After watching the Hurricanes/Devils game yesterday, I wondered if Pat Maroon would be a fit on the Hurricanes’ roster? It’s painfully obvious that it could use some size and power on those wings of theirs. They’ve only got two players over 200lbs, Jordan Staal and Jeff Skinner.
The next thing you have to consider is with a new owner who is very progressive and aggressive, might the Hurricanes really try and make a splash at the deadline this year in an effort to make the playoffs? They’ve got the pieces in my opinion.
I reckon it wouldn’t cost them anything more than a couple of prospects and I’ve got my eyes on two specific ones, Janne Kuokkanen and Roland McKeown.
Janne Kuokkanen – 6’1″ 188lbs – LH – Centre – Charlotte Checkers: 38gp 6g 20a 26pts
If this name sounds familiar, it should. Kuokannen and current Oiler Jesse Puljujarvi had a helluva u18 world championships back in 2016 combining for 14pts. That’s enough right there to perk your ears right? Aapeli Rasanen also lit up the scoreboards in that tourney with 9pts in 7 games. And one more Oilers draftee, Markus Niemelainen played for Finland that year too.
Last season Kuokkanen played in London and put up over a point-per-game (60gp 26g 36a 62pts) for the OHL’s Knights.
Here are some scouting reports on the lean Finn:
Janne Kuokkanen is a very smart hockey player who uses his entire hockey IQ to make plays and setup scoring chances. His vision is outstanding and he is very well aware of his line mates. He reads the game well and distributes the puck using his powerful and accurate pass. If you watch him play you get the feeling that he knows what to do next even before he has the puck. – The Hockey Writers (source)
I think something more important than speed in today’s NHL is hockey IQ. But if you can get a player who’s quick (not the same as fast) AND is very smart, you’re in the money.
Kuokkanen is an average skater who uses his reach and a wide stance to protect the puck as he moves towards the net. His sense of awareness is extraordinary, so catching up to him won’t always nip an opportunity in the bud. Kuokkanen makes good use of time and space, and even though he has a good shot with a quick release, he is most certainly a pass-first winger, albeit one you should keep an eye on near the low slot. – The Draft Analyst (source)
Man, the Oilers system is really bereft of the kind of skill Kuokkanen has. Well, it’s bereft until Safin, Benson, and Yamamoto arrive next season. I suppose Aapeli Rasanen could leave college too if he wanted to join Bakersfield. I also believe that the Finn wouldn’t need that much more seasoning in the AHL either. This sort of prospect would fit the description of the kind of return the Oilers are looking for in return for Maroon.
The Hockey Writers have him compared to Markus Granlund.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ac0eXHGNqk
Roland McKeown – 6’2″ 19lbs – RH – Defenseman – Charlotte Checkers: 49gp 5g 14a 19pts
Fun Fact: Roland McKeown was originally an LA Kings draft pick (2nd round in 2014) but was traded to Carolina in a package for… Andrej Sekera!
One quote I really like about McKeown came from ‘Canes GM Ron Francis after the trade was made to acquire the former Kingston Frontenac,
“He’s a character guy, leadership guy. He’s a player used head-to-head against the other team’s best.”
It is only McKeown’s 2nd pro year but I’m not getting a sense that he’s got offense in those bones despite being the 2nd highest scoring dman on the Checkers. I dig that he’s a RHer and personally, I feel like you can never have enough of those in an organization but I wish he was putting up a bit more offense. Even in junior he wasn’t much of a point producer.
That said, he looks like a very solid 2-way defender. Plus/Minus shouldn’t ever be a solely relied upon stat but +30 this season is pretty decent.
Here are some scouting reports on McKeown:
McKeown is a strong, do-it-all defensemen whose biggest asset is his ability to think the game and know his position. He makes strong, simple plays, has a good shot and distributes the puck effectively. – Future Considerations (source)
The scouts at the Hockey Writers had McKeown compared to Roman Josi.
He enjoys joining the rush and creating opportunities for his teammates. He has the wherewithal to see the play develop and create chances. McKeown is poised with the puck and can maneuver out of the defensive zone with a few short strides. His skating is up there with the best prospects.
On the defensive side of the puck McKeown cuts down passing lanes and finds ways to disrupt the play. He’s not overly physical, but doesn’t have a problem throwing a hipcheck every once in a while. Occasionally, he will be caught up in the rush leading to a breakaway, but it isn’t often. In fact, his overall positioning is what makes him a great tw0-way defender. – The Hockey Writers (source)
I would probably be looking at a couple of other prospects in the Hurricanes system like Warren Foegele or Valentin Zykov but you’d have to think since they are the ‘Canes top forward prospects, they’d be hands-off for a rental like Maroon.
In all honesty, Edmonton would probably have to throw in a pick or prospect to get both Kuokkanen AND McKeown but I’d be willing to accept that. The Oilers AHL team needs more youthful quality anyhow and a 4th or 5th rounder (depending on how many games Montoya suits up for) would probably be less likely to bring the Oilers a Kuokkanen or a McKeown.
What do you think? Would you be happy if this were the kind of return the Oilers got for Pat Maroon this year? Or would you hold out for less but a higher impact player?
Let us know in the comments below!
