughes, they won’t even have to rely on him to be their star player on the power play.

Olli Juolevi had a year of ups and downs – but he’s ready for next step.

 

Sorry I don't know how to post the link properly. I had to cut some video clips out cause it was getting too long but just wanted to point out that I've found a lot of value in The Athletic articles. Well worth the $34 annual subscription with their promo code every once in a while.  Just thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[Cromeslab]

Thank you Gokou

Edited August 16, 2018 by Cromeslab

[Cromeslab]

On 2018-08-14 at 6:19 PM, Kanukfanatic said:

Why post this if you have to pay? or give your info? 

 

Just askin...

You don’t have to pay it’s like a newspaper subscription u get so many free articles a month.theres a lot of good Canucks content.Props to Gokou for having better copy skills than me lol

[Rush17]

I held this poll yesterday. Olli was the clear winner and Dahlen was #2. Only 66 votes but i think it says something.

 

 

[Phat Fingers]

On 2018-08-15 at 5:37 AM, alfstonker said:

Don't forget Ashton Sautner. I was very impressed by his attitude and the way he fitted in seamlessly when he came up last season. He played 5 games and was +4 with 2 points.

If there is a threat to Hutton and Pouliot I reckon it is this boy.

Your right, another decent depth guy that could unseat a current NHL regular. 

 

I don’t think Pouliot is in danger at Camp. He and Goldy should have a the first quarter to show they either belong or get demoted. 

 

No givens this year.  Finally. 

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

[CRAZY_4_NAZZY]

Just now, -Vintage Canuck- said:

 

Wonder if he skips the youngstars tourney just as a precaution so he has more time to heal up for main camp.  Wouldn't be opposed to that.