Magnus Paajarvi

[elTIGREblanc]

I cant wait for MPS to sign on the dotted line... It will make Oilers highlites interesting to watch for once (other than the joy of seeing of how badly they lost) and will not affect his development.

I dont think having MPS in the lineup this year will Kyle Turris him...

[ccsitdown]

That article was published on May 24th, so keep that in mind.

The article writer asks Magnus about how Worlds was supposed to be a confirmation/proof that he's ready for the NHL, if he got that confirmation. Magnus replies:

"This was fairly solid confirmation. But I need to weigh everything together and I guess I will be sitting down with mom and dad this week to talk things over and make a decision. But the WC has definitely made the plan stronger, absolutely."

Then the article writer goes on, saying that Magnus' dad (and agent) was in Germany for the bronze game and that everything Edmonton would be taken care of after the tournament. Negotiations hadn't even started when the article was published, but things were leaning in one single direction. Dad says:

"If Edmonton has seen LG Hockey Games and the WC as some form of last confirmation, then they have that now. Looking at things that way, Magnus is going to Edmonton."

He can't say anything 100% but right now it looks like it's no use for Timra IK to count on MPS being on the roster next season. Dad goes on:

"Edmonton will most likely present a contract proposal before May is over and if they want him to come over to North America, he will head over."

Thanks for the help, Sentium. Far from definitive, as I expected, but interesting to find out (what might be) his readiness and where he is leaning. I think it would be fine to see him next year suiting up for, what is it now, Oklahoma? If he can show he's ready, fine, let him play for the Oil, but if not, the AHL is as good a place for him as the SEL. (Although I was a little curious to see what sort of numbers he would put up in the Elitserien next year, thought the progression might be telling. I suppose the AHL would do the same thing.)

Along with the article, the other thing that made me think he wanted to come over soon was his website. Pretty silly, but definitely seems to be stoked on the NHL. I guess it is more or less up to Tambellini then.

[ultrawhiteness]

I'm always confused by this. Why? Is it because you need to drop a player for him?

slow development is seldom a bad thing. however he looks pretty good to me. about the same or a little better than Voracek when he started, and he has progressed nicely. fingers crossed.

[Pete]

WooT ! WooT !

"Oilers sign Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson to entry-level deal."

http://twitter.com/JeffMarek

[c0py]

Let's hope MPA can play as good as he's done lately

[dbellan]

What are the odds he cracks the Oilers this year? What is his upside? How many points can we expect from him in 2010-11 and 2011-12?

I'm considering making a trade for him, but he is my second favourite player not in the NHL (after Filatov), so making this trade objectively is becoming very difficult haha.

[natgeo]

There are varying opinions on all of these things, but I'm personally of the opinion that MPS is ready for the NHL. He's been playing against men for two years now, and he put up better numbers than Kopitar and Backstrom did in the SEL at the same age. Kopitar came over the year he was drafted and got 61 points in 72 games, whereas Backstrom waited an extra year and came over when he was nineteen. He got 69 points in 82 games.

So ... MPS is ready, it's just a matter of whether the Oilers want him to start the same year they bring in Eberle and Hall.

And based on the above comparisons to Kopitar and Backstrom (and considering the Oilers crop of young stars), I would say Paajarvi's long term upside is around 100 points. Whether he reaches that or not will be better predicted once he plays a couple of years at the NHL level.

[ccsitdown]

And based on the above comparisons to Kopitar and Backstrom (and considering the Oilers crop of young stars), I would say Paajarvi's long term upside is around 100 points.

Natgeo, I hope you're right, that would be fantastic.

[Markstrom Fan]

does anyone know what side he will be playing on? He said that he would play either side.

[TML]

I'm hopign he plays a year in the AHL. That's not saying he's not ready for the NHL, but many prospects have been ruined by rushing them, but very few have been ruined by keeping them an extra year or two in the minors.

[natgeo]

I'm hopign he plays a year in the AHL. That's not saying he's not ready for the NHL, but many prospects have been ruined by rushing them, but very few have been ruined by keeping them an extra year or two in the minors.

Yeah, Kopitar and Backstrom were definitely ruined by starting in the NHL so quickly. Also that Steven Stamkos character; he's been scarred for life.

Considering Paajarvi's elite skill set, his size, the fact that he's been playing against men for two years already, and his excellent showing at the World Championship this spring (where he not only faced some of the NHL's top players, but managed to outscore most of them), I think the chances of MPS being ruined by playing in the NHL next year are pretty much nil. The Oilers would really have to screw up BIG TIME to manage that. This guy is no Brule or Turris.

As for position, I would assume he'd be on the left side as that is his natural position. Plus Edmonton already has Hemsky and Eberle as right wingers.

[TML]

Yeah, Kopitar and Backstrom were definitely ruined by starting in the NHL so quickly. Also that Steven Stamkos character; he's been scarred for life.

Lol, maybe. I'm not that high on him........

[TML]

I think more of Alex Semin when I think of MPS which is a significant step down from Backstrom adn Stamkos.

[natgeo]

I think more of Alex Semin when I think of MPS which is a significant step down from Backstrom and Stamkos.

It's debatable as to whether Semin is a full tier below Backstrom and Stamkos, but I'm willing to concede that point if you insist.

Semin has certainly battled injury issues more regularly than Backstrom and Stamkos, but when you prorate his last two seasons at an 82-game pace you come up with:

2008-09 -- 104 points
2009-10 -- 94 points

If Paajarvi can put up similar numbers to Semin on a stacked Oilers squad by the time he hits his mid twenties, I will consider him a great success!

[hockeyguru_87]

It's debatable as to whether Semin is a full tier below Backstrom and Stamkos, but I'm willing to concede that point if you insist.

Semin has certainly battled injury issues more regularly than Backstrom and Stamkos, but when you prorate his last two seasons at an 82-game pace you come up with:

2008-09 -- 104 points
2009-10 -- 94 points

If Paajarvi can put up similar numbers to Semin on a stacked Oilers squad by the time he hits his mid twenties, I will consider him a great success!

My thoughts exactly.