Koskenvuo is a tall, athletic goalkeeper from Finland whereas Myrenberg is a cellular Swedish defender.
It was a very long time ready between picks for the Vancouver Canucks on day two of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
The Canucks made their first draft alternative early within the second spherical. They did not make their second alternative till over 4 hours later, because the second day of drafting was a lot slower than traditional. That is seemingly as a result of the groups aren’t in a special metropolis in the identical room and the groups try to maneuver shortly by way of the design to allow them to fly residence.
Two trades meant the Canucks had no picks within the third and fourth rounds as a consequence of two trades – one for Jason Dickinson and one for Madison Bowey. Nevertheless, once they lastly received promoted on the fifth lap, they did two picks in fast succession.
With the 137th decide of the draft, the Canucks received the Finnish goalkeeper Aku Koskenvuo. Three picks later, they selected Swedish defender Jonathan Myrenberg.
137th total: Goalkeeper I Koskenvuo
Let’s begin with Koskenvuo, who’s ranked 4th amongst European goalkeepers by NHL Central Scouting. It was extraordinarily seemingly that the Canucks would name up a minimum of one goalkeeper this 12 months.
“We did not take a goalkeeper final 12 months,” stated Canucks goalkeeping coach Ian Clark in June. “I am all the time an advocate that you’d in all probability take a goalkeeper two out of three years on common. So if we did not get a goalkeeper final 12 months, we might in all probability attempt to get one this 12 months. “
Koskenvuo has one clear trait that made him engaging to the Canucks: he is an NHL predictable goalkeeper measurement of 6’4 “.
“If I decide a goalkeeper by peak, you in all probability need a goalkeeper who’s 6’3,” someplace in that vary, possibly 6’4, “Canuck’s goalkeeping coach stated in June. Whereas the Canucks that took Koskenvuo might have been based mostly on extra than simply measurement, he is actually the precise measurement.
Along with the scale, Koskenvuo additionally has the athleticism an NHL goalkeeper wants.
“For a participant of his stature, he moved sideways in addition to over the archway,” stated Shaun Richardson in a scouting report from the U18 World Cup for FC Hockey.
“Koskenvuo challenged the shooters as they drove in direction of the online from totally different angles and his puck chase seemed superb as he might watch the sport by way of the gang and beneath the purpose line … when Koskenvuo is at his greatest. He was fast together with his pads, might climb and descend nicely and had a good blocker. “
Unflattering numbers, however the precise basis
Koskenvuo received hooked at this U18 event and scored an unflattering save proportion of 0.874 in six video games, however the scouts preferred the potential he confirmed in these video games. He illustrated the inspiration and the constructing blocks which might be accessible to him.
“I’ve seen sufficient to make me imagine that he might turn into an NHL goalkeeper,” stated Derek Neumeier of FC Hockey. “On the subject of parts that you just wish to see in a potential goalkeeper, he ticks numerous containers.”
Earlier than the U18, Koskenvuo spent the season within the Finnish U20 league with odds of 0.893 in 13 video games. Which may not sound like nice, but it surely was above common among the many goalkeepers who performed a minimum of 10 video games up to now season.
Particularly with goalkeepers who’re drafted within the fifth spherical, you do not essentially search for unbelievable performances, however for sure attributes: size, flexibility and athleticism are a part of it, but additionally inventive drawback fixing and competitiveness.
Ian Clark spoke in regards to the scouting course of for the draft on the Sekeres and Worth exhibits final month, the place he talked about drafting “inexperienced, uncooked goalkeepers” when he was with the Columbus Blue Jackets: Jonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins .
“What we noticed in these goalkeepers have been all of those unimaginable property – possibly not the cohesive bundle but – however all of those unimaginable property that it takes to be an elite goalie,” stated Clark.
Given Clark’s contributions to goalkeeper scouting, it may be assumed that Koskenvuo has the identical strengths.
Koskenvuo goes to Harvard College this fall, the place he’ll try and piece these property collectively right into a cohesive bundle.
one hundred and fortieth total: Defender Jonathan Myrenberg
With the one hundred and fortieth decide, the Canucks designed Jonathan Myrenberg, a Swedish defender who break up the season between Linköping within the U20 nationwide league and Sollentuna within the third-rate HockeyEttan males’s league.
Myrenberg is 6’2 “, right-handed and had 8 factors in 15 nationwide video games and 6 factors in 9 HockeyEttan video games, all assists. He landed on a number of draft rankings and was ranked 131st total by Smaht Scouting.
Scouting experiences reward his sturdy skating, puck management, and above-average shot. He can drill a one-timer and likewise has a troublesome and correct wristshot that he can get by way of site visitors.
His ice skating is a projectable talent, though clearly it nonetheless wants improvement.
“He can actually get a good high pace, however he is tall and lanky and lacks explosiveness in his step,” Hockey Prospect informed their draft information. “Then again, he has good edge work and mobility of the decrease physique, in addition to a very good heart of gravity. There is a actually strong basis right here, and when you have time to develop bodily, good issues will occur when he will get stronger. “
There are additionally some query marks when making a call, based on Hockey Prospect. If he controls the puck in his personal finish and makes a very good first move, he’s protected and dependable. If he is making an attempt to skate the puck on his personal, it may be a curler coaster.
“There are a number of examples of him making an attempt to haul the puck from coast to coast, make the viewers gasp for air, make extremely lengthy stick handles and flawless sideways actions, solely to foolishly give the puck away the offensive blueline or by way of a foul move, ”stated her draft information.
Even with that in thoughts, there’s so much to love a couple of participant with the power to make that form of onslaught that simply wants slightly extra sophistication in the event that they select to.
Myrenberg is defensively in cost, with an energetic stick and a bodily benefit.
“Nearly each time the opposing workforce tries to enter the zone on his facet, he tries to hit the participant on his defensive blueline,” stated Hockey Prospect.
There’s so much to love about this decide for the Canucks, and it presents much-needed depth on the precise hand facet of protection of their potential pool.
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