Photo Credit: Matthias Hangst, Getty Images
The Philadelphia Flyers are selecting 5th overall in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. As a result, they’ll have the opportunity to select a very talented prospect. One of those prospects they may have the chance to draft is Joakim Kemell.
Kemell is a talented 18 year old right handed right winger who currently stands at 5’11 and 171 pounds. This past season he played in Finland’s top professional hockey League the SM-Liiga as a rookie for JyP HT Jyvaskyla.
During his rookie season Kemell notched an impressive 15 goals and 8 assists for 23 points in 39 games. At the Under-18 World Hockey Championships the winger also had a tremendous tournament scoring 6 goals and 2 assists for 8 points in 5 games helping the Finnish team place for a Bronze medal. Showing his scoring prowess and the ability to produce amongst men in one of the top professional hockey leagues in Europe. Not to mention proving he is one of the best players in the world at his age level currently. As it’s been noted, typically players who perform well in the Finnish Elite League have that success translate for them to the NHL. This makes the possibility of drafting Kemell all the more enticing due to the production and offensive ability he exhibited this season.
Strengths To His Game
What allows Kemell to get into prime scoring opportunities and move around defenders are specific aspects of his skating. The forwards ability to be agile on his skates and the edgework associated are prime examples of how his skating is a benefit while moving around the ice.
These above average skating qualities enable Kemell to use his lethal shot to create scoring opportunities and produce goals. The young prospect is a natural sniper with a lethal one timer and an accurate wrist shot containing a high level of velocity behind it. What really allows Kemell’s shot to stand out though would be his deceptively quick release behind the majority of his wrist shots. Such a willingness to fire the puck and from all angles at high volumes with his shot power and release consistently creates difficulty for goaltenders.
An underrated quality of Kemell’s is his playmaking and puck handling ability. With his cleverness and hockey IQ he’s shown the ability to make accurate tape to tape passes in tight areas and across ice. Along with the skill to make puck handling moves and dekes opening up both passing lanes, shooting lanes and even space to drive the net himself for scoring opportunities. Having such a facet present in his game coupled with strong shooting ability only further illustrates the offensive acumen Kemell possesses. It’s evident these factors contribute to the impact the young forward can have on a game offensively.
The final part to Kemell’s game that makes him such an intriguing winger to target is his defensive play and his commitment to playing a two way style. Kemell is a good back checker and plays physical in his own end and while battling for loose pucks along the boards. His reads in his own end to break up teams cycles down low with his positioning and active stick can be a real asset for his team to regain puck possession and start a counter attack. This can be attributed to his anticipation defensively.
In addition, the initial back pressure Kemell is typically providing against another team carrying the puck into the zone is also an asset and allows for quick turnarounds when this pressure results in turnovers. All of the above are certainly qualities that would translate and make a player effective in all three zones of the ice.
Improvements That Can Be Made
One area of Kemell’s game that needs some focus would be his skating stride. The winger has no issues winning races for pucks or generating speed after his initial strides. However, his stride could be classified as a little bit awkward due to the way he pushes off. In turn, this could take away from some speed and power he is looking to generate after his first few skating strides. Cleaning up the choppiness in his skating stride should add to his skating speed and power. Which can contribute to winning puck battles and creating offensive scoring chances.
Another aspect to Kemell’s game that could use some improvement would be adding on some lower body strength. In certain scenarios this season Kemell would be taken off of the puck by defenders while attempting to carry the puck into the offensive zone and drive the net. Adding some extra lower body strength and muscle in general should allow him to fend off these checkers and successfully bring the puck to the net to create more scoring chances. It will also give Kemell a better chance to make an impact when fighting for net front positioning. This could be beneficial when attempting to tip pucks or gather rebounds for second chance scoring opportunities.
Potential Upside and Comparables
In regards to Joakim Kemell’s overall upside as a pro, the sky’s the limit when assessing how much of an impact he can make at the NHL level. This is due to the abundance of skill Kemell possesses offensively. He has a dynamic shot and the ability to drive the net to create a myriad of different scoring opportunities for himself and for his teammates. Additionally, the playmaking ability present within Kemell’s game and his deceptive release is something that should translate well to the NHL level.
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If Kemell hits his full potential at the NHL level I could foresee his ceiling being similar to a player like Filip Forsberg in terms of stylistic play. As well as, the positive influence he could have on games and creating high danger scoring chances for his team. Essentially, this means that if Kemell develops into the player he can be, his ceiling would be that of a 1st line winger. Despite this, prospects do not always reach their maximum potential at the NHL level so if Kemell was to realistically top out at his floor another comparison could be Ondrej Palat. In this case developing into a player of a similar skillset to Palat would still make Kemell a bonafide NHL contributor who is an asset to this organization.
Final Thoughts
At the number 5 overall pick in the draft the Flyers will undoubtedly have options in relation to the player they select. Therefore, they should be able to come away with a young player who is a significant addition to their prospect pool and will likely become the teams #1 ranked prospect. No matter who they select as long as it is not an off the board type of pick, the team will have made a valuable addition to the roster moving forward.
Once the fifth overall selection in the draft rolls around, if Joakim Kemell is available, selecting the Finnish winger would be a pick that has a variety of upsides. As would selecting several other prospects. Time will tell what route the Flyers decide to take with their 5th pick in the draft. Ultimately, the organization needs to ensure they make a selection that can notably contribute to their roster in a positive manner well into the future.
