E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120: Samu Perhonen #71

By Eldon MacDonald

71. Samu Perhonen - “Master Butterfly” - G - Finland

Vitals: Size - 6’3”, 174 lb.; Shoots left; Born 7-Mar-93 - Jämsänkoski, FIN
Team: JYP U20, FIN U20
2010-11 Stats: 29-2-2.71-.922 + U20 playoffs - 4-0-2.14-.930 + U18 - 4-0-3.52-.875

Rankings:
51 - Bob MacKenzie's June Poll of Scouts
52 - Future Considerations Final Rankings
53 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (1st European goalie)
63 - The Hockey News per TSN
71 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
Draft result:
62 - Edmonton Oilers

Going into the U18’s, Samu Perhonen had a very good chance of being the first goalie selected in the 2011 NHL draft - rated No 1 European Goalie by NHL Central Scouting, rated No 1 overall goalie by the goalie guru, Jerry Shields, - http://www.goalierankings.com/ - and rated third overall goalie in Bob MacKenzie’s scouts poll in January. However, coming out of the U18’s, that is no longer likely to be the case as Samu had a very poor performance at the U18’s - 4-0-3.52-.875. However, that doesn’t mean that Samu is no longer a good goaltender, it just means that he is not as far along the development curve as previously thought and therefore his draft stock will drop a little.

Samu still brings that large butterfly goalie with the right amount of athleticism to the table and will overcome this temporary setback in the future as he gains more experience. If your name is your destiny, Samu has chosen the right profession as Perhonen in Finnish means butterfly. Samu may still go in the second but third is more likely now.