Samu Tuomaala: Potential First Round Talent at Pick 46

The Philadelphia Flyers selected Finnish winger Samu Tuomaala 46th-overall hoping to erase any displeasure with trading their first-round pick.

In the NHL, first-round draft picks are one of the most valuable assets organizations possess. Of course, most of the league’s top talent comes from round one of any given draft, making it a likely place to scoop up a future cornerstone piece for any franchise. At the same time, first-round picks have a high value on the trade market as well. In fact, if a team truly wants to deal for an already established quality NHL player, a first-rounder is typically part of the deal.

Although attaching a first-round pick to a trade proposal for top NHL talent is almost a “must” these days, many General Managers and fans alike are cautious when considering the idea of parting with such an important future asset. Of course, GMs understand that sometimes trading a first-round pick is a necessary risk. They can only hope that the piece obtained in the trade pans out, and they can grab a prospect in a later round that helps people forget about not having a top-32 selection in the draft.

Enter the Chuck Fletcher and the Rasmus Ristolainen trade. Without a doubt, the most controversial move of Philadelphia’s offseason, the Flyers dealt the 13th-overall pick, along with Robert Hagg and 2023 second-round pick, to assure they could pry the coveted blueliner from Buffalo. As expected, many despised the idea of the Flyers not picking in round one of the drafts. However, Fletcher may have obtained a first-round talent in round two, selecting Finland’s Samu Tuomaala with pick 46.

A 5-foot-10, 176-pound winger from Oulu, Finland, Tuomaala spent most of last season with Karpat’s U20 team. In 30 regular-season games, he posted 15 goals and 16 assists. Though his Liiga time was limited, he did see action in five games with the professional team. Additionally, Tuomaala represented Finland at the U18’s, recording 11 points in just seven games.

Of course, numbers are not everything, especially when it comes to prospects. Let’s take a look at who Tuomaala truly is as a developing player.

Goal-Scoring Capability

First and foremost, Tuomaala is a goal scorer. Blessed with a fantastic shot, he can execute from a stationary position or while in stride. Though he can score from all areas of the ice, Tuomaala’s sweet spot seems to be the left face-off circle. He is most effective in receiving a cross-ice pass in that area and firing off a shot. Of course, any shooter benefits from accurate passing. However, Tuomaala can gather errant passes, reset himself, and still produce an effective shot on the net. One glance at his shot map demonstrates his preference for the left side of the ice. Still, he is productive from the other side as well.

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As mentioned previously, Tuomaala also finds the back of the net utilizing his skating ability and agility. There is certainly a bit more shakiness with this approach. However, he still has the talent to skate through the offensive zone or split defenders in the neutral zone to generate high-danger scoring opportunities. When thinking about his eventual transition to the NHL, one cannot help but wonder if he will be utilized as more of a sharpshooter. The speed definitely exists. He will have to become slightly more sure-footed on his skates to see similar success at the next level.

More Finisher than Playmaker

Samu Tuomaala is most effective when he is the player pulling the trigger on a shot. Naturally, this leads to less of an emphasis on generating scoring opportunities for his teammates. That being said, he is fully capable of setting up a play instead of finishing, as his 16 assists with Karpat U20 demonstrates.

Though he can execute crisp, accurate passes, Tuomaala’s best set-up weapon is his shot. For a player programmed to fire off shots whenever possible, Tuomaala produces his fair share of rebound opportunities. In the past, his teammates positioned themselves in opportune spots on the ice to cash in on those chances. Of course, this approach makes sense. When equipped with a gifted shooter, encouraging anything other than a shoot-first mentality would be foolish. The key is to put other players in place to clean up his shots, making his strength effective even when the shot does not connect.

Speed, He is Speed

In terms of skating, Tuomaala is all about speed. His fast, powerful stride makes him incredibly dangerous in transition, especially when paired with his highly skilled shooting ability. At the same time, his speed can also be his downfall in certain situations, especially defensively. Sometimes, Samu Tuomaala generates too much power in his stride, skating past a puck-carrier, leading to dangerous scoring chances. The key for Tuomaala moving forward is harnessing his speed and applying more control in situations that don’t require speedy legs.

A Fair Amount of Physicality

Although it will never be Tuomaala’s calling card, he does not shy away from the physical aspects of the game. He does not hesitate to lay a hit on an opponent and does a good job absorbing them as well. Sometimes, his skate speed gets the best of him, setting up great opportunities for opponents to send him to the ice. Coaches will want to see these occasions diminish to the likelihood of injuries. At the same time, watch Tuomaala’s eagerness to play a tough, gritty game is a welcome sight.

Defensively Speaking

There are clear strengths and weaknesses to Tuomaala’s defensive game. He is most effective when he can set himself up in the zone and disrupt play. He does a good job reading shot opportunities and correctly positioning his body for an effective block. At the same time, he can sniff out pass attempts, breaking up any chance at a scoring opportunity.

On the flip side, his transition defense needs work. For a player known for his speed, he is easily bypassed, forcing him to catch up. More attention to his back-skating is necessary to improve during these situations.

In truth, Samu Tuomaala will not be counted upon to play a major defensive role. Last season, just 23% of his on-ice action took place in the defensive zone, and one would expect that to remain constant moving forward.

The Season Ahead

Announcing that he will not return to playing in Finland this upcoming season, Tuomaala’s two realistic options are playing in the AHL for Lehigh Valley or the OHL for the Sudbury Wolves. Obviously, everyone wants the 18-year-old to be AHL-ready, hoping to hype up the “next big prospect” in the Flyers system. However, that should not be the case. Tuomaala would benefit from continuing his development in the OHL for this season.

The reasoning behind that decision is quite simple. It all has to do with opportunity. Tuomaala will receive more playing time in Sudbury, getting the chance to improve on his skill in all situations. Allowing him the opportunity to play a key role with the Wolves and set up a chance for a big year will only bring about positives.

As should be the case with most prospects, patience will be the key for Samu Tuomaala. That said, there is a great chance he makes the Flyers organization and fanbase forget they were without a first-round pick in 2021.

Photo Credit: Finnish Ice Hockey Association