Eeli Tolvanen was a very highly touted prospect from the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, who slipped to the end of the 1st round to be taken by the Nashville Predators. After getting drafted, Tolvanen legitimately had the best U19 year the KHL had ever seen, beating out Evgeny Kuznetsov’s previous points record, and topping names like Vladmir Tarasenko, Kirill Kaprizov, and Pavel Buchnevich. Tolvanen was then labelled as one of the top NHL-affiliated prospects in the world, but has since been stuck in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals, seemingly unable to make the NHL transition. In this video, we take a look at all of this, and try to answer the question on what exactly is going on with the former Jokerit star.
The Hockey News Future Watch Article: https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/future-watch-2020-the-nhls-top-10-falling-prospects
Dobber Prospects Observations: https://dobberprospects.com/player/eeli-tolvanen/
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Hi. I’m “Gio Palermo”, also known as “legorocks99” (“legorocks99Gaming”, “LR99Gaming”, or “LR99”). I post video game commentaries on YouTube revolving around hockey, with a primary focus on “Vancouver Canucks”, “Montreal Canadiens”, “Detroit Red Wings”, and NHL top “prospects” topics. I enjoy making these videos and I hope that you enjoy watching them!
I am also a student at the BCIT Radio Arts & Entertainment program, and this YouTube channel is an essential part of my 2020 BCIT radio portfolio.
15 Comments
First again
Maybe they thought Veleno would take a while to develop too
Your videos deserve more views . Maybe ditch the EA gameplay and use a different format ?
With Torey Krug’s contract expiring do you think there’s a small possibility that he signs with the red wings? Even though he’ll probably resign with Boston.
Kuznetsov was ignored in the draft because he’s Russian he should not have fall out of the top 5 tolvanen on the other hand is nowhere near as good
His brother played at my collage. He played goalie. Atte Tolvanen
I was also one who was pretty high on Tolvanen back in the 2017 draft so I hope he pans out one day to maybe like a good 2nd liner
Yeah….Kuznetsov also spent four years in Russia after his draft year and had a full year of development during his draft year. Even then when he signed in Washington he only had 9 points in year one and 37 in year two. I expect Tolvanen will do much the same, he’ll make Nashville next year and probably chip in 15-20 goals and then explode the year after.
The fact Kuznetskov has 3 extra years of development and Tolvanen has had to spend two years in the AHL which is more grit and grind based over skill and speed have kind of slowed him down, but he still got 21 goals despite playing with no center of consequence.
Typical Preds development process. Bring along slow, learn the Preds system. Tolvanen has had revolving linemates, and has not played with the top players on the AHL team or really high skill players for that matter. Still, he is getting a ton of chances, shots in traffic and leads the team in shots. His development is on pace with Kuznetsov and Filip Forsberg. Defensive game has improved. Would be nice to see him get a legitimate shot at NHL level with some really good skill players.
I have been following Tolvanen since his U18 days. He has the speed, he has the offensively minded play style and his shot is really good. He has a long windup at least on his best type of shot, but he should still get those off on PP. That is what is slightly odd to me, with his shot he should be getting more PP points and goals. I have no idea why he doesn't. When i compare his performance at U20's to his U18's i can see significant improvement, even though he didn't score. He was all over the ice with his speed and he was aggressive and physical. Something he was not in U18's. I'd say he likely makes the team next season, because by then he likely is good enough defensively so that he wont hurt the team that way and he likely will be a streaky scorer from that point on.
He's gonna play with duchene next season
Very good video. Greetings from Eeli's KHL team Helsingin Jokerit town Helsinki, Finland. Minä, Me, Jokerit!
I'll tell you exactly what happened. The Preds development philosophy happened. When you play for Nashville, you play for the Admiral's 1st and you earn your way onto the roster. This is explained to every single prospect that comes in to the program and if you don't accept it you don't play at all. It's why their farm system has been so consistently good of late
Tolvanen is doing well now in NHL
Looking at this season, Tolvanen is head and shoulders above Glass and Thomas. It's strange how things work out when the player is actually given a chance to play.
He is the third best goalscorer among Rookies this season and has 5 PPG.
He also plays 4min less per game then for instance Kaprizov and less then all 5 that are Infront of him in points.