JUOLEVI A WORK IN PROGRESS
Canuck hopeful oozes with confidence
Olli Juolevi isn’t sure what all the fuss is about.
This is what happens when confidence borders on cockiness and when underwhelming performances in the Young Stars tournament or the NHL pre-season are summed up with a shrug of the defenceman’s shoulders.
That’s commendable to those who know Juolevi and concerning to those who don’t.
It’s not that the already heavily scrutinized fifth-overall pick from the 2016 draft isn’t aware of his shortcomings. He’s just not going to lose sleep over it. Juolevi is 19 and playing a position where on-the-job training at this level is not only arduous, every mistake is magnified by the trickle-down effect of pucks entering the wrong net.
“There aren’t many 19-year-old players playing defence in the NHL — I want to be one of those guys,” Juolevi said Tuesday following a practice in preparation for today’s pre-season game in Calgary.
How’s that for confidence or cockiness?
Among top 25 rookie blue-line scorers in 2016-17, only Zach Werenski of Columbus and Ivan Provorov of Philadelphia played part of the season at age 19. And while Jakob Chychrun played in Arizona at age 18, it would be a stretch to suggest that Juolevi can bust into a Canucks back end that looks set. He would have to go from somewhat suspect to rock solid just to earn a longer look here to start the regular season.
An especially sour showing Sunday during a 9-4 loss to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights didn’t help. Poor positioning, battle levels and puck decisions contributed to a minus-2 in 19 minutes of ice time, a stark departure from a year ago when he burst upon the scene.
“You have to be confident here,” said Juolevi. “Mistakes happen. If you stay on those and are down all the time and aren’t positive, it’s going to be a tough ride. I want to make the team, but I know I have to be better. I need to see the ice better and read plays better to play in the NHL.
“I’m not the flashiest guy and I don’t have that many top-10 highlight goals. My thing is puck movement and that good first pass. That’s my game. If you make flashy plays, you might look better than you really are.”
After scoring 10 goals and adding 32 assists last season for the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights and also playing in the world juniors, the six-foot-two Helsinki native needed to add strength to a 179-pound frame. He was purposely kept from further competition when his junior season ended and reported to camp weighing 200 pounds. That’s quite a leap. “There has been a lot of talk and it’s not about the weight because I’m not even sure what it is and I don’t weigh myself every day,” Juolevi said when asked if he’s 190ish.
“You just have to be comfortable at your weight and I’m happy where I am right now and where my strength is right now.”
The most likely scenario for Juolevi is either being dispatched back to London — he’s too young to be assigned to the American Hockey League’s Utica Comets — or loaned to Turku of the Finnish elite league where former Canucks defenceman Sami Salo serves as an assistant coach.
Salo is also as assistant for Finland’s world junior team and a year under his guidance could work wonders for Juolevi.
“Let’s just see where he’s at through training camp,” said Canucks general manager Jim Benning. “We haven’t looked into any options. He needs to continue to play with conviction. We want to see how players handle tough situations and if they can keep their composure.
“Let’s see how he performs because as the play gets more organized (with veterans), he’s able to use his hockey sense and play a simple, quiet and safe game.”
With the veteran core and coaching staff in China, Trent Cull will run the bench again, both in Calgary and on Friday in Edmonton,
and is intrigued by Juolevi’s potential.
“We’re going to have to be patient with the progression he’s making,” said Cull. “I’ve told him if you have a first option, don’t look around. Hit that first (pass) option. I told him to feel good about his game and be confident. And I like guys who have a little bit of a swagger.”
That’s never been a problem for Juolevi.
OVERTIME: Ryan White suffered a concussion Saturday in Los Angeles and is following the NHL recovery protocol.
Brock Boeser, who was leading all NHL scorers with five points (three goals and two assists) after two games, will line up with Nikolay Goldobin and Michael Chaput on Wednesday, while Jake Virtanen will play with Jayson Megna and Anton Rodin.
Jonathan Dahlen, who has recovered from mononucleosis, is skating here and will eventually be assigned to Utica to start the season.
The Canucks have reassigned goalie Michael DiPietro, defencemen Matt Brassard, Cole Candella and Dylan Plouffe plus wingers Jonah Gadjovich and Kole Lind to their respective junior teams.
There aren’t many 19-yearold players playing defence in the NHL — I want to be one of those guys.