Calgary Flames Draft Profile: Olli Juolevi

The Calgary Flames would love to add another forward at the 2016 NHL entry draft, but could Finnish defence-man Olli Juolevi be a better option for the club?

Everyone and their grandma knows that Calgary has excellent depth on the back-end. Don’t let the fact that Calgary finished dead last in goals allowed deter you from the notion that Calgary’s true strength, is on defence. From the captain Mark Giordano to T.J. Brodie and Dougie Hamilton, the Calgary Flames are set for years on defence.

On the flip-side, Calgary has a glaring hole on the wing and would love to add a talented winger into the fold. Players like Matthew Tkachuk, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Alexander Nylander, and Logan Brown would all look great wearing the flaming C next season, but what about the defenders available?

Olli Juolevi is widely regarded as the best defence-man available in this year’s draft. Despite the fact that Calgary doesn’t need another defence-man, there are some reasons to take Olli Juolevi. Juolevi was born in Helsinki Finland, and represented Finland at the 2016 World Juniors where he was one of the best defence-man in the tournament and helped his country win gold. Juolevi also helped the London Knights dominate the CHL, en route to winning the Memorial Cup.

Juolevi weighs in at 183 pounds and is 6 foot 2. He has decent size and good mobility, but he himself has noted that strength is an issue, as he will have to get bigger to make it to the next level. Offensively Juolevi isn’t the best among his draft eligible peers, but he is quite effective if unspectacular, putting up 9 goals and 33 assists in 57 games for the offensive powerhouse London Knights of the OHL. Here is what some scouts had to say about Juolevi:

“A competitive spark-plug, Olli Juolevi is a complete, all-around defenceman that can hem the opposition in their own end or make things difficult for the opposition at home; either way, he puts the pressure on and lays it on thick. A strong and balanced skater, he can rush the puck through the neutral zone with ease or backcheck with haste. Uses his size to his advantage, but knows his physical limits and plays within them. Instead of playing overly physical, he makes his presence felt by exhibiting his high-end playmaking ability and puck possession play. All-in-all, a well-rounded blueliner who thrives under pressure and can be trusted in all situations. “(Curtis Joe, EP 2016)

“Olli Juolevi (#7) of the London Knights is an incredibly competent player who makes the game look easy in all areas. He makes the essential and key plays at every turn. He shows mastery of his position under the most challenging of circumstances, and his poise, calm and assuredness are the stuff of pillar-type defensemen.” (Craig Button TSN)

“Was terrific on the big stage in Helsinki. Owns superb hockey sense. Some have him ahead of Chychrun.” (Damien Cox Sportsnet)

The biggest attribute that Juolevi possesses is his hockey sense. Juoelvi always seems to be in the right position both offensively and defensively. His offence isn’t as flashy or captivating as Jake Bean or Mikhail Sergachev, and he won’t physically punish the opposition like Jakob Chycrun, but his hockey IQ might make him the best of all the available defence-men.

Although the fact that he played for one of the most dynamic junior teams in recent history and still didn’t put up crazy numbers makes me a little skeptical about his ability to put up points at the next level. He has an accurate shot, but it’s not as heavy as Jakob Chyrcrun’s. He also isn’t overly physical, instead relying on a good stick and positioning to defend.

However, once Juolevi puts on another 15 pounds of muscle, he is likely to become a little more aggressive, and put more zip on his point shots. His hockey sense makes him one of the safer players in this years draft as you can likely pencil him into a top-four role if he doesn’t reach his full potential. If he does hit his ceiling, he would become a top-pairing defender, and with the way his play is trending, it is a safe bet to assume he will become a top-two defender in the NHL.

Now I know what you’re thinking, with prospects like Rasmus Andersson and Oliver Kylington coming up, and an already stacked defence corps, why would Calgary want to add to the logjam on defence by taking yet another defence-man?

Well it is true that you can never have enough good defence-men in the NHL, but the main reason for drafting Olli Juolevi is that it opens up an incomprehensible amount of options for GM Brad Treliving. Trading Mark Giordano no longer seems like an outlandish idea, neither would trading blue-chippers Andersson or Kylington for a goaltender or young power-forward.

Heck even trading Juolevi once he develops a little bit wouldn’t be a bad idea. His stock is surely going to continue to rise, and defence-man are always going to be at a premium. Teams like Edmonton, Vancouver, and Colorado would give an arm and a leg for a young defence-man, and if Calgary isn’t able to draft the much sought after power-forward, then why not trade for one?

Whether the Flames keep Juolevi or decide to trade him down the line, drafting the Finnish defence-man would give the club several interesting options in the future. I still would prefer taking players like Alex Nylander, Pierre-luc Dubois, Matthew Tkachuk and Logan Brown over Juolevi at this point, but it is hard to deny the upside of Juolevi. I wouldn’t be disappointed at all with him as the Calgary Flames selection, but the impatient part of me would want a forward taken to add to the team in the next few seasons.

Anytime you have a defence-man as smart and talented as Juolevi, you have to consider him. Drafting him would certainly give the Flames another potential top-pairing defence-man or an incredible trade-chip moving forward.

A lot of what they do will be determined by the players that Edmonton and Vancouver select at four and five respectively. But Calgary will still have a variety of ways in which to go at number six, all of them different and variously impactful. From power-wingers, to two-way centres, and now two-way defence-man, Calgary will certainly have to make a decision at number six.

Next: Draft Profile: Logan Brown

Yet whichever player Calgary chooses, they will instantly improve their franchise on draft day, and all they have to do is utter twelve words:

With the 6th overall pick the Calgary Flames are proud to select…

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