SAKU MAENALANEN - Right Winger - 25 - RFA in 2019-2020
LAST UPDATED 7/25/19
After a strong career in Finland, Saku Maenalanen had a decent debut season across the pond. A towering winger, Maenalanen possesses the size coaches simply cannot teach. His offensive skills are decent but decidedly raw, and his offensive production in North America confirms that, as he struggled to adapt his offensive tools to smaller American ice. With his size, strength, and decent skating ability, Maenalenen has the tools to be a legitimate middle-6 power forward, but he has thus far not shown a willingness to play an overly physical game. He still wants to play the skill game that got him far in SM-Liiga, but unfortunately for him the ice is just too small and the players just too skilled for him to do that. Saku needs to adapt his game to stick at the NHL level, and as he gains experience in North America I have no doubt that Carolina is confident that he can adapt as he needs to. There's upside for Maenalenen, but there just isn't enough of a proven North American track record for me to call him a legitimate NHL forward just yet.
After a strong career in Finland, Saku Maenalanen had a decent debut season across the pond. A towering winger, Maenalanen possesses the size coaches simply cannot teach. His offensive skills are decent but decidedly raw, and his offensive production in North America confirms that, as he struggled to adapt his offensive tools to smaller American ice. With his size, strength, and decent skating ability, Maenalenen has the tools to be a legitimate middle-6 power forward, but he has thus far not shown a willingness to play an overly physical game. He still wants to play the skill game that got him far in SM-Liiga, but unfortunately for him the ice is just too small and the players just too skilled for him to do that. Saku needs to adapt his game to stick at the NHL level, and as he gains experience in North America I have no doubt that Carolina is confident that he can adapt as he needs to. There's upside for Maenalenen, but there just isn't enough of a proven North American track record for me to call him a legitimate NHL forward just yet.
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