Vancouver Canucks: Olli Juolevi a Leader in the Making
Vancouver Canucks prospect Olli Juolevi will captain Team Finland at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Though fans weren’t always happy with the Vancouver Canucks’ top draft pick in 2017, there really isn’t much to dislike about defenceman Olli Juolevi. Another great honour in an already outstanding junior career, Juolevi will captain Team Finland, the reigning champions, at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Juolevi served as an alternate captain for Finland’s under-16 and under-18 teams, but it is his first time as the captain. Last year, however, he left a lasting impression at the 2016 World Juniors.
Especially Canucks GM Jim Benning was excited about Juolevi, as he told Sportsnet following the draft. “We thought he had an exceptional tournament for a 17-year-old kid,” Benning said. “To step in and help lead his team to a championship… In all my years of scouting, I don’t think I remember a 17-year-old who did what he did this year.”
In 2016, Juolevi was tied with Zach Werenski for the most points scored by a defenceman and led all D-men in assists. In seven games, he had no goals but nine assists. Juolevi was also named to the WJC All-Star Team.
Still, scoring points is one thing. Being a leader on and off the ice is another.
On a team full of 19-year-olds and players who are already playing professionally in Europe, Juolevi will have the big honour of leading his team as the captain.
The Canucks not only got an extremely talented two-way defenceman, but they also got a great character.
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Currently playing for the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, Juolevi is the perfect example for a player who would profit from playing in the AHL. The 18-year-old has won everything there is to win at the junior level, but the CHL’s agreement with the NHL prevents him from turning pro.
With that, Juolevi may be facing a similar path to Ivan Provorov‘s. Provorov, drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015, stayed with the WHL Brandon Wheat Kings for his draft-plus-one season. The Russian was named 2015-16 CHL Defenceman of the Year and is now a regular on the Flyers blue line.
The Vancouver Canucks have been lacking a standout top-pairing defenceman for a while now, and Juolevi could be a great improvement as early as next season.
But first, the Finn gets another chance to prove himself on an international stage. The 2017 World Junior Championship will start on December 26 and will be held in Montreal, QC, and Toronto, ON.
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