JYP has gone unbeaten in regulation in the 2017-2018 Liiga season thus far and currently sits at the top of the standings with 18 points. The team has a record of five regulation wins, one overtime win and one overtime loss. One of their players who has had an excellent start to the campaign is forward Jerry Turkulainen. The winger, who turned 19 today, was invited to the Toronto Maple Leafs development camp in July after going undrafted in his first year of eligibility. He had some good moments while playing for the Finnish U20 national team and has continued to build on that in the Liiga.
After watching Turkulainen play against Czech Republic U20 in Vierumäki in July, I wrote the following scouting notes for FinnProspects.com:
An undrafted prospect who played on the first line with Otto Koivula and Janne Kuokkanen. Turkulainen always seems to play a highly energetic game and today was no exception. An explosive skater with quick bursts of acceleration that allow him to move in a hurry. He was constantly in movement and worked hard in all three zones. Showcased some offensive instincts and set-up skills. A very likeable player because of the competitiveness that he brings in each shift.
Turkulainen attended Toronto Maple Leafs’ development camp and will continue to garner NHL interest in the upcoming Liiga season.
Turkulainen has always been a skilled player with good awareness on the ice. In the U16 and U18 leagues, one could see his great combination of skating, speed and skill that made him an intriguing prospect already back then. In the past Liiga season, in which he impressively put up 26 points as a rookie, he also displayed great compete level and relentless work ethic on a very consistent basis. He may be small in stature, but he battles hard and gets involved in puck battles. I didn’t have him ranked inside my Top 25 Finnish prospects prior the 2017 NHL Draft, but there’s a lot to like about his skating, offensive skill set and competitiveness.
Here are a couple of highlights on his play this season. In the first one, Turkulainen makes a great individual effort to score a goal against Tappara.
Here’s a nice backhander and a goal against Lukko: