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Calgary Flames defence prospect Joni Jurmo is operating by way of the star-studded roster for the summer time skates he attends in Helsinki.
He begins with Dallas Stars smoothie Miro Heiskanen, a reputation that ceaselessly pops up within the Norris Trophy dialog.
There’s San Jose Sharks ahead Mikael Granlund, one of many few energetic Finns with 500-plus factors on his NHL resume.
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There’s Anton Lundell, a reliable centre who helped energy the Florida Panthers to a Stanley Cup parade.
“And Juuse Saros was in internet,” stated Jurmo, referring to the Nashville Predators stalwart. “So I obtained a bit scoring check too, how it’s making an attempt to attain on a very good NHL goalie.”
May Jurmo finally be simply one other established NHLer at these summertime classes?
That’s what the Flames are hoping for. The brass on the Saddledome have been adamant this towering blue-liner — considered one of 5 items acquired from the Vancouver Canucks within the Elias Lindholm commerce — wasn’t merely a throw-in.
Jurmo, 22, packs loads of intrigue.
He’s an imposing presence at 6-foot-5 and 205 kilos and doesn’t hesitate to throw that weight round, however what you discover greater than something is his skating capability. How usually do you describe a dude this measurement as sleek? In Jurmo’s case, it’s an correct evaluation.
“If you happen to mix pace, measurement and power and attain, I feel it’s a very good combo for a defenceman within the NHL and AHL too,” he stated. “That’s a very good base to construct on.”
Positive is.
Jurmo, a left-handed shot, is presently representing the Flames on the Younger Stars Basic in Penticton, B.C. Throughout Friday’s 4-3 time beyond regulation loss to the Winnipeg Jets, he was paired with first-round decide Zayne Parekh.
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“My skating is my large asset as a participant, so I’ll be undoubtedly utilizing that,” Jurmo stated as he ready for the annual prospect event in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley. “I feel my puck play and breaking out is fairly good and my defensive recreation is strong. I feel I’m a superb two-way defenceman, in order that’s what I need to deliver to the desk.”
Whereas Jurmo will quickly be classed as a rookie rearguard within the AHL, this third-round decide from 2020 has already performed components of 4 seasons within the skilled ranks, logging 168 appearances in Finland’s Liiga.
He cut up final winter between Ilves and KooKoo, totalling 5 factors — one purpose and 4 assists — in 46 video games. His high skating pace in 2023-24 was measured at a 36.18 km/h. (To place that in perspective, NHL Edge clocked Oliver Kylington final season at a excessive of 36.11 km/h, and mobility has at all times been thought of considered one of his best items.)
Jurmo inked an entry-level contract with the Flames in late March and hustled to Calgary for a glimpse of what he’s now getting himself into.
“It was a very good factor that I spent the tip of the season right here — from March to Might — with the Wranglers,” he stated. “It was a very good expertise as a result of I hadn’t performed hockey but in North America. I didn’t play a recreation, however I type of obtained the cling of it, how the life is exterior of the rink and every part, obtained to know the blokes …
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“Now that I’m right here, I’m not right here to look. I’m right here to take a spot on the staff and put my foot between the door.”
The Flames have loaded up, by way of each the draft and trades, on blossoming blue-liners. There’s going to be quite a lot of competitors for future jobs on the back-end — and a tough numbers recreation for the Wranglers coaches this fall.
Jurmo isn’t going to problem Parekh, Hunter Brzustewicz, Etienne Morin or Jeremie Poirier to be working as power-play quarterback on opening night time on the now-under-construction Scotia Place, and he shouldn’t essentially be lumped with the shutdown specialists akin to Artem Grushnikov, Yan Kuznetsov and Ilya Solovyov.
However maybe he can carve out a task as a man who can lean on opponents, skate his approach out of bother and sometimes leap into the offensive rush. (The Flames’ improvement employees will probably be stressing the significance of constructing the appropriate reads and choosing the right moments. Throughout his stint within the Canucks’ system, decision-making gave the impression to be the largest concern.)
Due to these summer time skates in Helsinki, Jurmo has an understanding of the ability — and consistency — required to succeed in the very best stage.
“It was a superb surroundings to coach and push me ahead as a hockey participant,” he stated. “I used to be assured moving into with these guys, and I used to be actually excited. I’ve been skating with them for a few years however earlier than I began skating with them, I assumed they have been, like, the following individuals to God. However while you get on the ice with them, they’re simply fundamental guys who simply handle the small print. Clearly, there’s some guys there that their skill-set is approach higher than mine, however I felt like I may sustain with them fairly good.”
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