Olli Juolevi | #48 | D

[NewbieCanuckFan]

2 hours ago, Googlie said:

OJ looked pretty solid with Stecher in the scrimmages - I do hope we can find enough common ground to resign Troy.  He's a younger Biega ....  can skate, decent passer, and hits everything that moves just to prove that undersized d men can play in the NHL

Stecher has looked lost *when the icetime really counted* (as in real NHL games) since Hutton was cast adrift.  While not perfect, those two did have chemistry (with Stecher carrying that pairing).

Edited July 25, 2020 by NewbieCanuckFan

[zduck14]

4 hours ago, aGENT said:

IIRC, Rathbone can/has played right side before. Perhaps an eventual (post Edler/Tanev) 2nd pair of Juolevi-Rathbone?

 

They'd make a good complimentary pair IMO if Rathbone works on the right.

 

Still a question mark of who's Hughes partner will be long term but something like:

 

Hughes, _____

Juolevi, Rathbone

Brisebois, Rafferty (eventually giving way to Woo)

 

 

I think Woo has the potential to be a very good top 4 d-man and I would go so far as to say he could be an excellent compliment on the top pair with Hughes long term. Very much like Seabrook used to be in Chicago alongside Keith. A tough, 2-way guy that will be able to add to the offense but also keep guys in line if they go after Hughes.

[MrCanuck94]

 

[aGENT]

8 hours ago, MrCanuck94 said:

 

And with Edler going down today ...

[Noble 6]

The progress is encouraging and more than I expected. With that said, I don't think he should be in the starting lineup for the play-ins. He would be playing sheltered minutes at best behind Hughes and Edler. I'd say just let him carry the positive momentum into next training camp where he could take Fantenberg's spot on the bottom pairing. 

[Junkyard Dog]

All the progress is promising. It sounds like the time off with Covid is one of the very few silver linings this year. It really allowed him to get back on track and he'll have another off-season to prepare for a potential roster spot next year.

 

For the first time in a long-time we can actually be excited for OJ

[Phil_314]

12 minutes ago, Junkyard Dog said:

All the progress is promising. It sounds like the time off with Covid is one of the very few silver linings this year. It really allowed him to get back on track and he'll have another off-season to prepare for a potential roster spot next year.

 

For the first time in a long-time we can actually be excited for OJ

For both him and Ferland I'm just hoping they stay healthy and make use of any playing time.
Any strong performances would be gravy IMO as both would be depth (Olli behind Hughes and Edler, Ferland likely on a 3rd line role)

[Whalespray]

On 7/25/2020 at 12:18 PM, Herberts Vasiljevs said:

Seider was my pick at 10 heading into last year's draft. What could have been. 

shocking. I got lit up on these forums for Suggesting JB take Sieder who at the time was ranked in the 20's. Though I also never imagined Putzgoalsin would be available to us.

[Smashian Kassian]

Nice to see that he's made such good progress just in this camp. Glad he's starting to climb the ranks. Very promising sign. 

[Rush17]

9 hours ago, Junkyard Dog said:

All the progress is promising. It sounds like the time off with Covid is one of the very few silver linings this year. It really allowed him to get back on track and he'll have another off-season to prepare for a potential roster spot next year.

 

For the first time in a long-time we can actually be excited for OJ

That is so exciting to see Olli get brought along.  This will be fantastic for his development! If he shows he is continually improving we could see him as a 6/7 D next season. This could help us save some cap on the backend if we can move out Jordie Benn. Olli thinks the game well and his hockey sense is at a very high level. That is what makes him still so promising even 4 years after his draft year. Funny the kid is still only 22, I believe he was one of the younger players in his draft class too if memory serves me right.

 

9 hours ago, Phil_314 said:

For both him and Ferland I'm just hoping they stay healthy and make use of any playing time.
Any strong performances would be gravy IMO as both would be depth (Olli behind Hughes and Edler, Ferland likely on a 3rd line role)

We played like an entirely different team when Ferland was in the lineup to start the year. His presence and depth skill gave us more swagger both physically and offensively. Olli could be clutch for us and he is a player with a winning pedigree. He is the type of player who loves to be relied upon just like Bo, Petey, and Hughes. He use to be a little over confident but injuries and aging seems to have matured him up since his draft year. I loved the kids swagger when he was drafted but I know it may have rubbed some people the wrong way.  All in all - I am ecstatic. Hockey is back and we may get a chance at some point to see both of these guys! Juolevi's quick progression in training camp shows he can adapt quickly with his high hockey sense. promising signs for us all to enjoy!

[Nuxfanabroad]

Haven't seen a tonne of Olli play, but do see some Edler in him. Maybe his demeanor with interviews, as well? Seems to fit that N Euro,big-bodied, yet soft-spoken D. Betting Alex will be an excellent mentor, handing off his torch to his heir-apparent. Should he go on to replicate #23's career, we'd all have to be pretty pleased.

 

With QH's dynamic style, the Canucks would prob prefer OJ becomes a dependable, 20-30 pt, smart & solid D-man. Bet that fits his personality too. A team needs such balance on the blueline, & it fits in well within an overall cap structure.

 

The injuries have certainly hampered his progress, but I bet this profile of player prob needs to get into his young 20's to really start asserting himself(on the pro scene)

[Rush17]

19 minutes ago, Nuxfanabroad said:

Haven't seen a tonne of Olli play, but do see some Edler in him. Maybe his demeanor with interviews, as well? Seems to fit that N Euro,big-bodied, yet soft-spoken D. Betting Alex will be an excellent mentor, handing off his torch to his heir-apparent. Should he go on to replicate #23's career, we'd all have to be pretty pleased.

 

With QH's dynamic style, the Canucks would prob prefer OJ becomes a dependable, 20-30 pt, smart & solid D-man. Bet that fits his personality too. A team needs such balance on the blueline, & it fits in well within an overall cap structure.

 

The injuries have certainly hampered his progress, but I bet this profile of player prob needs to get into his young 20's to really start asserting himself(on the pro scene)

Olli is exceptional at getting pucks to the net through traffic. I love the Edler comp it is one I use quite often myself. Hopefully he hits less shin pads .  I can see him maybe maintaining Edler's high point rate of 50 maybe over a few more seasons then Eagle did. But that may also be a factor he will likely have a more balanced offensive team with our constant injection of future youth coming in to replace over priced players. It's gonna be a sad day when Pearson walks into free agency but its nice knowing we have Hoglander and Podkolzin here when that happens. I don't see a situation where we re-sign Pearson. Toffoli on the other hand fits an org need on the right side and his scoring skill should remain competitive for years to come. 

 

This is an olli juolevi chat tho. Enough with Pearson and other forwards :D I am excited to see what he can do when he is ready. 

Edited July 27, 2020 by Rush17

[BCNate]

Kid is going to be worth the wait.  OJ will be a top 4 D on a ELC right when we need him.  I expect him to crack the NHL roster at some point next season, and be a key part of our team moving forward the season after.  His transition game is outstanding.

[Googlie]

2 hours ago, BCNate said:

Kid is going to be worth the wait.  OJ will be a top 4 D on a ELC right when we need him.  I expect him to crack the NHL roster at some point next season, and be a key part of our team moving forward the season after.  His transition game is outstanding.

He is on year 2 of his ELC right now.  Becomes an RFA end of next season

[Maddogy]

2 hours ago, BCNate said:

Kid is going to be worth the wait.  OJ will be a top 4 D on a ELC right when we need him.  I expect him to crack the NHL roster at some point next season, and be a key part of our team moving forward the season after.  His transition game is outstanding.

More likely scenario is that he will become a cheap bottom pairing pucking moving D for the Canucks, which the team needs in the long run to support Hughes and Rathbone on the left side. 

[theo5789]

2 hours ago, Maddogy said:

More likely scenario is that he will become a cheap bottom pairing pucking moving D for the Canucks, which the team needs in the long run to support Hughes and Rathbone on the left side. 

Movin on up from the bust label at least. One step at a time.

[TheRocket18]

I'm almost worried that he cracked the lineup.

 

Was pretty sure we pulled another Nedved outta the draft, hard to watch the other members of his draft class play.

 

The Salo influence is instant.

[CRAZY_4_NAZZY]

https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/ben-kuzma-juolevis-jump-sends-canucks-roster-message-to-left-shot-blueliners?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1595887495

 

Quote

Olli Juolevi earned a postseason promotion to the Edmonton hub. Jason Payne / PNG

'He has always been a smart player and we saw in the scrimmages that he had poise with the puck. And even though the pace picked up playing with NHL players, he was able to adjust right away and had a really good camp.' — Canucks GM Jim Benning on Olli Juolevi.

The narrative on Olli Juolevi has finally changed.

From prolonged discussions about the left-shot defenceman being injury-plagued and somewhat suspect, as opposed to becoming a prime-time prospect, the discussion has shifted. It has gone from what was keeping Juolevi from pushing for an NHL spot to being a realistic part of the Vancouver Canucks’ future roster.

 

Health has helped after back and knee surgeries the last two years. So has an evolving game. The fifth selection in the 2016 NHL draft not only looked and sounded more comfortable at this training camp with improved strength, stride and confidence, he is part of the 30-player post-season roster and no longer part of a debate about his game.

 

“We can see the work he has put in and he’s bigger and stronger,” Canucks general manager Jim Benning said Monday from Edmonton. “He has always been a smart player and we saw in the scrimmages that he had poise with the puck. I thought he looked really good and the coaches have seen the same things.

“And even though the pace picked up playing with NHL players, he was able to adjust right away and had a really good camp.”

---

While Juolevi and Jalen Chatfield will form a Black Ace extra pairing for practices in advance of the qualifying-round games against the Minnesota Wild, they have taken significant career steps. Juolevi, 22, and the undrafted right-shot Chatfield, 24, have supplanted left shots Guillaume Brisebois, 23, and Ashton Sautner, 26, who didn’t make the post-season cut.

 

“Well, as of right now, it looks that way,” added Benning. “We can only go off off what we’ve seen the last couple of weeks. Sautner was a guy we would call up and so was Brisebois, but in camp practices Juolevi and Chatfield and Brogan Rafferty ramped it up.”

Brisebois had no points in eight NHL games last season. And in this shortened AHL season, he had 15 points (4-11) in 48 outings, but his game has yet to take the next and crucial development step. The restricted free agent was acquired in the third round of the 2015 draft with one of two picks from the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eddie Lack trade.

 

The undrafted Sautner has three assists in 23 career NHL games and is an unrestricted free agent. And with the left side also sporting UFA Oscar Fantenberg and Jordie Benn as third-pairing options — Benn will return to Vancouver to quarantine before rejoining the club after his fiancée gives birth in Dallas — and prime prospect Jack Rathbone on the horizon, that career light at the end of a long tunnel for Juolevi is no longer a train.

“It’s been good,” said Juolevi. “Obviously, I’m learning a lot of new things and all the contact and the practices have been good for me. I’m getting to know the guys who have been here and that helps a lot. And getting a lot more 5-on-5 stuff helped —  especially in the scrimmages.

“It’s really going to help my game. The practices were hard and the one big thing for me is to stay active all the time and trust myself with more talented guys.”

 

“He had a good camp and I’m happy with what I’ve seen,” added Canucks coach Travis Green. “It’s take every day and push to be better and I’ve seen some strides.”

Olli Juolevi rest on a knee at the end of a training session during the second day of Canucks Training Camp at the Save-On-Foods Arena, Victoria, September 14 2019.  Gerry Kahrmann / PNG

Juolevi missed eight AHL games in a 2019-20 season shortened by the novel coronavirus pandemic. He managed 25 points (2-23) in 45 games and added a stronger penalty-kill presence — he led the club in blocked shots — for a unit that operated at just 80.6 per cent efficiency. 

The Comets were sixth in that category in the Northern Division where they finished third at 34-22-3-2. Juolevi learned that dropping in front of shots was as vital as a good first outlet pass.

 

“I’ve always said I wanted to be a guy who can do that, too,” stressed the 6-foot-3, 198 pound Finn. “It’s a big thing that can help win games and it was a good year in that way for me. I want to be trusted more in the defensive zone and I got an opportunity to show what I’ve got. I just kept building the confidence.”

 

After a season in the Finnish elite SM-Liiga with TPS Turku, in which Juolevi was guided by former Canucks defenceman Sami Salo, microdiscectomy back surgery in mid-June of 2018 following a training injury slowed his transition to the North American game with the Comets. He didn’t ramp up training until mid-August, but 13 points (1-12) in his first 18 games looked promising.

 

Juolevi then suffered a knee ailment when slammed into the boards on Nov. 17, 2018. The initial diagnosis was a minor injury and he was expected to be sidelined three to four weeks. A followup diagnosis showed a meniscus tear. He underwent knee surgery Dec. 18 and was out six months.

The hip ailment last December seems minor by comparison.

 

“Those injury things are sometimes hard to talk about,” admitted Juolevi. “Every player has some sort of injury and I just don’t look back at it anymore. I feel really good and the break really helped. There isn’t anything you can do about it and you just have to deal with it. 

“Everybody who is really inside on the team, and really knows what’s going on, has really helped.”

The patience appears to have paid off this season.

 

“I was able to do what I do at my best and when you get good stuff going, it feels easier and easier,” added Juolevi. “That’s how I’ve always played the game and want to be able to make those good plays. I took a big step in the defensive game and that has always been a question for me. 

“Can I play 82 games in the NHL against the best players?”

Some day we’ll find out. And now it appears the wait won’t be as long as first feared.

Seems the past few weeks the overall tone surrounding Olli has started to become far more optimistic than pessimistic.

 

Happy to hear Olli finally getting some good bounces his way. 

[TGokou]

On 7/26/2020 at 2:51 PM, Top Cheddar said:

shocking. I got lit up on these forums for Suggesting JB take Sieder who at the time was ranked in the 20's. Though I also never imagined Putzgoalsin would be available to us.

Don't worry I also was suggesting we take Seider at the time.

[ilduce39]

Not sure if anyone has benefitted from this weird season more than Olli... he gets some much needed recovery time and an extra camp with the big club.  
 

I’m not going to say he’s a lock to be back on track as a second pairing guy... but I’m a lot more optimistic than I was a few weeks ago.  Should be great competition between him and Rathbone next year.