Claimed:Aleksi Koponen RP [Final 8/8]

[Will 4,660]

Aleksi Koponen

 

 

Age: 21

Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland

Height: 5'11

Weight: 180 lbs.

Position: Center

Handedness: Left

VHLM Team: Yukon Rush

 

Aleksi Koponen, a Finnish-born centerman, joined the VHLM via the waiver system at the trade deadline of Season 43. Koponen was picked up by the Ottawa Lynx who, at the time, fielded a very competitive team that had a shot at the cup. Koponen himself, however, didn't seem to make such an impact as he appeared to have gotten lost at the back of a deep roster. 

 

In the ten regular season games he played with the franchise, Aleksi put up just four points - a goal and three assists. In the ten playoff games the Lynx played before they suffered a disappointing second-round loss to the Brampton Blades, Aleksi's numbers didn't improve as he, once again, tallied just four points. As the season came to a close and the Season 44 VHLM Dispersal Draft commenced, Aleksi found himself heading to Northern Canada where he would play with the Yukon Rush. Thus far, his play appears to have improved tremendously, as he put up 10 points in just 4 games with the organization. That's enough numbers and crap, though, let us get to the pros and cons.

 

Pros

 

Shooting

The first and most obvious advantageous quality that Koponen possesses is his innate ability to shoot the puck well and, quite simply, score goals. His lightning shot is one of the best I've seen, and he's consistently show that he's able to find openings and weaknesses against even the best opposing goaltenders. This ability to shoot and score makes him a clear offensive leader, and he doesn't shy away from showing it.

 

Skating/Speed

The second pro I would like to mention is something that, when coupled with the first, makes for a truly devastating offensive force. Koponen's impressive speed and agility on his skates allow him to be where he needs to be at all times, and very seldom will he be caught up to. Additionally, he's been known to often use his quickness as an evasive maneuver to avoid being hit or stick-checked as he sneaked by opposing defenders.

 

Defense

For someone who is known to be a dominant offensive player, Aleksi's defensive skills are surprisingly in tune. Never does he shy away from back-checking and he's always willing to cover for his defenders. From his poke-checking to his shot blocking, Koponen is gifted at stopping and taking the puck from his opponents. 

 

Cons

 

Checking

Although he definitely has offensive and defensive skills, his hitting leaves a lot to be desired. His relatively small stature and weight doesn't give him any advantage as it is, but he also appears to lack general skill when it comes to rubbing shoulders. We will give him credit for trying, but I believe we've seen him bounce back off of his opponents more than we've seen him deliver checks effectively.

 

Passing

If there is one aspect of his offensive game that he should be working on, it's his passing. Aleksi, as mentioned before, is a natural born shooter. That doesn't mean, however, that he should ignore his passing game altogether. After all, team play is important to at least some degree. Often misguided and under or over powered, his passes need a lot of work sooner rather than later.

 

Attitude

Virtually every person you meet who has any type of significant contact with Aleksi will tell you that, despite being a generally nice guy, he is severely full of himself. He has been known to brag not only about his skill, but also about his 'connections' to the league management and the franchise management of the Helsinki Titans. His attitude will get him in trouble, it's just a matter of when. 

[Tylar 219]

Overview: 2/2 - Great rookie profile! 

 

Pros & Cons: 3/3 - Yup, the attitude one is pretty accurate  

 

Grammar: 2/2 - Didn't Catch anything

 

Presentation: 1/1 - Looks pretty

 

Overall: 8/8

[CowboyinAmerica 2,889]

Claimed