Canadiens Draft Options: Olli Juolevi
Olli Juolevi has seen his draft stock soar due to a phenomenal Memorial Cup run in London and could be a strong addition to the Canadiens at 9th.
Olli Juolevi entered the 2015-16 season as a highly regarded Finnish defenceman. The London Knights took Juolevi in the 2015 CHL Import draft and was quickly brought over for the new season.
Juolevi carved a pivotal role on the Knights defense and was a huge contributor for the team as they ran over most of the OHL. Ultimately, Juolevi posted strong numbers and was even better for the Knights in the playoffs and Memorial Cup. He’ll look to parlay that success into becoming a top 10 pick in this Friday’s draft.
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Draft Rankings/Mock Drafts
Sportsnet – 6th
Draft Site – 7th
ISS – 11th
McKeen’s – 5th
TSN Draft Rankings – 4th
Hockey Prospect – 6th
Future Considerations – 11th
Juolevi entered the year ranked as a mid-1st round prospect. He ended up becoming the most reliable defender for the Knights. Juolevi was part of the team’s top pairing, top power play unit and the top penalty kill unit. This all around ability coupled with a 42 point performance has propelled Juolevi into potential Top 5 discussion.
Juolevi also represented his native Finland at the World Juniors in December. In 7 tournament games, Juolevi posted 9 assists and tied Zach Werenski for the tournament lead in defenceman scoring.
As well as he played, Juolevi took his game to an entirely new level once the playoffs started. In 18 games, Juolevi posted 3 goals and 14 points in London’s run to an OHL Championship.
Even more impressive, Juolevi again stepped his game up during the Memorial Cup tournament. In 4 games, Juolevi posted a remarkable 7 assists. His play helped the Knights on record a historic run en route to winning the Memorial Cup championship.
Juolevi literally did everything he possibly could to help not only the Knights but his draft stock. Speaking of the draft, Juolevi is ranked as one of the three top defenders available.
He combines good size, strong puck possession and all around 200-foot game into a solid package that projects as a potential top pairing defenceman. Due to such a successful season in London, some of Juolevi’s weaknesses are being overshadowed.
He does struggle against faster opponents and is known to shy away from physical play. Neither of those will or should harm his draft stock but it is important to know what he needs to work on.
What the Scouts Say
Bill Placzek of Draft Site gives this take on Juolevi.
"Finnish import defenseman with a good frame and excellent offensive instincts. Displays significant upside as prospect who can eventually be a two way defender. Maintain good gaps and has an active stick. An excellent stickhandler who can be very poised with the puck. Is athletic and mobile and reads the ice well. Is a crisp long distance passer in transition and can also carry the mail out of the zone. Not adverse to going the rush, is an excellent PP QB, and has a strong hard point shot along with a long range writs shot. Very fluid and has a great feel for the offensive end."
Joe Curtis of Elite Prospects really likes Juolevi’s game
"A competitive spark-plug, Olli Juolevi is a complete, all-around defenceman who 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"
Next: Canadiens Draft Options: Pierre-Luc Dubois
Potential Fit With the Canadiens
Juolevi seems to be what some scouts call a “safe” pick. At times, the “safe” label seems to be a bad thing to fans and scouts. But I view Juolevi as a player who is very likely to become a top 4 defenceman.
His game reminds me a lot of current Canadiens defenceman Nathan Beaulieu, another player once deemed a “safe pick”. I don’t think he’ll have Beaulieu’s physicality but I also think he has a higher offensive ceiling.
With all of that said, having seen both Juolevi and Sergachev play this season, I’m a bigger fan of Sergachev. I view Sergachev as a better fit with the Canadiens. But if the team deems Juolevi as a better fit, I wouldn’t complain. Juolevi would add some much needed defensive depth to the Canadiens prospect pool.