Hutchinson for Tukonen

[Patrick]

FRISCO, Tex. – The Dallas Stars announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Andrew Hutchinson from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for right wing Lauri Tukonen, who is currently playing for Lukko Rauma in the Finnish Elite League.

http://stars.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=395300

Tukonen was a former first rounder and once considered one of the best prospects just 4 years ago.

[Sean]

Hm. If they can get him to come over and pull an Eminger...yay.

Either way, TB just got something for nothing.

[chad]

The key will be to get him to come over.

You don't give up a recent top 11 pick for a minor league journeyman unless there's a catch. Lauri spent the last few years over here in the minors before going back. I wonder if he has any intention of coming over - and with the logjam at winger right now - maybe there will be a spot open next year.

TB continues to address the farm though with high ceiling guys and former firsts. He fits the Tocc-proposed profile.

Forecaster:

ASSETS: Owns plenty of drive to the net. Likes to use his size in the offensive zone, and is strong on the puck at all times. Isn't afraid of mixing it up.
FLAWS: Must learn how to play in control, so as to avoid serious injuries over time, and be more consistent. Needs refinement in his ability to finish off plays.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Top six winger.

[Sean]

For some reason I can see this ownership group being able to talk a younger player into just about anything.

[astro]

Hm. If they can get him to come over and pull an Eminger...yay.

Either way, TB just got something for nothing.

I'm glad that we got rid of Hutchinson, but Tukonen can't take it to the next level. He couldn't crack the Kings lineup and their is no intensity in his game.

We traded nothing for nothing. Oh wait, he has a first round pedigree. Disregard.

[Donnie D]

Addition by subtraction. He was minus 5 in 2 games. And we know how much patience this group has.

Interesting that Dallas didn't apparently claim him off waivers when they had the chance. Now they give up something to get him.

If Tukonen never comes over, we dumped a modest payroll. Now maybe Smaby gets the next call up.

[aapbolt]

Well ,who knows...a salary dump or got someone who might help us more down the road...Lauri, at least, has potential...oh well maybe someone is channeling dudley over there.

[pete]

I got to see Tukonen on and off for two seasons when he was with Manchester and the Lightning's farm team was in the division in Springfield, and Tukonen never really stood out as a player.

I mean, I think this sums it up:

On July 21 he was traded to Dallas by Los Angeles in exchange for Richard Clune.

[Bolthed]

From HF ...

Tukonen drew attention to himself at a younger age than nearly any Finnish player, gaining a roster spot among men in the second tier league right before turning 15. He was ready to contribute, but injuries hampered his development in the small Ahmat organization. He moved to Blues, an elite league organization, in the middle of the 2002-03 season. The draft year was a time for breakout as he totally dominated the junior A league, played half a season in the professional league and became the youngest skater in recent history to play for Finland in the World Junior Championships.

2004-05: Despite the influx of NHL talent into Europe during the work stoppage, Tukonen managed to retain his spot on the roster and find a regular shift on the third and fourth lines. Continued his development in the SM-Liiga improving on both goal and point totals. Still extremely young, Tukonen will look to move up fast on the depth charts when the veterans return to the NHL.

2005-06: Tukonen spent the season anchoring the offense for Manchester of the AHL. Tukonen bore this weight admirably en route to 36 points in 62 games while battling nagging injuries most of the season. He eventually succumbed to the injuries, needing shoulder surgery towards the end of the season which removed him from the playoffs entirely. Skated for Team Finland at the WJC U20 tournament, where he placed second overall in scoring.

2006-07: Again getting off to a rough start while battling an on-going shoulder injury, Tukonen finished the season with 32 points in 61 games, nearly in line with the prior season's totals. Tukonen did, however, receive a four game call-up to Los Angeles where he was used sparingly and did not register on the score sheet. His season again was cut short due to injuries after appearing in only 6 playoff games.

2007-08: Tukonen once again struggled with injuries in 2007-08, he has not completed more than 62 games in an AHL season in three tries. He did register 26 assists and 35 points for Manchester and saw one NHL (his fifth career) contest this year. However, the 11th overall selection has evidently not impressed Kings management and there were rumors of a conflict between Tukonen and some of the team’s coaching staff. Tukonen was dealt to Dallas for prospect Richard Clune in July of 2008.

Talent Analysis

Tukonen grew to his fairly large frame at a young age and has now refined his physique. He is nearly unstoppable in corners against junior competition and excels at covering the puck. The proud owner of a good pair of hands, his stickhandling is up for any task and his wrist shot is accurate. At times Tukonen suffers from tunnel vision mostly due to inexperience as he charges or dekes his way past opponents looking down and missing opportunities to pass the puck. His defensive game has evolved but can still be described as average. In the elite league where a youngster like him can only obtain a checking a role he has been eager to lay hits, but when dominating against juniors his physical play tends to lose that aspect as he focuses on the puck. Even though on occasion his deeds have hinted at a scoring touch most rare among Finnish players, the biggest question in Tukonen's case is whether his talent is great enough to score as much as he is expected to.

Future

Tukonen is hoping to benefit from a change of scenery, scenery that includes more of his own countrymen. However, that doesn’t mean he’ll be playing with the Stars, instead he’ll be in Finland’s top league playing for Ilves Tampere.

Potential

Second line two-way, scoring forward, like an all-around better version of Rene Bourque.


His supposed ability to possess the puck, stick-handle well and bull hist way to the net sounds like an intriguing fit for our third line. It'd be nice to give this guy a cup of coffee after we trade some vets later in the season. Can't hurt.

[pete]

Yeah, but astro is right, Tukonen's a tin man.

I'm not super excited about a guy who couldn't manage more than 16 goals in any given AHL season. If I were to slot him into our prospect rankings, he'd be in the 21-25 range.

[CTLightning26]

salary, cap dump

[timothy]

salary, cap dump

Trimming the fat. Hutch was signed in the summer with the intention of playing the point on the Tampa power play. That is obvious to even the untrained eye that isn't happening now -- or next season when he has a one-way contract.

And, like Pete called, the emergence of Blair Jones as rightie threat on Norfolk's power play is making Hutch an expensive extra. Blair Jones is already a tenacious forechecker when he wants to be, but if he can add PP QB to his resume, he might have found a back road to the NHL.

[pete]

Butters said in between periods of one of the games this weekend that they don't expect Jones to fill this role at the next level. However, there's always a chance now that he's made the one-timer a part of his arsenal that they might find some way to use it from around the top of the circles like they do with Vinny on the second PP unit.

[CTLightning26]

I would assume Tukonen counts on our cap, but we don't have to pay him, right?

[Sotnos]

He shouldn't count against our cap since he's playing overseas.

[timothy]

Tukonen is not under contract. We traded for his RFA rights. There's no contract. No cap. No obligation.

Tukonen signed a 3 yr, entry level contract in the Summer of 2005 with LA. His rookie deal expired at the end of the 2007-08 season.

Dallas traded Clune to LA for his RFA rights in June/July, but Tukonen chose instead to sign a SM-Liiga deal and go back overseas, instead of re-upping with the Stars organization.

My guess is that he didn't want to play in the minors anymore.

[CTLightning26]

good deal. Maybe he comes over for a tryout late in season or camp next year..

[chad]

The more I think about it the goal was to get Hutchinson off the 40 man and if LT works out, then the farm is upgraded. At least the potential is there for an upgrade, even if it's not a given.

[timothy]

The more I think about it the goal was to get Hutchinson off the 40 man and if LT works out, then the farm is upgraded. At least the potential is there for an upgrade, even if it's not a given.

One of the main goals IMO had to be getting his one-way contract next year off the books since it was obvious he wasn't going to be playing on the NHL squad.

[Bolthed]

Another positive move then.

How about that asset management, huh? :coolwink:

[Sotnos]

Another positive move then.

How about that asset management, huh? :coolwink:
Yeah, it's moving us right up the standings.

Don't interpret this as me caring about this move, they offered what they had to offer Hutch to get him to sign, now he didn't pan out & he's someone else's problem. Good deal, works for me.

[timothy]

Don't interpret this as me caring about this move, they offered what they had to offer Hutch to get him to sign, now he didn't pan out & he's someone else's problem.

See how easy that was, Sotnos? ;) I'm proud of you.

[Sotnos]

Now now, give me some credit, I've liked some of their moves & say so when I do. I am just tired of being told that I should kiss management's feet because they can make a trade (esp. when half of them lately are to fix their own mistakes) when it doesn't seem to be doing a whole lot to the team on the ice.

[Bolthed]

I was more impressed she refrained from using the rolleyes smiley. :ohmy: