4th Round Pick (111), Teemu Pulkkinen

[titanium2 867]

I can't wait until RedWingsCentral releases their profiles on these new draft picks! I'm going to overhype them in my own mind so badly, haha.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Is it safe to say that Pulk is the pick that fans here are most excited about?

I think he was the only pick where a ton of Wings fans wanted him and the brass actually selected him.

It is for me. This kid was a monster at every international tournament I've seen.

I'm also excited for Sheahan but that came after they picked him. I was set on a handful of other players, but I'm glad they took Sheahan based on what Nill and Holland said they think his potential is and after doing more research on him. Plus it's interesting to know how set the Sabres were on selecting him and how they immediately tried getting him off of us (at least based on a reporter's observation of their table). Plus I can't help but wonder if the player Vancouver was so set on was Sheahan.

Back to Pulkkinen... He was on my want list for a while now but I figured he'd go after our 21st pick or early in the 2nd. So when I saw they stole him in the 4th I knew two things:

1. His medical issues must have scared teams off. But most medical issues are solvable for a man with Ilitch's means.

2. This kid has the talent to be an all-star player for the Wings and possibly a Richard winner based on the quality of his shot and his hockey sense. All he needs is a world class centre dishing him the puck (see: Datsyuk). Of course that's all based on his upside but damn-- we've all seen his stats from international competition.

[sherwood40 16]

I really like this pick, cant wait to see what he does the next couple years. Go Wings

[dragonballgtz 273]

2. This kid has the talent to be an all-star player for the Wings and possibly a Richard winner based on the quality of his shot and his hockey sense. All he needs is a world class centre dishing him the puck (see: Datsyuk). Of course that's all based on his upside but damn-- we've all seen his stats from international competition.

I think by the time he is ready for the Red Wings Datsyuk will be coming out of his prime. Four years or so...which means Datsyuk will be 36

Edited June 27, 2010 by dragonballgtz

[Carman 387]

I think by the time he is ready for the Red Wings Datsyuk will be coming out of his prime. Four years or so...which means Datsyuk will be 36

Datsyuk's playmaking skills shouldn't diminish a whole lot.

[cjm502 165]

Today I was sitting there just refreshing the NHL draft page. It was the 4th round, the pens just picked and Pulkkinen was still left. I kept thinking I would flip if we picked him, and sure enough I saw his name on my screen. That had to be one of the most hardcore fist pumps I have ever done in my life.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Today I was sitting there just refreshing the NHL draft page. It was the 4th round, the pens just picked and Pulkkinen was still left. I kept thinking I would flip if we picked him, and sure enough I saw his name on my screen. That had to be one of the most hardcore fist pumps I have ever done in my life.

Is this me posting?

I’m not joking, that’s exactly what happened with me. The refreshing to see Pittsburgh had made their pick and Teemu was left, the gigantic fist pumps when I saw we drafted him, it's all what happened to me.

[Guest mindfly]

Is this me posting?

I’m not joking, that’s exactly what happened with me. The refreshing to see Pittsburgh had made their pick and Teemu was left, the gigantic fist pumps when I saw we drafted him, it's all what happened to me.

Same thing happend to me, but with Järnkrok(Iron hook)

[Finnish Wing 110]

1. His medical issues must have scared teams off. But most medical issues are solvable for a man with Ilitch's means.

I think the biggest reason for him falling was being injured at the combine. He didn't do any of the physical tests (I don't even know if he was there at all). It would've been different for a player like Hall who everyone knows about. But in Pulkkinen's case I think many teams were going to make the decision mostly based on the combine.

[KDDRWINGS1 9]

Based on the list of players I wanted the Wings to pick (Jarred Tinordi, Petr Straka, Teemu Pulkkinen, Peter Stoykewych, Raman Hrabarenka, Riley Sheahan, Konrad Abeltshauser), Pulkkinen was the one player I didn't think they would have a chance to get. Very happy he fell so low to the Wings because that means he'll be a stud in 4-5 years.

[dragonballgtz 273]

Datsyuk's playmaking skills shouldn't diminish a whole lot.

I'm more worried about his speed and endurance. This NHL era is for young speedy people but I think Datsyuk can slow the game down enough once he gets the puck.

[titanium2 867]

I'm more worried about his speed and endurance. This NHL era is for young speedy people but I think Datsyuk can slow the game down enough once he gets the puck.

I'm more worried about "I'd like to finish my career in the KHL". Please don't leave Pavs.... Like ever....

[Barrie 900]

I wonder if this will be another Datsyuk type scenario? Didn't teams pass on Pavs too because of injury problems?

Edited June 27, 2010 by Barrie

[cjm502 165]

I wonder if this will be another Datsyuk type scenario? Didn't teams pass on Pavs too because of injury problems?

People passed on Pavs because they had no idea who the hell he was, and if they did he was an extremely small Russian who was playing in the RSL.

[Finnish Wing 110]

People passed on Pavs because they had no idea who the hell he was, and if they did he was an extremely small Russian who was playing in the RSL.

Yeah. Wasn't the story that Hakan was actually going to scout Kalinin and he saw this Datsyuk kid there (kinda like the Zetterberg-story). Then he did another trip. Then on the third trip there was some other NHL scout with him in the plane, but the trip was canceled due a storm. This made him certain that he was in fact the only NHL scout to ever see Datsyuk play. And that's why they could pass on him for so late.

Stay toon for the next epic Detroit Red Wings scouting story...

[redwingfan19 293]

Kelowna is trying to get pulkkinen

http://kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=276204

how friggin sweet would this be. Really hope he comes over, he would play on the same team as our very own mitchy callahan! they could play on the same line and mitchy can watch his back.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I'd rather see him transition to North American hockey sooner than later.

But right now the focus is on making sure he stays healthy for a full season. Part of that is proper strength and conditioning training (not S&T in general, but a properly designed plan to keep him flexible, conditioned and strong). If that means bringing him to NA and having a personal trainer assigned to him then so be it.

The Wings should be most concerned with getting him in the hands of the best possible physio and trainers.

[dropkickshanahans 463]

What's a good NHL player comparison to compare Pulkkinen to?

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

What's a good NHL player comparison to compare Pulkkinen to?

I've heard he plays a similar style to Hull. Great slap shot, and deceptively quick release. Not a very good skater, but has the hockey sense to still rack up points, and get in the slot. Supposedly very very illusive, given his lack of speed. In a lot of the 2008 and 2009 mock drafts for this year, he was considered to be a top 2 pick, prior to the injuries.

Bob Mckenzie (who for my money is one of the most knowledgeable men in the business) is on record saying he believes that Pulkkinen has 50 goal potential, and at the very least could become a solid top 6 winger.

Edited June 30, 2010 by EZBAKETHAGANGSTA

[dragonballgtz 273]

What's a good NHL player comparison to compare Pulkkinen to?

"He loves to have the puck, he loves being on the power play,and he shoots the puck all the time. He's like Jari Kurri. It's a nice thing to say, but it's true, and Jari Kurri wasn't the fastest skater either ... He's a goal-scorer, which is really hard to find these days, but he can also make plays. He has a good shot and he's so smart at finding openings." — Red Wings scout Ari Vuori (June 2010).

Red Wings Central has some notes on most players drafted this year

Edited June 29, 2010 by dragonballgtz

[Drake_Marcus 890]

What's a good NHL player comparison to compare Pulkkinen to?

In terms of his shot? Cammalleri makes sense. The Wings' Finnish scout compared him to Jari Kurri.

[Finnish Wing 110]

I'd say the best choice for him would be going to Kelowna next year to be sure of getting a big role. After that one year back in Finland with Jokerit, and complete all the military things. After that one year in the GR and possibly some games up with the Red Wings.

After all that it would be an end of that contract and hopefully a new one-way deal with the Red Wings. Realistic?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I'd say the best choice for him would be going to Kelowna next year to be sure of getting a big role. After that one year back in Finland with Jokerit, and complete all the military things. After that one year in the GR and possibly some games up with the Red Wings.

After all that it would be an end of that contract and hopefully a new one-way deal with the Red Wings. Realistic?

I don't really see him bouncing from NA to Europe and back to NA. Usually once a player gets to NA they stay here so they can maximize their chances of making the NHL.

[FinRedWing 172]

What a steal. Håkan knows his sh*t,very excited about most of our picks this year.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Don't know much about him,but the best thing for him to do is to transition from the European game to the North American game.The sooner he does that,the better,in my opinion.