Ville Ottavainen

Finnish import defender started the season with ten point in 15 game production that firmly got him noticed, but he quickly slowed to five assists in his last 38 games when his minutes were cut with the traded addition of veteran rearguard, who they were handed to. Presently, he is of average height and one of the younger guys in his draft class. He lacks first step speed, but has he has a good stride, good hands and passes the puck well enough in transition that he can carry the puck with confidence on the offense and does display lateral agility when the puck ends up on his stick. He has a big cannon of a shot from outside. As a defender, his lateral quickness, long reach and stick all work to close attacker down or to the outside. At times his decision making defensively have you see it is going to take time for him to progress. Needs work and more development in more than one area, but there are things that point to his progressing. Going back over to play in the Finnish pro league as a regular, without competing for time with other young Finn defenders. The same happen while in Kitchner the year before with Donavan Sebrango. It looks like the extra ice time will help this second year eligible get his name called this time.

--Bill Placzek--

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Finnish import defender started the season with ten point in 15 game production that firmly got him noticed, but he quickly slowed to five assists in his last 38 games when his minutes were cut with the traded addition of veteran rearguard, who they were handed to. Presently, he is of average height and one of the younger guys in his draft class. He lacks first step speed, but has he has a good stride, good hands and passes the puck well enough in transition that he can carry the puck with confidence on the offense and does display lateral agility when the puck ends up on his stick. He has a big cannon of a shot from outside. As a defender, his lateral quickness, long reach and stick all work to close attacker down or to the outside. At times his decision making defensively have you see it is going to take time for him to progress. Needs work and more development in more than one area, but there are things that point to his progressing. Going back over to play in the Finnish pro league as a regular, without competing for time with other young Finn defenders. The same happen while in Kitchner the year before with Donavan Sebrango. It looks like the extra ice time will help this second year eligible get his name called this time.

--Bill Placzek--

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