E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120: Miikka Salomaki #73

By Eldon MacDonald

73. Miikka Salomaki - “Mr. Hustle” - C - Finland

Vitals: Size - 5’11”, 198 lb.; Shoots left; born 9-Mar-93 - Raahe, FIN
Team: Kärpät, Finnish Elite League
20010-11 Stats: 40-4-6-10-53 + FIN E playoffs - 3-0-1-1-27- + U18 - 6-4-2-6-2-(+0)

Rankings:
44 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (7th European skater)
44 - ISS per TSN
52 - Bob MacKenzie's June Poll of Scouts
56 - hfboards Readers’ Poll
58 - The Scouting Report's Top 100 Skaters
74 - Cory Pronman's Top 100
76 - Christopher Ralph's Top 210
79 - The Hockey News per TSN
82 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
Draft result:
52 - Nashville Predators

There is a wide divergence of view on this guy. Some have him very high, Future Considerations had him 43 in April and NHL Central Scouting’s Final rankings along with Bob MacKenzie’s January rankings had him at 44. Those that like him site his Mr. Hustle type of approach to the game along with his high level of compete all over the ice. He played in the Finnish Elite League (SM-liiga) this year so he didn’t get much in the way of minutes as a 17 year-old and was mainly put on the ice for his defensive capabilities. Those that are not as high on him, Kirk Luedeke

- http://bruins2011draftwatch.blogspot...hip-day-6.html and Corey Pronman - http://www.puckprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=199 - take a more “Where’s the beef ?” approach in saying that there is not enough wow or upside to get excited over this guy.

As for myself, I see Mr. Hustle as a pesky checking line forward who starts to have value in the third round but could slip to as late as the end of the fourth. Whose view prevails on draft day is what makes draft day interesting.