Born: 2002-09-25
Team: TPS U20
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height / Weight: 6-2 / 200
REPORT: HIFK @ TPS U20, NOVEMBER 6, 2020
Liukas made his presence felt by playing a physical and dependable game at both ends. He showed the willingness to deliver hits and could make effective contact. His defensive game was strong, as he read plays well in his own end and knew when to go and pressure defensemen on the blueline. He scored a power play goal with a quick one-timer on a cross-ice pass. The HIFK goalie did not have much of a chance to make a save as he was down and Liukas got plenty of velocity behind the shot. Before the goal Liukas also had a partial breakaway opportunity after picking up the puck out of mid-air. On this occasion he allowed the puck to move farther ahead but could not quite finish. He’s a decent skater – foot speed and mobility definitely need work. Despite not being the fastest or lightest player on his skates, he was able to enter the offensive zone with the puck on multiple occasions and be a threat. He is a natural shooter with a quality, heavy wrist shot. I would not call him a particularly dynamic player, but his versatility and ability to score goals are assets.
REPORT: TPS @ ÄSSÄT U20, OCTOBER 18, 2019
A budding power forward with strong physical tools and solid puck skills, Liukas had a good, yet unspectacular game on TPS U20 third line against Ässät. He had a fair bit of ice-time on the penalty kill and clogged passing lanes effectively. At this point in time, there is no doubting that Liukas’ biggest strength is his wrist shot, which is both heavy and accurate. His skating requires work, especially acceleration and backwards skating. He hasn’t shown the ability to pull away from defenders to create speed differential consistently enough. However, he has good habits and smarts without the puck. He blocks shots, gets pucks on net, has a strong net-front presence and uses an active stick in the defensive zone. Liukas is a late 2002, meaning that he won’t be NHL Draft eligible until 2021, but he should already be on the radar.