Vancouver Canucks D Olli Juolevi is Worth Getting Excited About

Vancouver Canucks D Olli Juolevi Wasn’t Majority of Fans First Choice, But There’s Still Reason for Excitement

Many Vancouver Canucks fans left the NHL Draft with a sour taste in their mouth following the selection of Finnish D Olli Juolevi. It was largely due to the fact that Matthew Tkachuk, son of former NHLer Keith Tkachuk was still on the board and projected by many as the next top prospect available.

It would have undoubtedly been a solid fit for the Canucks to add a gritty, skilled forward with All-Star potential. After all, we had Matthew Tkachuk being selected by Vancouver over the final few months of our mock drafts.

We also had Edmonton taking Olli Juolevi at fourth overall. Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli also suggested the team was looking at defense until Jesse Puljujarvi fell into their lap. That means both Edmonton and Vancouver also had Olli Juolevi ranked number four.

In fact, any team that was doing its job properly scouting had a similar draft board. Vancouver Canucks D Olli Juolevi was hands down the next best prospect behind “the big three”.

Had the Blue Jackets drafted BAP (best available player), Vancouver would have been in line to take Matthew Tkachuk.

As you can see in the video below, Olli Juolevi is out to prove something at Canucks Development Camp, and is hoping to make a big impression at the prospects tournament.

The big 6’3 Finn is an excellent two-way defender. He isn’t known for being flashy, not normally standing out, but he goes about his business effectively. Juolevi has that ability to rack up a pair of assists on the score sheet without even recognizing he was on the ice. While he seldom stands out, the biggest takeaway should be the fact that he rarely makes defensive mistakes.

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Many scouts compare Vancouver Canucks D Olli Juolevi to Pittsburgh’s Olli Maatta. While a fair comparison, Juolevi is more of a cross between Maatta and Buffalo’s Rasmus Ristolainen. When you compare the three above at 18-years-old, Olli Juolevi’s game is more complete, with poise and maturity.

Most predict that Juolevi stands little chance of cracking the Canucks roster this Fall. While the odds are stacked against him – especially given Vancouver’s added defensive depth with Erik Gudbranson – don’t count out the possibility that Olli Juolevi starts next season with the Canucks.

His overall game is years ahead in development, he has the size to stack up, and some of his best traits are the way he sees/thinks the game – said to be the toughest adjustment to make decisions a split second quicker at the NHL level.

Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Olli Juolevi puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number five overall draft pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

So for those Vancouver fans who are upset over passing on Matthew Tkachuk, your feelings are justified. He should be a top-six star for the Calgary Flames. Just don’t sell yourself short on Olli Juolevi. If you think the Canucks made a mistake taking the young Finn, it shouldn’t take much time to prove those doubters wrong.

Give GM Jim Benning credit (something we don’t a lot of around here), he managed to get his hands on a future no.1 defenseman. Juolevi could be one of the best defensive Finnish prospects since Teppo Numminen.

Next: Good Fits For 11 Remaining Free Agents

Experts might be just as confused as fans regarding Jim Benning’s franchise plan. Are they rebuilding? Are they going for it? Apparently it’s some sort of half rebuild/re-tool on the fly, whether or not it will work, who knows? There are many questions fans should be asking GM Jim Benning, but let me assure you that the selection of Olli Juolevi should not be one of them.

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