May 11, 2015

Temper Expectations for Teemu

With 45 goals in 53 games, Teemu Pulkkinen is tearing up the AHL. With those numbers he looks destined to become an impact scorer in the NHL and after two years in Grand Rapids he will be a full time Red Wing next season. However, we should be hesitant to place high expectations on Teemu right away. Despite his success in the minors I believe he has been a victim of circumstance and the Red Wing’s development model has actually prevented him from immediately succeeding in the NHL.

In Detroit every player spends multiple years in the minors before earning the call to the NHL. This strategy of over-developing prospects has resulted in Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan and others becoming impact players immediately after arriving in Detroit. While the strategy worked for others, I think it actually delayed Pulkkinen’s development.

Without question, Pulkkinen has an elite shot. In the AHL, he can utilize this shot because he has just enough speed and skill to create opportunities. When going up against NHL defenders, he is no longer fast enough to create these same looks and he struggled to produce in Detroit. Mantha had a similar issue this year in Grand Rapids, as he was unable to use his size to dominate the opposition as he had so successfully in juniors. To succeed in the NHL they need to change their habits and find new ways to create opportunities. However to improve this deficiency during his time in the AHL would require Pulkkinen to intentionally abandon moves that work well to try new ones. In the midst of competition, there is little chance of an super competitive athlete intentionally decreasing their chances of winning, even if it would be beneficial in the long run.

Thus, the only reasonable solution is experience in the NHL. Facing tougher competition forces the player to adapt and develop new ways to create chances. However, Detroit is expected to make the playoffs every single year. With no time for development, Pulkkinen has not yet had the opportunity to go through the necessary growing pains. If Teemu was a prospect in Buffalo or Edmonton he would have gotten NHL minutes immediately and after making his share of mistakes, would have adapted his game to be successful.


Each player is different and requires a different circumstance to develop their full potential. Tatar and Nyquist excelled in the AHL due to their transferable skills. As a result, the extra time was a benefit as the could use the time to develop complementary skills. However, for Pulkkinen or Mantha, who succeeded because of non-transferable skills, they still need to learn how to score at the next level. Both players will eventually become impact players, however it will take time. Just as Mantha has struggled in Grand Rapids, Teemu will probably struggle in his first full year with the Wings. Eventually they will be impact players in the NHL, but the road will be longer than most expect.

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