Time for Teemu?

[krsmith17 7,191]

A full year can make a world of difference in a players development, and in Teemu's case, it certainly has. People have to remember that unless you're an elite level player, not many players can step into the NHL and make an immediate impact, and it's even harder to keep that success up over time. Tatar's first season getting a call with the Red Wings, aside from him scoring in his first NHL game, he didn't exactly light the league on fire either. He finished that stint with 1 goal, no assists in 9 games. Now look at him.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Bacock on Pulkkinen's call-up last season:

“He just didn’t earn a spot,” Babcock said of Pulkkinen. “I’m just in the winning business. Can you help us or not.

“All players think they need more ice time to play better,” Babcock continued. “Coach thinks play better and you get more ice time.”

Sometimes I love Mike Babcock. More accurately, I love how Mike Babcock gets the team to win. Sometimes I see a quote like this, and Weiss on the 4th line. Then I go, "Uh huh... sure, Mike. I believe you."

I think it's more like, "Play the EXACT way I want, and I play you. If you're realgud and heavy on the puck... you make a mistake, maybe I turn the other way. If I don't like parts of your game, you'll make one mistake and ride the pine. Realgud bench warmer."

Gah.

Edited January 9, 2015 by Jesusberg

[rick zombo 3,739]

Seems like Babcock has a better grip on thins this time around

“Hopefully he shoots it every time he touches it,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said Friday after the team finished practice at the Taylor Sportsplex.

http://redwingsfront.wordpress.com/2015/01/09/wings-coach-mike-babcock-on-teemu-pulkkinen-hopefully-he-shoots-it-every-time-he-touches-it/

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

I hope Pulkinnen tears it up but I'm not getting my hopes up. His whole game seems to rely on having time and space to slap, which doesn't happen much in the NHL. His last callup demonstrated his limitations.

But he did throw a pretty bitchin hip check.

Edit: bitchin' not bit chin, my phone auto corrected that, I wasn't trying to circumvent the language filter.

Edited January 9, 2015 by jimmyemeryhunter

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

Pulk interview.

https://ds9epuvpvqv5r.cloudfront.net/dry/mp4/e572e35482af65e4.mp4

Edited January 10, 2015 by darkmanx

[Rick D 350]

Red Wings FB just said he has been sent back to GR =(

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

Sent back down but I heard it's just to play in the all-star game?

[Buppy 1,720]

For the AHL All-star game. Though he may stay down if Jurco is coming back I suppose...

[number9 3,297]

Pulk interview.

https://ds9epuvpvqv5r.cloudfront.net/dry/mp4/e572e35482af65e4.mp4

For anyone who wants the jist without watching the video

"Play hard, feel good, see what happens"

[rick zombo 3,739]

Sent back down but I heard it's just to play in the all-star game?

For the AHL All-star game. Though he may stay down if Jurco is coming back I suppose...

And three games with the Griffs before the all-star game.

[rick zombo 3,739]

Also, in case anyone was wondering, Ouellet was named an all-star as well, but has a bit of a sore wrist so the Wings have decided to give him a rest.

[wings4thecup06 504]

Overall, I think I was happy with the way Teemu played during his call up. Better than last season's 3 games for sure. I still think he was over anxious to shoot at times, although that's probably a product of the fact that all everyone has been talking about is his slapshot, how good it is, and how he's the next Brett Hull.

Still, he certainly didn't look out of place, and played reasonably well defensively. IMO, he's gotta make quicker decisions with the puck, cause a couple times he turned it over because he took too long. That being said, i was super happy for him when he scored. Here's hoping we see him back soon. We need that right hand shot and his bomb.

Can you imagine if in a couple years time we could line up Sproul and Pulkkinen at the point of the power play?

[Echolalia 2,961]

He still seems to struggle with the pace of the game. There were times when he waited too long to make a play and the puck was stripped from him before he realized he was in trouble, or he would hold onto the puck too long and his options would be cut off and he'd be forced into turning it over. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there were occasions when he had more time and space to settle the puck down and find an open man, but he felt pressured and just tried clearing the zone or dumping it in deep. I'm not to worried about this because the speed of the NHL is something I don't expect him to adapt to in his first 10 games.

Pulkkinen does, however, need to work on is board play. He is atrocious in the corners and along the boards. Poor positioning, weak on the puck, poor decisions, etc.

Other than that, and his shot, obviously, I didn't notice anything else that really stood out in a positive or negative way. I think he has the potential to be a sold NHL player.

Edited January 22, 2015 by Echolalia

[kipwinger 8,520]

To me, the biggest thing he's going to have to do is get WAY stronger. He's a little guy. You don't realize it until you see him in person. By comparison, Nyquist and Tatar look like big dudes. Which, I assume, is because of their respective fitness levels. I don't even really care if he gains weight (which he probably will), as long as he just gets WAY stronger. He's got a really low center of gravity, so if he does put on some muscle and/or add some power, he'll win a lot of the battles he loses.

Other than his shot, there are a few things I really like about his game. He's got good first step quickness. He can jump on loose pucks and find open spots on the ice as a result. He's also pretty defensively responsible. I noticed him backtracking and checking his coverage a lot. Finally, I really like his aggressiveness. He doesn't play pensive, at all. He jumps into scrums, battles on the boards, and will put his body on the line to make a play. He battles, he's just too weak to win the battles right now. But he's definitely not afraid.

He's got an alpha mentality, but right now beta strength. If he can be an explosive 195-200 lbs. (which I don't think is unrealistic given his frame), I think he'll be a really exciting player because he doesn't lack much else.

Edited January 22, 2015 by kipwinger

[Jesusberg 1,256]

To me, the biggest thing he's going to have to do is get WAY stronger. He's a little guy. You don't realize it until you see him in person. By comparison, Nyquist and Tatar look like big dudes. Which, I assume, is because of their respective fitness levels. I don't even really care if he gains weight (which he probably will), as long as he just gets WAY stronger. He's got a really low center of gravity, so if he does put on some muscle and/or add some power, he'll win a lot of the battles he loses.

Other than his shot, there are a few things I really like about his game. He's got good first step quickness. He can jump on loose pucks and find open spots on the ice as a result. He's also pretty defensively responsible. I noticed him backtracking and checking his coverage a lot. Finally, I really like his aggressiveness. He doesn't play pensive, at all. He jumps into scrums, battles on the boards, and will put his body on the line to make a play. He battles, he's just too weak to win the battles right now. But he's definitely not afraid.

He's got an alpha mentality, but right now beta strength. If he can be an explosive 195-200 lbs. (which I don't think is unrealistic given his frame), I think he'll be a really exciting player because he doesn't lack much else.

This is a really good assessment. I think his back-checking and ability to battle for loose pucks have improved greatly. His skating was one of the biggest knocks on him when he was first drafted, and he's clearly improved that as well. I feel like he took the "shoot, shoot, shoot" advice too literally, as there were several occasions where he would have been better served just getting the puck deep. In his last couple games, I think he did a better job with the little things.

The one thing that he probably struggled with (as most guys do when coming up) is not being "the guy". Your total ice time is lower, the offense isn't running through you and you have less time to make decisions with the puck (in part) because you have it less. I think they're going to ease him into the line-up next season much like they did with Tatar. He'll most likely start as the 13th-14th forward, then push to earn more ice time.

As you say, this is going to be an important off-season for him. Pulks has all the tools, he just needs to adjust to the pace of the NHL and improve his strength. He's just going to have to bust his behind.

[kipwinger 8,520]

To be honest, I won't be surprised if he's traded before then. Not sure exactly how I feel about that, but I can see it coming.

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

To me, the biggest thing he's going to have to do is get WAY stronger. He's a little guy. You don't realize it until you see him in person. By comparison, Nyquist and Tatar look like big dudes. Which, I assume, is because of their respective fitness levels. I don't even really care if he gains weight (which he probably will), as long as he just gets WAY stronger. He's got a really low center of gravity, so if he does put on some muscle and/or add some power, he'll win a lot of the battles he loses.

Other than his shot, there are a few things I really like about his game. He's got good first step quickness. He can jump on loose pucks and find open spots on the ice as a result. He's also pretty defensively responsible. I noticed him backtracking and checking his coverage a lot. Finally, I really like his aggressiveness. He doesn't play pensive, at all. He jumps into scrums, battles on the boards, and will put his body on the line to make a play. He battles, he's just too weak to win the battles right now. But he's definitely not afraid.

He's got an alpha mentality, but right now beta strength. If he can be an explosive 195-200 lbs. (which I don't think is unrealistic given his frame), I think he'll be a really exciting player because he doesn't lack much else.

He was listed as 194 Lbs.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=118379

Maybe he lost weight this year, cause they now list him at 183

http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8475800

[kipwinger 8,520]

He was listed as 194 Lbs.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=118379

Maybe he lost weight this year, cause they now list him at 183

http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8475800

This is one area where I'm a little skeptical of the listed stats, because reported weights fluctuate pretty significantly. I can't tell you how much the kid weighs. What I can say is, when I watched them play in Washington a couple weeks ago he was the tiniest guy on the ice. Nyquist and Tatar looked significantly bigger by comparison. Now, saying that, he doesn't look small and skinny like Landon Ferraro for instance, he looks small but more solid. If you get this kid a nutritionist and pro-level workouts and I don't think 195-200 lbs of explosive muscle is out of the question. And that, to me, really is the difference. It's like Tatar last year (small and weaker) vs. Tatar this year (still smallish, but more powerful). That's what I'd like to see out of Pulkkinen.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Pulkinnen needs to get a little stronger, and play faster, but his biggest need for improvement is getting his shot off quicker.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Great shot but needs to add some serious muscle and be more pationed in terms of shootingI would package him for defensive help or a big bodied bottom 6 player

Edited January 22, 2015 by frankgrimes

[Jesusberg 1,256]

To be honest, I won't be surprised if he's traded before then. Not sure exactly how I feel about that, but I can see it coming.

I think it depends on how they feel about his play during the call-up. It's going to be tight up front in the next few seasons, so something has to give. The pieces I would like to see moved before him would be a tough sell, as other teams probably don't want to take on older players term.

Ultimately, I can see him being moved as part of a package for a defenseman. If it happens, it's almost certainly going to be viewed as an overpayment.

[daniel1 32]

Weiss - Datsyuk - Tatar

Abby - Zetterberg - Nyquist

Pulkkinen- Sheahan - Jurco

Miller - Glendening - Helm

If Jurco is still hurt, then put Helm in his spot and put Andersson in.

Stephen? Is that you? lol We'll put you on the first line when you earn it my friend; this ain't Florida!!

[Buppy 1,720]

I think his pace has been fine. Sure he's run out of time a few times; everyone does. Despite the limited ice time and his line generally not doing too well at establishing possession, he managed to get a fair number of shots.

Does need to get stronger and better on the boards to help with possession, but that shouldn't be his main job anyway. His job should be to get open, and everyone else's job is to hold possession and find him when he does. As much as he needs to improve, the guys he plays with also need to learn how to use him. Like most weapons, he won't be very dangerous without someone to fire him.

[kipwinger 8,520]

I think his pace has been fine. Sure he's run out of time a few times; everyone does. Despite the limited ice time and his line generally not doing too well at establishing possession, he managed to get a fair number of shots.

Does need to get stronger and better on the boards to help with possession, but that shouldn't be his main job anyway. His job should be to get open, and everyone else's job is to hold possession and find him when he does. As much as he needs to improve, the guys he plays with also need to learn how to use him. Like most weapons, he won't be very dangerous without someone to fire him.

I think he and Weiss had started developing some decent chemistry by the end there. I agree though, he needs to find the opening and get ready for someone to feed him. He's not going to be able to carry the puck into the zone, wind up, and fire lasers like he does in the AHL. He's going to have to find openings without the puck, and get ready to fire as soon as the puck gets to him. If you watch, a lot of his goals in GR look like this (which probably won't happen in the NHL too much)...

[Mckinley25 677]

I think he and Weiss had started developing some decent chemistry by the end there. I agree though, he needs to find the opening and get ready for someone to feed him. He's not going to be able to carry the puck into the zone, wind up, and fire lasers like he does in the AHL. He's going to have to find openings without the puck, and get ready to fire as soon as the puck gets to him. If you watch, a lot of his goals in GR look like this (which probably won't happen in the NHL too much)...

Besides how much time he has to shoot, it's funny how far out the goalie was to challenge his shots and still couldn't make the save.

(And that's not necessarily a knock on the goalie.)

Edited January 22, 2015 by Mckinley25