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Olli Juolevi

Anaheim Ducks Sign Max Jones To ELC

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Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Max Jones puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number twenty-four overall draft pick by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY SportsUpdate (4:00pm): Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register fills in some of the financial details, via Twitter. The deal comes with an NHL salary of $925K and an annual AHL pay rate of $70K.

Cap Friendly adds that the pact contains no performance bonuses in any of the three years. The tweet suggests this is the first ELC in seven years signed by a player chosen 24th overall that did not include performance bonuses.

2:49pm: After drafting Max Jones 24th overall in the latest entry draft, the Anaheim Ducks have signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract. No financial details were released.

Jones, 18, played last season in London alongside fellow first-rounders Olli Juolevi and Matthew Tkachuk and was a finalist for the OHL Rookie of the Year award. His 52 points in 63 games ranked him second among league rookies and sixth on the Memorial Cup winning Knights.

While he is still extremely young, Jones has matured physically and stands at 6’3″ 205 lbs. He uses that long frame and size to remove defenders from the puck, but can get a little overzealous in the physical side of the game. His 106 penalty minutes ranked him second on his team and eighth in the entire league. That would seem to lend itself perfectly to Randy Carlyle and the type of hockey the Ducks play; they led the league in fighting last season and brought in Jared Boll this offseason.

While Jones may not have the offensive flourish of some of his first round contemporaries, he’s almost a lock to make it to the NHL in at least a bottom-six role. If his skating and creativity progress, he could find himself in a scoring power winger slot on an Anaheim team in the next few years.

Glen Miller also contributed to this post

Week In Review: 8/1/16 – 8/7/16

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August is generally the quietest month of the entire calendar year for hockey news stories. The first week certainly reinforced that notion with little in the way of compelling story lines. Nonetheless, here’s your roundup of the week’s news.

Notable UFA Signings

Sam Gagner (Blue Jackets) – One year, $650K

Key Prospect Signings

Olli Juolevi (Canucks) – ELC – Three Years, $925K AAV with $850K in Schedule A bonuses available and $600K in Schedule B bonuses for the 2017-18 season.

Coaching/Management Hires

Former NHL players Jay Leach and Trent Whitfield were added to the coaching staff of the AHL Providence Bruins.

Las Vegas made a number of hires as they fill out their front office. Kelly McCrimmon becomes the team’s assistant GM, while Wil Nichol, formerly a scout in the Washington organization, was hired as the club’s director of player development.

Overseas Transactions

Marc-Andre Bergeron, who appeared in 490 NHL regular season games and tallied 253 points primarily filling the role of power play specialist for seven NHL clubs, was released from his contract with Zurich in the Swiss League.

Vancouver Signs Olli Juolevi To Entry Level Deal

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The Vancouver Canucks announced the signing of defenseman Olli Juolevi to a three-year entry level contact. The 2016 fifth overall pick put up monster numbers in 2015-16, registering 42 points (9-33). He was third in rookie defenseman scoring in the Ontario Hockey League, and was a crucial part in the Knights’ Memorial Cup championship. Juolevi also won gold in the 2016 World Juniors and led all defenseman in points with 9 (0-9).

Juolevi was already expected to play again for the London Knights next season but this move obviously hastens his chance to get to the big club. General manager Jim Benning sounded slightly different about Juolevi’s than he did earlier, saying that the Canucks, “look forward to seeing him continue his development and compete at the NHL level during training camp in September.”

 

 

Juolevi Will Head Back To London In 2016-17

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According to team president Trevor Linden (via Ben Kuzma of TSN 1040) , the Vancouver Canucks’ fifth-overall pick Olli Juolevi will be headed back to the London Knights for another year:

“His ability to process the game and make the right play is impressive. Our plan for him is London.”

Though many expected Juolevi to head back to London after an exceptional rookie season with the club in which he scored 42 points and was a big part of their Memorial Cup victory, it’s a bit surprising to have the team say it this early in the summer.

Juolevi still hasn’t signed his entry-level contract, and perhaps this is why, since the team clearly doesn’t think there is even a possibility of him cracking the NHL roster out of camp.  Instead, he’ll go back to London and look to continue his impressive development on the North American ice.  The Finnish defender still has work to do in his own end to become the top-pairing player that the Canucks envisioned when they took him as the first defenseman in this year’s draft.

Though it’s still at least a year away, Canuck fans should be counting the days until Juolevi makes his debut on the back end for the big club, as his 6’3″ frame and excellent skating ability will translate beautifully to a league that is going more and more towards possession and transitional play from it’s defenders.

The Holdup On Auston Matthews Contract

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As discussed here, Auston Matthews is one of only four unsigned players selected in the top-10 of this June’s entry draft. Two of those players, Clayton Keller (7th overall to Arizona) and Tyson Jost (10th overall to Colorado) have firm commitments to NCAA programs and are not expected to ink their Entry Level Contracts (ELC) until they are ready to turn pro. That leaves Matthews and #5 overall choice Olli Juolevi as the only players in the top-10 realistically expected to sign their first pro contracts that have not already done so.

Kevin McGran writes about the impasse with Matthews here.

Lou Lamoriello is a savvy, veteran GM who usually closes deals on his terms and we already know he isn’t particularly keen on including performance bonuses in rookie contracts. However in this instance, he may have to give ground. Matthews was the consensus #1 overall draft choice in June and each of last year’s top-two selections, Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, received the maximum bonus value permitted under the CBA ($2.85MM on top of the $925K in base salary).

As McGran discusses, the implications of Toronto sticking to their guns may be felt far beyond this single negotiation. Veteran players, both who currently suit up for the Leafs and future free agent targets, may not think too highly of the organization trying to squeeze a few measly bucks from a young player widely-hailed as the future of the franchise..

Additionally, as we’ve seen in Colorado with Tyson Barrie and Ryan O’Reilly, this type of contentious negotiation now can potentially lead to bigger problems later. Should Matthews fulfill his promise as an elite, two-way #1 center, extending him upon the completion of his entry level contract might prove to be far more difficult should Toronto continue to hold firm on bonus demands.

Granted, there is still plenty of time for an agreement to be reached (roughly two months) but this should have been a relatively straight-forward negotiation. The second overall pick, Patrik Laine, signed for $3.575MM, assuming he meets his bonuses. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Jesse Puljujarvi, chosen third and fourth overall, respectively, can each earn up to $3.425MM per season. It’s hard to imagine any team making a logical case for the #1 overall pick to not maximize his earning potential when each of the players selected after him have contracts in place that can pay out close to the maximum amount.

Like everyone else, I expect a deal to be wrapped up in plenty of time for Matthews to begin the season with the Leafs. However, I can understand why Toronto fans might be feeling a little uneasy with the overall tenor and pace of negotiations.

Current Status Of Top-Ten Draft Picks

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As we approach a month since the NHL Entry Draft took place, teams have started to lock up their newest talents to lucrative deals and will soon begin the process of determining where they’ll play next season (if they haven’t already). For some, the contract seemed a mere formality and was signed within days of the draft; for others, their continuing negotiations are like torture for the fans that have already put in a pre-order for a dozen jerseys, and promised to name their next child Auston, Clayton, or Tyson.

Here is the current status of each of the top ten picks of the 2016 NHL draft:

(Annual average value (AAV) includes potential performance bonuses.)

  1. Auston Matthews (TOR) – Unsigned – Matthews continues to negotiate with the Maple Leafs on his entry-level deal, though all signs point to an amiable discussion so far. With GM Lou Lamoriello’s known opposition to incentive-laden contracts, perhaps the Maple Leafs and first-overall pick are working out something a little more creative to reward Matthews.
  2. Patrik Laine (WPG) – Signed, July 3rd: Three years, $3.575MM AAV – After moving up four spots in the draft lottery, Winnipeg was given the chance to draft a potential franchise-altering player in Laine, and they didn’t take long to lock him up.  The Finnish winger is an elite goal scoring talent that should step into the NHL right away and be a threat for the Calder trophy.  He came in just $200K under the maximum allowed for players signing their ELC.
  3. Pierre-Luc Dubois (CBJ) – Signed, June 29th: Three years, $3.425MM AAV – The Blue Jackets also moved up after winning a lottery spot, and were expected by many to pick Jesse Puljujarvi, the other Finnish winger who had long been a top choice by scouts.  Instead, the team looked down the middle and took the second ranked center in Dubois. Though he’ll probably head back to the QMJHL for another season, Dubois has an extremely high ceiling capable of being a number one center – Columbus will give him every chance to reach it.
  4. Jesse Puljujarvi (EDM) – Signed, July 13th: Three years, $3.425MM AAV – Even with the glut of young forwards Edmonton already had, they couldn’t pass up a chance at Puljujarvi after he fell to four.  They tried to trade the pick but couldn’t find fair value for it, and so added the young Finn to their group.  Perhaps that led them to the decision that Taylor Hall was expendable, as they have another elite talent on the wing (though he and Hall normally play opposite sides) that could jump to the NHL right away.
  5. Olli Juolevi (VAN) – Unsigned – The first defenseman taken in this year’s draft, Juolevi was a rising talent after his Memorial Cup victory with the London Knights. Capable of playing in any situation, Juolevi is as good of a defensive prospect as you can expect to get with the fifth overall pick. Perhaps not a franchise player, he’ll be a big part of Vancouver’s blueline for years to come – that is, whenever he signs his first contract.
  6. Matthew Tkachuk (CGY) – Signed, July 7th: Three years, $1.775MM AAV – The Flames’ front office must have been ecstatic when Tkachuk was still available when their turn came, as he’s exactly the type of player that President Brian Burke loves. Tkachuck, son of former NHL great Keith, agreed to a deal that will max-out under $2MM even if he hits all of his bonuses. If he turns into the player many believe him to be, at some point skating alongside new Flames’ right-winger Troy Brouwer would be an imposing sight to be sure.
  7. Clayton Keller (ARZ) – Unsigned – The Arizona Coyotes followed Columbus’ lead and took a center with their first pick of the round (they would later trade for the 16th overall pick to select D Jakob Chychrun) but haven’t signed the USA standout. As we reported yesterday, Keller is standing by his commitment to head to Boston University next season, though the Windsor Spitfires are doing everything they can to bring him to the OHL. He likely won’t sign with the Coyotes until he’s ready to make the jump from the NCAA.
  8. Alexander Nylander (BUF) – Signed, July 15th: Three years, $1.775MM AAV – The younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs center William and son of former NHLer Michael, Nylander is expected to play a big part in the re-build for Buffalo over the next few seasons. With the team hitting rock bottom last year, they are on a steady climb upwards and have perhaps turned a corner with the huge signing of Kyle Okposo this summer. Nylander has impressed many at camp with his blend of skating ability and hard shot.
  9. Mikhail Sergachev (MTL) – Signed, July 1st: Three years, $1.775MM AAV – Sergachev is an interesting case, as he came over in the OHL’s import draft and made an impact in his rookie season, winning the Max Kaminsky trophy as the league’s top blueliner. Many think he’ll head back to Windsor for another season, but there has been rumbling that he could crack the Canadiens roster as soon as this year. The left-handed shooting Russian is a born powerplay quarterback, and may eventually slide in next to Shea Weber on the top unit.
  10. Tyson Jost (COL) – Unsigned – Colorado reached into the BCHL to select Jost, an elite offensive talent out of Penticton, if a little undersized. He’ll be heading to the NCAA this year as well, as he’s committed to the University of North Dakota for 2016-17. This is the usual route for players out of Penticton, as since the CHL is deemed a professional league by the NCAA, the BCHL is the highest level of hockey in North America allowed before heading to college. Like Keller, don’t expect Jost to sign anytime soon.

For the other twenty picks of the first round, only Jake Bean and Julien Gauthier have signed as of yet. Many of the players selected here won’t sign a contract until their 2016-17 assignment/league has been decided. Keep an eye on PHR and Roster Resource to track when they sign and where they’re headed next season.

CHL 2016 Import Draft Results

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The CHL import draft is an important one for NHL scouts to keep an eye on, as it brings some of the best talent in the world over to play and develop a little closer to home. While not all of the players selected make the trip across the ocean, many of the top draftees eventually make their mark in the NHL draft, as we saw first hand just last weekend.

Olli Juolevi, Alex Nylander and Mikhail Sergachev all were import drafts in 2015 and made their name in the OHL before going in the top-10 on Friday. Others, like German Rubtsov have already gone in the first round (#22 to the Flyers) before even being selected for the CHL.   Here is the first round of the 2016 CHL Import Draft:

#1 Kootenay – Klim Kostin (C, Russia)

#2 Guelph – Dmitri Samorukov (LD, Russia)

#3 Baie-Comeau – Ivan Chekhovich (C, Russia)

#4 Vancouver – Filip Zadina (RW, Czech Republic)

#5 Sudbury – Jachym Kondelik (LW, Czech Republic)

#6 Halifax – Nico Hischier (RW, Switzerland)

#7 Saskatoon – Mark Rubinchik (LD, Russia)

#8 Flint –  Michal Steinocher (LD, Czech Republic)

#9 Drummondville – Pavel Koltygin (LW, Russia)

#10 Swift Current – Aleksi Heponiemi (LW, Finland)

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2016 NHL Draft Results

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Pro Hockey Rumors will be following and updating every selection of the 2016 NHL Draft. Below are the results of the first round.

Round 1

1. Toronto Maple Leafs: C Auston Matthews (Zurich Lions – SUI)

2. Winnipeg Jets: RW Patrik Laine (Tappara – SM-liiga)

3. Columbus Blue Jackets: LW Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton – QMJHL)

4. Edmonton Oilers: RW Jesse Puljujarvi (Karpat – SM-liiga)

5. Vancouver Canucks: D Olli Juolevi (London – OHL)

6. Calgary Flames: LW Matthew Tkachuk (London – OHL)

7. Arizona Coyotes: C Clayton Keller (USA NTDP – USHL)

8. Buffalo Sabres: F Alexander Nylander (Mississauga Steelheads – OHL)

9. Montreal Canadiens: D Mikhail Sergachev (Windsor – OHL)

10. Colorado Avalanche: C Tyson Jost (Penticton – BCHL)

11. Ottawa Senators (from New Jersey): C Logan Brown (Windsor – OHL)

12. New Jersey Devils (from Ottawa): C Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads – OHL)

13. Carolina Hurricanes: D Jake Bean (Calgary – WHL)

14. Boston Bruins: D Charlie McAvoy (Boston University – NCAA)

15. Minnesota Wild: C Luke Kunin (Wisconsin – NCAA)

16. Arizona Coyotes (From Detroit): D Jakob Chychrun (Sarnia – OHL)

17. Nashville Predators: D Dante Fabbro (Penticton – BCHL)

18. Winnipeg Jets (From Philadelphia): D Logan Stanley (Windsor – OHL)

19. New York Islanders: LW Kieffer Bellows (US NTDP)

20. Detroit Red Wings (from Arizona via New York Rangers): D Dennis Cholowski (Chilliwack (BCHL)

21. Carolina Hurricanes (from LA Kings): RW Julien Gauthier (Val-d’Or Foreurs – QMJHL

22. Philadelphia Flyers (From Winnipeg via Chicago): C German Rubtsov (Team Russia U-18)

23. Florida Panthers: C Henrik Borgstrom (HIFK – SM-liiga Jr)

24. Anaheim Ducks: LW Max Jones (London – OHL)

25. Dallas Stars: LW Riley Tufte (Blaine – USHSW)

26. St. Louis Blues (From Washington): C Tage Thompson (Connecticut – NCAA)

27. Tampa Bay Lightning: C Brett Howden (Moose Jaw – WHL)

28. Washington Capitals (From St. Louis): D Lucas Johansen (Kelowna – WHL)

29. Boston Bruins (from San Jose): C Trent Frederic (USA U-18 NTDP)

30. Anaheim Ducks (from Pittsburgh via Toronto): C Sam Steel (Regina – WHL)

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Top Draft Prospects: Olli Juolevi

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The NHL draft is now less than 24 hours away with the first round set for Friday night.  Our look at the top prospects continues with London defenceman Olli Juolevi.

Bio

Position: Defense
Birthdate: May 5, 1998
Hometown: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 182 lbs

2015-16

Juolevi completed his first year in North America this past season after the Knights selected him in the first round of the CHL Import Draft.  He made an immediate impact and it wasn’t long before he became their go-to player in all situations.  He wound up leading all London blueliners in points, finishing tied for 13th overall among all OHL defenders.

Like several top prospects in this class, Juolevi suited up at the World Juniors for his native Finland, tying for the tournament lead in points by a defenseman while playing as their #1 rearguard.  He was also named to the tournament All-Star team.

As a result of the Knights winning the OHL title, Juolevi also suited up in the Memorial Cup where his team took home the title.  Similar to the WJC’s, he also led all defensemen in scoring in that tournament as well while being named to that tournament All-Star  team.

Statistics

OHL: 57 GP, 9 goals, 33 assists, 42 points, 16 PIMS, +38 rating
WJC: 7 GP, 0 goals, 9 assists, 9 points, 4 PIMS, +6 rating
Memorial Cup: 4 GP, 0 goals, 7 assists, 7 points, 4 PIMS, +6 rating

Scouting Report

There’s a strong case to be made that Juolevi is the most well-rounded blueliner in the draft.  He’s not elite at any particular skill but there are next to no holes in his game either.

Offensively, he is a playmaker first and foremost.  He sees the ice extremely well and does a fine job at getting the puck to the right place at the right time.  His shot isn’t the most powerful but is effective due to its accuracy.  Juolevi is also a very strong skater and uses that to help kick start a rush or to skate himself out of trouble effectively.

On the defensive side of things, Juolevi made big strides compared to the beginning of the season but his decision making and positioning are areas that still need to improve.  He also isn’t the strongest of players which doesn’t help in his own zone.  He isn’t a big risk taker which helps mitigates some of his weaknesses but safe and smart decision making is something that’s always an asset to NHL GM’s.

Projected Future Role

If his defensive game improves as expected, Juolevi should be a top pairing defenseman down the road.

NHL Timeline

Some of the players in this draft are NHL ready or close to it but Juolevi isn’t one of those players.  He needs to bulk up and continue to hone his in-zone play.  He’s likely at least two years away from stepping in; three would seem most likely as not many blueliners step into an NHL lineup straight out of junior.

Previous Profiles

Auston Matthews
Patrik Laine
Jesse Puljujarvi
Matthew Tkachuk
Pierre-Luc Dubois
Mikhail Sergachev

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