Mikka Pajari Rookie Profile [1/2]

[Devise 4,475]

 

C - Mikka Pajari 

Age - 21

Player Type - Two Way Forward

Drafted - 22nd Overall in the S61 VHL Entry Draft ()  & 15th Overall in the S61 VHLM Dispersal Draft ( )

Born - Davos, Switzerland

 

 

Mikka Pajari joined the VHL as a question mark of a prospect. While there was no doubt that Pajari could one day be worthy of playing in the VHL, there were a lot of question marks. Pajari made his VHLM debut after signing an early contract in Season 60 with the Ottawa Lynx. Lynx General Manager @diamond_ace had a familiarity with Pajari's player agency, and was looking to bolster his young line up. Pajari ended up signing a $2 million dollar single season contract with the Lynx as his rights entered the Season 61 VHLM Dispersal Draft. Pajari was nothing more than a depth player for Ottawa, as he posted 26 points in 70 games with Ottawa. The two way center posted a decent -1 however, and wasn't on the ice for that many goals during the season. He also came in at a 48% faceoff percentage with 1425 faceoffs taken, showcasing that despite the lack of early offense, the depth center was capable of contributing in niche ways throughout the line up. 

 

Ottawa would go on to make the playoffs, and make the Founder's Cup Finals to square off against the Saskatoon Wild. However Pajari was given even less minutes in the playoffs as his focus in training camp had started to waver. He was pointless in the thirteen games he played with Ottawa in the playoffs, as the Lynx wound up losing to the Wild in a dramatic game 7 for the Founder's Cup. At this point in his young career question marks began to surround Pajari. As he entered his draft eligibility for both the VHL Entry draft and the VHLM Dispersal draft, it was clear that Pajari was considered to be a lesser prospect by GM's in both leagues. 

 

The Riga Reign and Oslo Storm ended up being the two teams to take a chance on Pajari in the respective drafts. Riga had hopes that their late third round pick could turn into a steal, but was disappointed to discover Pajari not even report for training camp, so Pajari was not offered a contract in the VHL. Ultimately Pajari would wallow as a depth player with the Oslo Storm for the entirety of Season 61.

 

Clearly taking his time to adjust to the flow and play on a new team, Pajari had an awful Season 61, with only a measly 14 points in 72 games. His faceoff percentage did go up, but Oslo almost exclusively used Pajari in a depth role, or to win specific faceoffs when needed. Despite being in yet another depth position, and struggling, Mikka would visit the Founder's Cup Finals for his second season in a row with the Oslo Storm in Season 61. 

 

Pajari would have a better showing in the Season 61 playoffs, with 4 points in 10 games played for Oslo. The playoffs appeared to rejuvenate not just his play but his motivation, as the player started to take a more noticeable effort in games and in training. The playoffs would end on a notable hallmark for Pajari, as he would go on to score two goals, including the Founder's Cup winning goal in a 6-3 win against the Yukon Rush. This game and Cup win seemed to complete the wave of interest, as Pajari appeared to double down and really begin to believe himself afterwards.

 

Pajari lifting the Founder's Cup in Season 61

 

Following his Founder's Cup win, Pajari began to speak to media, and refocus looking to get his VHL career back on track. At the end of Season 61, Pajari became a unrestricted free agent in the VHL, with his VHLM rights remaining with the Oslo Storm. After a few quick phone calls, Pajari had agreed in principle to a contract with the team that drafted him in the VHL, the Riga Reign. Despite the fact that he could of chosen his destination, Pajari had good conversations with Reign GM @hedgehog337 dating all the way back to when he was drafted. It was clear that the Reign did believe in him. 

 

As Season 62 begins, Pajari now finds himself on a VHL roster, having taken a renewed approach to his training regiment in the S61 off-season, he finally progressed to the point where he was eligible to make a VHL roster. There are still a lot of question marks in this VHL rookies career, including if he can get to a point capable to be competing with VHL players. His skillset and tools could be useful as a top end depth player for a competing VHL team, provided Pajari can continue to progress with the renewed interest in improvement that he has more recently shown. 

 

 

Pros

 

Defensive Vision - Mikka's biggest strength has always been his ability to read the defensive side of the puck. Whether the opponent is in attacking, or in anticipating a counter attack Pajari has great vision when it comes to reading and reacting on defensive plays. While it may take him a few VHL seasons to really get acclimated making the right play on these defensive reads, his defensive skills should translate well into a shut down depth center. 

 

Faceoffs - Pajari has always considered faceoffs to be a lost art of the VHL. Winning faceoffs is one of the most pivotal aspects to successful teams, even if the players responsible don't always get the credit they should. On top of it being a skill only for centers, it is also one of the only "team only benefits" skills that a player can possess. Pajari may take some time to get his faceoffs up to the level that the VHL requires, but his competitiveness at the dot makes him a likely candidate to be labelled as a faceoff specialist. 

 

Hustle - Mikka can often be considered an "all around player" when it comes to the traditionally thought of skills required to make a quality VHL superstar. However one area of his game that constantly remains is his hustle on the play. Not traditionally a speed skater, Pajari makes use of dogged determination to turn his solid skating into more of an asset. He is often able to find the lane and push out on breakaways, push the forecheck, or speed back to track the defensive side of the puck. These assets should serve Pajari well as he looks to make an impact as a two way player. 

 

 

Cons

 

Above Average Offensive Skillset - Normally having an above average offensive toolset wouldn't be considered a con. But in the VHL dominance comes from the offensive superstars, and Pajari simply doesn't possess the raw skills to suggest a break out in those areas. His skills as both a passer and a scorer are about the same, as such a high majority of his offensive points will come from making smart plays versus making pretty ones. 

 

Discipline - Pajari can be an emotional player at times. Proun to the occasional dropping of the gloves, or taking penalties out of frustration. While not an overly physical player, Pajari can play a little on the edge of the line. He can also sometimes get off his game if the opposition taunts him, or tries to engage him in hopes of seeing a retaliation. 

 

Cold Streaks - Despite being a relatively strong all around player, Pajari's emotional nature can lead to him simply going cold. Streaky is sometimes a word used for these players, and while Pajari has worked on his consistency in regards to the offensive side of the puck, he still can go long stretches without getting many or any points. Positioning him in a role required more for a defensive player would be key, as counting on him to provide consistent offense could prove risky considering how prone he is to such cold streaks. 

[SlapshotWrangler 790]

Review: Nice Rookie Profile! The information at the start was a great touch and the visuals were great. Nice to see a fellow Riga man. Interesting that his offensive ability is seen as a con.