Toni Rajala's Season Ends with Ilves

About a week ago, Toni Rajala's SM-Liiga team, Ilves Tampere, was swept four games to zero in the second round of the playoffs after winning two games to zero in the best-of-three wildcard round. In six playoff games, Rajala scored four goals and zero assists and had a -1 rating. The Oilers have Rajala signed to an entry-level contract that will kick in next season. Rajala's teammate, Jesse Niinimäki, had a goal and five assists for six points in six games. During the regular season, Niinimäki led his team in scoring with 49 points, good enough for ninth in the league.

about 1 year ago Scott Reynolds 9 comments 0 recs |

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Can he play with the Barons on an ATO this year?

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Mar 30, 2011 2:19 PM MDT reply actions

Rajala? No. He’s already signed to an ELC.

The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.

by Scott Reynolds on Mar 30, 2011 2:23 PM MDT up reply actions

I should clarify that he can play with the Barons this season, he just wouldn’t be on an ATO. It also wouldn’t burn a year of his ELC.

The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.

by Scott Reynolds on Mar 30, 2011 2:24 PM MDT up reply actions

I thought this bit of info was interesting. The SML tracks a Fenwick-style shot metric (shots on goal + missed shots) instead of traditional shots on goal. Converted into a rate stat (shots/min), Rajala is generating .329 shots/min, the most on his team and 9th most in the league. This number is no aberration either, in his 08-09 SML rookie season, he posted .277 s/min, good enough for 2nd on his team and 15th in the league. The troublesome issue is that his shooting % also remained stable (4.1% in 08-09, 4.3% in 10-11).

by ranford4life on Mar 30, 2011 2:37 PM MDT reply actions

Rajala was selected to the first World Championship camp roster of Team Finland. As most of the guys on that roster, he won’t have much of a chance to make the squad, but at least he gets to play a couple of international games with the Lions.

by ehuisman on Mar 30, 2011 2:40 PM MDT reply actions

Scott,

Thank you for the Rajala update, but you didn’t have to use the ‘N’ word.

by CDA on Mar 30, 2011 3:53 PM MDT reply actions

That Niinimaki kid sounds like a beast, someone should sign him! :o

Insert Witty Comment Here

by VanillaAcid on Mar 30, 2011 10:18 PM MDT reply actions

Jesse Niinimaki? Selected by Edmonton Oilers round 1 #15 overall 2002 NHL Entry Draft?

Die Freiheit der Meinung setzt voraus, daß man eine hat.
Heinrich Heine

by Screaming69 on Mar 31, 2011 12:01 AM MDT reply actions

The one and only.

The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.

by Scott Reynolds on Mar 31, 2011 7:06 AM MDT up reply actions

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