Adam Kimelman of NHL.com goes in depth on draft prospect Eevi Tolvanen in his latest article, detailing the move from Finland to the USHL for the undersized forward. Tolvanen put up a huge year for the Sioux City Musketeers this season with 54 points in 52 games, but it was his work at the defensive end that leads some to believe he can be an impact NHL player. While his offense is clearly his calling card, his willingness to work on the other parts of his game are what really excite scouts. Speaking to Kimelman, Sioux City GM Mark LeRose spoke of that defensive maturity:
I’m not going to say he’s defense-first, but he is responsible defensively. It’s not his passion to play defense, his passion is to score goals and create offense. But he does understand, especially this time of year with the playoffs starting, he can create offense from defense, so if he’s good defensively he’s going to get the puck in transition quicker.
That’s where Tolvanen will make his mark, not by being an elite defender but by doing just enough to keep the puck off his opponent’s stick and in the offensive zone. At a World Junior tournament that saw Finland do everything wrong, Tolvanen was one of the bright spots at just 17. Ranked #8 among the CSS final North American skaters, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him go in the top-10 in June.
- According to Victoria Sports News (h/t Mike Halford at NBC Pro Hockey Talk), Dave Lowry, head coach of the Victoria Royals and former NHL assistant with the Calgary Flames has been in talks with the Vancouver Canucks for up to six weeks about a possible coaching position of some sort. While there is no indication that it would be the head coaching job, Lowry would be a solid addition to a staff after his fifth straight winning season in Victoria. While Travis Green, coach of the AHL Utica Comets, keeps coming up regarding the NHL head coaching job, Lowry is clearly familiar to the Canucks having played there and coached in their backyard for the past few years.
- Brent Wallace of TSN reports that the Ottawa Senators had several new faces practicing with the starters today, including Marc Methot who took his normal place beside Erik Karlsson. As Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports, a decision will be made on the defenseman tomorrow morning ahead of their game 2 tilt with the Boston Bruins. Methot has been out since his finger was shattered by a Sidney Crosby slash late in the season, and Ottawa has felt his absence in the defensive zone. After losing game one, they would be glad to welcome back the natural pair for Karlsson, and take some pressure off Dion Phaneuf and Mark Borowiecki. They’ll play at 2pm tomorrow, in the early slot of a full day of playoffs.