Flames Top 25 Under 25: #23 - Eetu Tuulola

#23 - Eetu Tuulola

Position: Right Wing

Age: 22

2019-20 Team: Stockton Heat (AHL)

2020-21 Team: Vasterviks IK (HockeyAllsvenskan) - LOAN

Drafted 2016, Round 6, Pick 156

Last Year Ranking: #23

Tuulola Votes

• MGMacGillivray: #23
• Flashalytics: N/A
• MarkParkinson14: #16
• MadelineCampbell: #25
• Gordie.Taylor: #23
• Readers: #22

A 6th round project pick from 4 years ago continues on development path after 1st year in North America. . When first drafted not much was known about Tuulola, he was playing in the Liiga jr. league putting up modest point totals. He was mobile and he had size so the Flames scouts snagged him in the 6th round.

It’s very much worth noting that Tuulola was taken during the Burke era where the Flames were grabbing big players with size for truculence. Unlike the Keegan Kanzig’s and Hunter Smith’s Eetu Tuulola possessed some offensive skill in his game. His past year in the AHL wasn’t exceptional, but it was necessary as he learns the North American version of the game of hockey.

Fans obviously love him, he came in 22 on the polls. In fact the only writer at M&G to leave him outside their top 25 was... well myself. Tuulola coming over to North America was huge as it’s a necessary step for young europeans like himself to do to make a statement.

Hockeyprospecting.com

Now most players that project like Tuulola don’t typically make it to the NHL. His D+1 year in the WHL was underwhelming, only getting 18 goals and 31 points in 62 games for the Everett Silvertips, but again transitioning to North American ice isn’t the simplest thing. The negative news is that he’s currently playing back in Sweden, but not in the division 1 league which is where a future pro should be stationed.

2 goals for 2020-2021

1. Make sure to come back to Stockton. Playing in the Swe-1 league isn’t going to be proper enough competition to make himself better and into a possible NHL player
2. Don’t give up. Tuulola’s road is going to be the long one, the Derek Ryan route where his debut in the NHL could be after his 26th birthday. If he loses sight and goes back to Finland now he may never realize his NHL dream.