Photo Credit: Zack Hill
The Flyers finally drafted a bonafide sniper, at pick 46 in Samu Tuomaala at the 2021 NHL Draft. They needed a goal scorer/sniper, and this was one way to do it. Tuomaala confirmed to us that Sami Kapanen will provide tutelage for him this season:
“It’s really nice. If I don’t understand something, I can ask Sami what that means or for help in every situation.” – Samu Tuomaala said at Flyers Developmental Camp
Tuomaala speaks a little bit of English, but it will take more time to understand everything about the language. He will play for Mikkelin Jukurit in the Liiga league in Finland next season under the direction of Head Coach Olli Jokinen, “Yeah, it’s really fun,” Tuomaala said. “He’s a great coach for me and I think it’s the best place for me.”
Sami Kapanen then added, “Just giving an example, Olli Jokinen sent me a message this morning asking how Samu is doing at the camp. Not only are we talking to the coaching staff there, but they are also asking how he’s doing at the camp, to make sure he’s doing good. That everything is in order for his season. We are excited he’s playing under Olli Jokinen and their coaching staff has done a great job.”
The Liiga league in Finland is a league that consists of men. There aren’t many 18-year-olds that are able to play in this league on a consistent nightly basis. Usually prospects take time to grow muscle and build strength to handle the rigors of a full season. Tuomaala could benefit from playing under the tutelage of a great former player in Jokinen to build strength and muscle, and can be re-evaluated by the Flyers in the off-season.
“Kind of show his strengths as a hockey player,” Kapanen said translating for Tuomaala. “Offensively, to produce some of the numbers, being a strong skater and being a player with the puck and create offense. Being reliable defensively too. Those are the things he’s looking forward to improving and show that he is capable in doing. He knows it was a tough year last year, but he is confident that he has that game and that he’s been there before. There’s no reason he wouldn’t be capable of playing the same kind of hockey next year.”
Tuomaala is a good skater, but like most prospects he can improve upon this area, but he has a great pair of hands. He stands at 5’10, weighs 176 pounds. Tuomaala is a versatile player as he can play both center and wing.
The young, slick gifted shooter in Tuomaala plays a solid two-way game. He gets to the dirty areas to score, and has a lethal wrist shot, as well. His heavy shot is one of the best that this stock of players has. Tuomaala plays in all situations the coaching staff asks of him, and he plays with an aggressive edge. Moreover, this slickster in Tuomaala tallied 15 goals, and 16 assists in 30 games played for Kärpät in the Liiga U20 league. Tuomaala’s passing is just crisp tape to tape, and he has a knack for the net. This pick in Tuomaala is a high valued one, and one that will pay huge dividends in the future, “I think it’s just a learning curve for a young player, like Samu,” Kapanen said with Tuomaala jumping league’s last season. “Always being one of the top players on his own team. Now kind of needing to learn the paces of waiting for your opportunity and playing for lesser minutes, not having success offensively. What he got better at was playing without the puck. He was getting better at competing for loose pucks and forechecking. He necessarily didn’t have to do that much in the past where he’s been an offensive player, play with the puck and carrying. He was kind of forced to do and learn it. He had a bit of success at it and at the same time the coaches saw that he was ready to play at a professional level defensively. He’s more reliable now. I think it’s also now appreciating different roles and understanding maybe the importance of the third and fourth line when he’s usually been in the top two.”
Hopefully, the Flyers will benefit from a gifted player in Tuomaala in the future. The Flyers have craved a natural goal scorer/sniper for years, so hopefully Tuomaala produces into such.
