frederick9125 0 Report post Posted March 20, 2009 Could the wings draft another goalie? MIKKO KOSKINEN? The number of finnish goalies in NHL could increase during several few years. One talented candidate for follow Niklas Backstrom MIN, Pekka Rinne NAS, Miikka Kiprusoff CAL, Vesa Toskala TOR, Kari Lehtonen ATL, Antero Niittymaki PHI, Karri Ramo TAM, Fredrik Norrena CBJ, Antti Niemi CHI, Tuukka Rask BOS and Riku Helenius TAM is ... Mikko Koskinen Espoo Blues, SM-liiga Finland (SM-liiga is highest hockey serie, major league in Finland) Mikko Koskinen is a young, fast and quite tall goalie. He is very talent and is now no 1 goalie in his team Espoo Blues. Mikko Koskinen by numbers: Born in Vantaa 18th July in 1988 Age 20 years Height 200cm Weight 87 kg Stats this season: Games 33 Wins 17 Looses 9 TOI 1920 min. Saves 834 Goals agaist 61 SV% .932 GAA 1.91 SHO 1 This young man could be a future superstar Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frederick9125 0 Report post Posted March 20, 2009 "He is 6 foot 7 and has reflexes on par with Kiprusoff." "He was a secret early on this year, but now at least 20 teams are known interested." "He will be one of the first goalies taken in Montreal" "Everywhere he plays now he is the first interview the press wants." "When he bends over his ass hits the crossbar. Seriously." MIKKO KOSKINEN came out of nowhere. Two years ago no one talked about this kid. Now, he is tearing up the Finnish elite League as a Twenty-Year-Old. The Finnish elite league is often considered one of the toughest for goalies in the world. Who else once tore up this league like this? Tim Thomas. This kid is the surprise sleeper of the draft. He’s legitimately 6’7”, lightning quick, and he’s 3rd in the Finnish Elite League as a 20 year-old! He’ll be 21 in July, but as a European he is draft eligible. Early on he was projected as a middle-round pick because no one had seen him play. Now EVERYONE has seen him play (and many are heading back to watch the playoffs) At least two thirds of the teams in the NHL all seem to have the same reaction...they are hoping that no one else notices him. That he flies under the radar somehow...Hard to fly under the radar at 6'7". As he got better down the home stretch in Finland (He led his team to second place and finished third in Save Percentage and G.A.A) scouts are not saying that their teams are considering taking him early – very early. He was such a relative unknown that he has his detractors as well...some feel he will revolutionize the position, some feel he is way too green. There aren't that many great UFA goalies out there this summer so I think that will also help him a lot, and the Finnish players I talk to all love the guy. One thing I have always found to be the case with the Fins in the NHL. They are probably better than any other nationality among NHL players at judging talent. It is amazing how whenever I hear from a bunch of Finnish players about a guy he turns out to be amazing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
