Just months ago, it was believed the Detroit Falcons were in for a tough ride to the end of the season. With a roster composed primarily of talented, but raw, rookies and very few veterans to shelter them, it seemed as though the season would be filled with more moral victories than actual ones. However, those same rookies rallied together to help the Falcons to fairly successful campaign, tying for 4th in the regular season standings before a 5-game loss to the Anchorage Armada in the first round of the SMJHL playoffs.
That very same unexpected success brings even greater promise for the future of the Falcons, but as fans of the SHL know, these future stars will have impacts far beyond that of the SMJHL. With the SHL draft just weeks away, the Falcons roster represents a wealth of talent that could shape the future of the SHL over the course of their careers.
SHL scouts have been watching the Falcons with keen interest this season, and with good reason, as there are seven forwards, three defensemen, and a highly-touted goaltender available to be selected. Below, we have provided a comprehensive look at all of these first-year Falcons, their strengths, weaknesses, and projected range of selection at the upcoming draft.
_____________________________
Forwards:
Hippo Passamus, LW
Season Stats: 50 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 P, -1, 30 PIM, 79 HIT, 68 SH Notable Attributes: Passing (75), Skating (70), Puckhandling (70), Defense (70) TPE: 273, 1st among Falcons rookies
One of the most unique players to come through the SHL draft in recent memory, Passamus offers a wide-ranging toolkit that is sure to make him the favourite of scouts everywhere. Standing just 5'6 but weighing in at 290 pounds, he uses his extremely low, extremely dense centre of gravity win board battles and fight off checks. His above-average skating stride and active stick allow him to mercilessly hound the puck at all times, making him a force to be reckoned with on the forecheck and backcheck. While he is most visually striking as a physical force when watching him, he displays a deft touch with the puck and heavily underrated playmaking ability. Passamus also displays a relatively refined two-way game despite his age. Despite playing just 9 minutes on the Falcons' penalty kill during the regular season, it would not be a stretch to say he displays potential as a penalty-killer down the line.
Despite the obvious positives to Passamus' game, it did not translate to a successful season statistically. He was often buried in a bottom-six role with the Falcons and despite getting some time on the second powerplay unit, only registered two powerplay points. A common refrain from the scouting community is that he needs to build more strength and be a little more aggressive in finishing his checks to better embrace the power forward role he seems destined for. In addition, he is almost entirely a pass-first player and does not possess a strong shot or goal-scoring instincts, and can run into trouble in the offensive zone where defenders are able to read him more easily than they otherwise would have. Despite his less-than-stellar scoring ability, however, Passamus only scored on 4.41% of his shots this year - he's definitely due for a positive rebound regardless of any personal improvement over the offseason.
The Falcons' coaching staff noted a remarkable upturn in Passamus' play late in the year, and one team source noted that he might have demonstrated the highest ceiling of any rookie on the team. With his first season in North America under his belt and an SHL draft selection on the way, the stocky Swede will be motivated to return to Detroit next season and produce at a level more fitting for his ability.
Ceiling: Top six, two-way winger with special teams ability Middle-Range: Middle-six scorer and penalty killer Low-End: Fourth line energy player and penalty killer
___
Marc Palicka, C
Season Stats: 50 GP, 14 G, 14 A, 28 P, -1, 20 PIM, 36 HIT, 95 SH Notable Attributes: Scoring (70), Defense (70), Faceoffs (70), Puckhandling (68) TPE: 263, 3rd among Falcons rookies
Enjoying by far the most successful season among Detroit's rookie forwards, Palicka offered a tantalizing glance at a well-rounded skillset that has scouts from around the SHL intrigued. One source in the scouting community went so far as to call Palicka "the prototypical old-school centreman." A multi-tool pivot standing 6'2 and 213 pounds, he combines high-level puck skills with effective positioning and two-way ability that allows him to contribute a 200-foot game to his team. Palicka's game is built around effective play and results rather than flashy moves and gaudy scoring numbers, although he was an effective offensive producer as a rookie.
His two-way prowess might be the most exciting element to scouts. On the dot, Palicka recorded a 54.45% win rate and this was a major reason he was given the third-most penalty killing minutes among Falcons forwards this season. Perhaps the most impressive element in all of this is his age - had he been born just one day later, he would not be draft-eligible until next year's draft.
All of this said, there is still some concern about Palicka's long-term upside. Some scouts are concerned that Palicka may never be a superstar offensive player. He scored over half of his points this year on the powerplay, and there is some sense of worry that his even-strength scoring might not manifest at an elite level. Others note that his average speed and inconsistent physical play at the SMJHL level may hinder him from progressing effectively to the pro ranks if left unaddressed. Unbeknownst to many, Palicka is a talented musician, and prior to the season there was some question about what career path he would follow before choosing to follow his hockey dream. Despite these concerns, the general consensus is that while the jury is still out on where Palicka will fit into an SHL lineup, there is no question at all that he will play and contribute in some fashion.
Ceiling: 1st line, above-average offensive centre with two-way and penalty-killing acumen Middle-Range: Second line centre, special teams ace Low-End: Prototypical third line anchor, depth-level offense, penalty-kill leader
It was the tale of two seasons for Pühringer. After struggling to crack a deep Vancouver Whalers club with championships on their mind rather than development, the 6'4, 220 pound Austrian found himself a healthy scratch with increasing frequency. As time went on and his development began to stagnate, Detroit made a deal to acquire the power forward, parting with a valuable second round selection in the S44 SMJHL Entry Draft. While this would seem to be a high price for a rookie who had been unable to establish himself at the junior level and had only one goal to his name in 15 SMJHL games, Falcons management was confident in their assessment of Pühringer's potential. Over the remainder of the season, he began to show the rest of the league why.
Puhringer started off strong as a Falcon, scoring a few goals early in his time with the team. He would not score a ton of points the rest of the way, but given the start to the season, just being given consistent minutes on the fourth line allowed Pühringer to grow visibly by the time the Falcons' season had ended. While the offense has yet to come consistently, he displayed a steady progression and looked visibly more comfortable with the puck on his stick than during his stint with Vancouver. One place this became most noticeable was in his shot totals; he recorded just eight shots in 15 games as a Whaler before putting up 23 shots in 21 games for Detroit.
Pühringer represents yet another young power winger in the Detroit organization, promising a less than fun time ahead for their SMJHL competition. Pühringer, in particular, earns the "power" in the title of power forward. With his incredible size, he hits to leave a mark and is frequently the centre of scrums after whistles. However, his puckhandling ability is an underrated quality, and he possesses a quick, accurate shot that allows him to beat goalies when given a chance.
Pühringer's individual handling of the puck is good, but he can struggle to effectively utilize his linemates. As he becomes more experienced in the SMJHL, look for this to improve, as being effective at making and taking passes and helping create space is a crucial ability for a net-crashing monster like scouts hope Pühringer can be. He is most definitely a project pick and definitely not one of the "sexiest" prospects available, but one where the potential may just be too great to pass on as teams get to the middle of the draft.
Ceiling: Second line complementary winger, feared power forward, net-front presence on powerplay Middle-Range: Third line depth winger, occasional offensive contributor, capable of playing up the lineup when needed Low-End: 4th line energy winger
___
Tobias Viklund, LW
Season Stats: 50 GP, 8 G, 14 A, 22 P, +2, 27 PIM, 69 (nice) HIT, 86 SH Notable Attributes: Scoring (71), Defense (70), Puckhandling (67), Skating (67) TPE: 243, 7th among Falcons rookies
The run on Falcons power forwards continues with Viklund. Clocking in at 6'3 and 195 pounds, he is in many ways the prototypical "big man with skill." Very rarely do you see a man of that size split the defense to create a scoring chance or beat goaltenders clean with their quick release, but Viklund offers an electrifying skillset in a large package. His most commonly-cited strength is an incredible shot and is capable of overpowering goalies with either a blistering slapshot or a wrist shot masked by a clever release. When Viklund doesn't have time and space to unload a shot, he is capable of making creative skill plays to create those lanes or using his good (but not great) speed to bulldoze his way to the net.
Viklund's skating would be best described as deceptive. His long legs and elongated skating stride give the appearance of a slower player than is actually true, which has even led to some criticism in the media about his pace of play and effort level. However, this is completely unfounded, and this can be seen in frequent cases where Viklund's stride is able to pull a defender's gap out of place before blowing by them to create a scoring chance. While he's certainly not a speed demon, there is little doubt that his skating is and will be at least adequate at the SHL level, especially relative to players his size.
Unlike some power forwards, Viklund prefers to use his size as a barrier rather than a weapon. While not an overtly aggressive bodychecker, Viklund is effective at making contact on the forecheck and disrupting the opposing breakout. He won't often catch opponents with highlight-reel quality hits, which may be a source of contention among some fans or even coaches, as he definitely possesses the size to do so. However, Viklund was third on the Falcons in hits on the year owing to his more targeted physical play, and makes effective use of his size along the wall and while shielding the puck to create space and time in the offensive zone. As a result, Viklund can be an effective player on the rush and the cycle.
While he is largely a man among boys in the SMJHL, Viklund still owns a fairly lanky frame that will need to fill out before he is able to play his game effectiely at the pro level. As well, there have been questions about his offensive vision and ability to use teammates and effectively distribute the puck. However, there is little doubt that he owns a skillset and frame that teams run to the podium to select, and that is surely what we'll be seeing at the upcoming draft.
Ceiling: First line complementary scoring winger to gel with a playmaking centre Middle-Range: Middle-six winger capable of moving up or down the lineup and consistently producing Low-End: Third line depth scorer
___
David Fantobens, RW
Season Stats: 50 GP, 10 G, 6 A, 16 P, -7, 8 PIM, 15 HIT, 80 SH Notable Attributes: Scoring (75), Skating (70), Passing (69, nice), Puckhandling (67) TPE: 223, 8th among Falcons rookies
Unlike many of his fellow rookie forwards on the Falcons roster, Fantobens' skillset is centred firmly on the offensive side of the puck. He owns a lethal wrist shot with pinpoint accuracy. Because of his excellent aim, he frequently takes shots while off-balance and from unusual angles with the goal of catching the opposing goalie cheating, and has found some success in doing so. Despite standing at 6'2 and 210 pounds, Fantobens is quite fleet of foot and is capable of burning defenders when given the opportunity to step to the outside on a rush. While he tends to default to being a shot-first player, Fantobens possesses above-average vision and playmaking ability and is comfortable holding the puck to draw defenders in before moving it to an open teammate.
Despite owning above-average puckhandling skills, Fantobens will very rarely attempt a bold deke on a defending player or create a highlight-reel play from nothing. He tends to use his hands to either quickly change shooting lanes and use defenders as screens, or to buttonhook and delay so that he can make a quick pass to a trailing player. Fantobens plays a responsible game with the puck, which is in large part one of the reasons that he earned more and more trust from his coaches as the season wore on.
Fantobens' greatest enemy this season was, in many respects, just that he adjusted more slowly than some other rookie forwards upon entering the SMHJL. As a result, he found a mostly permanent home in the team's bottom six, where he did not play as much as he would have hoped. However, Fantobens is very likely the team's most improved player over the course of the season. He was commended frequently by coaches and teammates alike for a ferocious work ethic in practice and began to produce more towards the end of the season. However, like many offensively-geared players, Fantobens struggles at times with defensive positioning and can lose his check, while also struggling with board battles.
Fantobens has displayed an excellent work ethic thus far, and it would not be surprising in the least to see him leapfrog some of the other young Falcons wingers for a job in the top six should the team need someone with a more offensive slant to their game. While he is projected by many to be a relatively late pick, this is a situation where a lucky team might be able to grab a future diamond in the rough offensive winger.
Ceiling: Top six scoring winger, powerplay option Middle-Range: Middle-six depth scoring winger Low-End: Spare forward, powerplay specialist
___
Dank Boija, RW
Season Stats: 50 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 P, -2, 13 PIM, 25 HIT, 21 SH Notable Attributes: Strength (75), Discipline (70), Passing (65), Defense (65) TPE: 205, 9th among Falcons rookies
We feel sorry for the various defensemen of the SMJHL, as here we have yet another young Falcons power forward. Boija will be looking to build on an uneven campaign where the offense did not translate the way many had hoped, but to those watching, his skillset is undeniable. Like fellow European rookie Hippo Passamus, Boija is short but stocky, standing at 5'9 and 220 pounds. One advantage that Boija has over Passamus and the rest of the Detroit rookies is an incredibly well-developed core and lower body. In the words of his coach, Boija is "strong as an ox, if you were feeding an ox a steady diet of growth hormones and cocaine." We've never seen an ox like that, but we'd imagine it'd be pretty strong - just like Boija.
Boija relies on his strong positioning and play-reading ability to play competent defensive hockey from the wing, meaning that even as his offense has yet to materialize, he is far from a liability on the ice. As well, he is fairly good at distributing the puck to his linemates, who he will typically task with carrying the puck up the ice rather than doing it himself. Boija uses his immense strength to plant himself firmly in front of the other team's goal, becoming a nuisance to goalies and defenders alike. There is reason to believe that with some practice in deflecting point shots, he could become an adept "garbage man" net front presence on a powerplay.
Boija's game also has a number of weaknesses. His skating is poor, especially considering his shorter height, and he struggles when forced to carry the puck without teammate support. As well, his scoring potential is extremely limited, owing to a powerless and inaccurate shot. For him to become an offensive contributor on a consistent basis, Boija will need to utilize his short-passing game to play off of some of Detroit's more adept puckhandlers and skaters, while driving the net himself and creating havoc upon arrival.
Boija doesn't have a particularly high ceiling as a prospect, but also does not have a particularly low floor. He's pretty well surrounded as a future contributor in a team's bottom six, but depending on his progression, there is room for some additional value as a powerplay producer in the right situation. If he is able to address his skating weaknesses or even add an average shot to his offensive arsenal, his potential will grow immensely as a result.
Ceiling: Third-line winger and powerplay net-front presence Middle-Range: Fourth line winger, spot duty on powerplay Low-End: Fourth line winger or spare forward
___
Eero Mäkinen[b], RW [/b]
Season Stats: 46 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 P, -7, 8 PIM, 20 HIT, 23 SH Notable Attributes: Skating (67), Defense (65), Passing (64), Scoring (60) TPE: 200, 10th among Falcons rookies
An undrafted free agent signing by the Falcons early in the season, Mäkinen failed to get consistent ice time with the team, finishing with the lowest average time on ice among Falcons players. As a result, Mäkinen did not have a dream season from a statistical standpoint. However, the Falcons signed the player for a reason, and that is because of his offensive potential.
Mäkinen is a shifty playmaking centreman with good size at 6'2, 200 pounds. He possesses above-average speed and good edgework that allows him to evade checks while carrying the puck. He has shown one of the more creative players in the draft class, frequently attempting to fool defenders with unpredictable bank passes off of the boards to an open teammate or by blasting the puck down the ice for a speedy forechecker to beat out an icing. Mäkinen owns a good enough shot to at least be a threat to score, but did not use it nearly enough this season with only 23 shots in 46 games.
Mäkinen has a fairly refined defensive game for a rookie centreman, but there is certainly a great deal of work to be done on that front. He had a successful debut in the faceoff circle, winning 53.05% of his draws on the year. Where Mäkinen struggles defensively is in physical engagements, frequently coming up short in board battles or when engaging larger opponents. As well, his physical play was inconsistent at best.
Despite his stats and the holes in his game, Mäkinen shows some promise as a player with offensive potential who is also capable on the defensive side of the puck. His faceoff prowess as a rookie should be intriguing to SHL teams who are looking for sleeper picks late in the draft, and his tidy offensive skillset may be enough to help put him on their radar.
Ceiling: Middle-six, two-way centreman capable of playing on both special teams units Middle-Range: Fourth line centre and top penalty killer Low-End: Spare forward, faceoff and penalty kill specialist
Murphy was Detroit's first pick in the S42 SMHJL draft at 10th overall, and he delivered an outstanding rookie campaign for the team by finishing second in rookie defenseman scoring despite a slow start. Murphy is a smooth-skating, cerebral defenseman whose primary strength is playmaking. He is adept in advancing the puck up the ice quickly, either by kickstarting a breakout with his passing ability or by skating it all the way into the opponent's end himself. With puck skills that rival some of the top forwards in the draft, Murphy is an aggressive attacker that finds success in overloading the defending team during rush plays.
Murphy's skillset lends itself naturally to the powerplay where he was a top contributor for the Falcons, recording all four of his goals and eight assists on the man advantage. As well, Murphy found himself being used heavily on the penalty kill, where his skating ability and shot blocking acumen allowed him to succeed in a role most offensive defensemen would not.
Murphy's defensive game is good, but not great. He grades well in terms of positioning and awareness, but despite having a large 6'2, 212 pound frame, he struggled to fend off bigger and stronger players at times. His physical engagement was also quite inconsistent at times, although he was capable of stepping up and throwing a large hit on occasion. At times, it seemed as though he struggled to handle the amount of ice time he was getting, so improved conditioning will definitely be a priority for his summer training this year.
Murphy is poised to be an early pick in the SHL draft, and perhaps even the first defender taken in a draft year dominated by skilled forwards. The team that selects him will be getting an electrifying playmaker than can revitalize the back-end of any franchise he joins.
Ceiling: Top pairing anchor, top point producer and trophy threat, powerplay quarterback with penalty kill ability Middle-Range: Second pairing defender with ability to play on top pair when needed, special teams contributor Low-End: #5 defenseman, powerplay specialist
Another instant anchor of the Detroit defensive corps, Richter led all rookie defenseman in scoring in points and goals. In addition, he led the Falcons in minutes played, powerplay goals and points, and plus-minus. Without question, this was a phenomenal season for the German rookie, and his skillset is one that has SHL scouts drooling as the draft approaches.
Richter's most famous trait is his bomb from the point - the same one he used to score ten powerplay goals this season. He excels at positioning himself to receive passes and unleash a shot before the goaltender can move to meet him, and the velocity on his shot is capable of beating goalies clean even when the goalie is set. It's not hard to imagine Richter as the triggerman on an SHL powerplay, but even that might not give the rest of his offensive package credit. He excels at leading a calm breakout through accurate, tape-to-tape passes. He is less likely to take charge of the rush himself like his teammate Murphy, but posesses fairly strong skating and puck skills of his own that allow him to evade forecheckers and create passing lanes. His breakout passing is better than his creativity once in the offensive zone, but he is capable of finding passing lanes and getting pucks through traffic to create scoring chances.
Like Murphy, Richter is a competent defender positionally and uses an active stick to prevent chances against. However, he stands just 5'11 and weighs in at 185 pounds, and as such struggles with larger forwards and board battles. Richter's physical play is also not a particularly prevalent part of his game. Although he averaged more than a hit per game on the year, they were typically examples of him stepping up to separate the attacking forward from the puck rather than him laying a thundering hit in open ice.
With Richter and Murphy in the fold, the Falcons are feeding two of the most purely talented offensive defenseman into this year's draft. It is not a stretch at all to say that Richter should be a high pick, and with his skillset, he's certainly capable of becoming a top-producing defender in the SHL.
Ceiling: Top pairing defenseman, top point producer, powerplay triggerman Middle-Range: Second pairing defender with ability to play on top pair when needed, powerplay specialist Low-End: #5 defenseman, powerplay specialist
Despite some early promise, Aleksandrovia turned in one of the more disappointing rookie performances for the Falcons this season. She showed little progression from the beginning of the year to the end, which surely disappoints a number of SHL teams who made a point of coming to watch her for the sheer potential she displays. Standing at 6'3 and weighing 170 pounds, Aleksandrovia is a rangy two-way defender who uses her skating ability and reach to adeptly disrupt the opposition's forwards. In addition, she is capable of carrying the puck up the ice quickly and making smart forays into the opposition end to create scoring chances.
While Aleksandrovia is a strong puckhandler, her passing game leaves a lot to be desired, with breakout passes frequently being inaccurate or pucks just being thrown up the wall to avoid pressure. She tends to struggle when forecheckers close in and prevent her from using her skating ability to move the puck. As well, she struggles with most puck battles due to a lack of strength and failing to engage physically with the opposition.
Despite this, Aleksandrovia's strengths lend themselves well to special teams play. Possessing a cannon of a slapshot (not unlike that of teammate Wolfhard Richter), Aleksandrovia can be a capable triggerwoman provided she's not being tasked with doing much playmaking. Additionally, her skating ability, positioning, and long reach make her a natural penalty killer.
Detroit brass are hoping that some time away from the rink allows Aleksandrovia to refocus and begin improving in earnest over the rest of the summer. As it stands, it may be unlikely that she is picked in the upcoming SHL draft, but with her bloodlines and connections, as well as the potential that comes with those things in combination with her raw talent, some team may just be willing to roll the dice on the lanky defender.
Ceiling: #4 defender capable of contributing to both special teams units Middle-Range: Spare defender, some special teams utility Low-End: Career SMJHL player
___
Goaltenders:
Cedric Robinson
Season Stats: 45 GP, 19 W, 17 L, 7 OTL, .899 sv%, 2.58 GAA, 5 SO Notable Attributes: Size (80), Reaction Time (80), Hand Speed (80), Style Control (80) TPE: 253, 4th among Falcons rookies
It was a perfect storm for a young SMJHL goalie: a team with a clear need in goal, an opportunity to play as a starter immediately, and no urgent championship pressure that could stunt the development of an inexperienced rookie. Under these conditions, Robinson was able to burst onto the SMJHL scene with a rookie performance for the ages - one that is likely to earn him votes for Rookie of the Year, Goaltender of the Year, and even MVP after he carried the rookie-laden Falcons to a playoff spot with his stellar play.
Robinson is an imposing presence on the ice, standing 6'7 and weighing in at 240 pounds. Calm and patient in the net, he utilizes strong positioning to force the hand of opposing shooters and swallow rebounds. His gargantuan height in combination with strong depth control allows him to be well-positioned for almost every shot, and his quick reflexes give him a chance on the shots that he isn't in position for.
Despite his size, Robinson is not slow. However, he's not overly fast, either. He can sometimes struggle with cross crease plays (although, that could be said of any goalie), as his compact style tends to break down and holes open up the more he moves. With some further work in the coming offseasons, he should be able to develop the explosiveness in his movements that could put him over the top. Robinson also demonstrated a need to work on breakaways, as a poor shootout record and a disproportionately high number of breakaway goals against can attest.
Robinson showed time and time again as a rookie that he has the makings of a starting goaltender who is capable of carrying a team on his back. With some further work on polishing his game as well as some age and experience under his belt, it's easy to picture him guarding the net of an SHL team in the near future.
Ceiling: Franchise goaltender, trophy contender Middle-Range: Above-average starting goaltender Low-End: 1B goaltender capable of taking some, but not all, of a starting goalie's workload
___________________________________
This concludes our coverage of the Detroit Falcons crop of S43 SHL draftees. The S43 SHL Entry Draft will take place on June 25, with broadcast coverage beginning at 8pm EST/5pm PST. For more exciting draft coverage, visit SHL.com as well as our affiliate site, SMJHL.com.
notorioustig
![[Image: crtigger.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/crtigger.gif)
![[Image: murphy.png]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/832982603623432192/880210179436716052/murphy.png)
![[Image: VkRiFym.png]](https://i.imgur.com/VkRiFym.png)
![[Image: dankoa2004.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/dankoa2004.gif)
![[Image: VZtEodi.png]](https://i.imgur.com/VZtEodi.png)
![[Image: 1n0REYx.png]](https://i.imgur.com/1n0REYx.png)
![[Image: Fantobens.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/Fantobens.gif)
![[Image: OnGNB1G.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/OnGNB1G.gif)
![[Image: cgv4vCv.png]](http://i.imgur.com/cgv4vCv.png)
![[Image: 95lCCDx.png]](http://i.imgur.com/95lCCDx.png)
![[Image: KgwtJeY.png]](https://i.imgur.com/KgwtJeY.png)
|
![[Image: Snussu.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/Snussu.gif)
![[Image: ontanis.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/ontanis.gif)
![[Image: 6by0kBi.png]](http://i.imgur.com/6by0kBi.png)
![[Image: YztPk3T.png]](http://i.imgur.com/YztPk3T.png)
![[Image: 7eETdF8.png]](https://i.imgur.com/7eETdF8.png)
![[Image: sIjpJeQ.png]](https://i.imgur.com/sIjpJeQ.png)
