We have come to one of the weeks where each the prospects only had two games to play. But fortunately the prospects took it upon themselves to make sure we had something to talk about.
Joonas Nättinen, JYP Jyväskylä
Joonas has been injured, and my sources in Finland tells me that he is out for a few weeks. I didn’t want to push them too much but needless to say it puts a bit of a damper on an otherwise good start for Nättinen, in which we could argue that he has out performed expectations.
Lukas Vejdemo, Djurgården IF
Djurgården played a home-and-home set against Växjö Lakers, and managed to win both games. Unfortunately, Vejdemo was again on the ice for an even-strength goal against. There was a puck battle along the boards, and to be honest I couldn’t see any fault with his play.
He continued the game as normal, and was given his regular time on ice. The next game, however, he only received six minutes TOI. This could obviously be the coach protecting him over a long season, and we will have to see what happens with his TOI this upcoming week.
Magnus Nygren, Färjestad
Nygren wasn’t punished further than his original penalty for the checking to the head call from the previous week. As I mentioned, it looked more like a collision, but with the crack down by the league it wouldn’t have surprised me if received a hearing, but alas this wasn’t the case.
Färjestad played a home and home against Örebro losing both, one in overtime and the other during the shootout. Nygren finished+1, with an average ice time in the two games of 25+ minutes.
Artturi Lehkonen, Frölunda
Frölunda started the two games of the week against a weak Modo team, and won comfortably with a 7-0 scoreline.
Lehkonen scored a nifty goal, and added an assist, with both points coming during even-strength play. The one surprising thing is that Lehkonen, despite his strong play during preseason and CHL, has been kicked off the second power play unit. He still gets a minute here and there, but not to the same extent as when Janmark was still with Frölunda.
In the game between Brynäs and Frölunda, Lehkonen finished with a -1. The game was tied until three minutes remained in the third, at which point Brynäs took the lead. They then scored an empty netter in the dying seconds of the game, which is the cause of the -1 for Lehkonen.
Martin Reway, Sparta Prague
Friday evening started well off for Reway, scoring the 2-0 goal early in the first period for HC Sparta Praha. He started the counter-attack deep in his own zone, before finishing it off in style at the other end of the rink.
But it was in Sunday’s home game against Třinec that Reway was on a mission, earning a goal and two assists. Reway so far has 12 points in 10 games, and finds himself leading the Czech Extraliga in scoring. I am very encouraged with the fact that he seems to be more involved in the 5-on-5 play. And while still lacking a bit in the defensive department, he has still taken big steps compared to his role last season as a power play specialist.
