Joakim Kemell

Kemell is an under 6 foot right wing who started this year in the Finnish pro league on a tear, as a high skilled offensive attacker with great speed and control, but a shoulder injury that took him out for four weeks saw a player that did not return to the form we saw earlier. Granted, most thought Brad Lambert was the best forward coming out of Finland, until Kemell’s red hot start to the season handed him that mantle. It is hard to downplay the fact that he plays both on the power play and has a strong penalty killer. He plays to win in the defensive zone fearlessly blocking pucks. He is an underrated passer, but also creates many chances on his own. He is very good on zone entries, for as soon as the opposing defenseman see his moves and slipperiness, they back off the blue line, in respect of his speed and slick elusiveness. An instinctive offensive player who is not only a high end stickhandler and speed merchant, he is an East-West dangler who with fast hands and head feints that help him get open and make something out of nothing. A natural sniper with hands, feet, and shot is not afraid of contact.

--Bill Placzek--