What should Golden Knights fans expect from Arttu Karki?
The Vegas Golden Knights have plenty of defensive talent in their system, including Arttu Karki. What will make him stand out?
Some problems are good for a team to have. They allow the club to figure out what to do with said problem and act on a later notice. It's a great thing because it's something they won't touch until later. The Vegas Golden Knights have that thing going on with their farm system and goaltenders.
There's a crop of talent on their way to getting to the NHL level, including Carl Lindbom, Pavel Moysevich, and Jesper Vikman. Their netminder room is one of the best in hockey, giving hope to the franchise's future ambitions. But there's a small problem: Teams generally carry only two goaltenders on their active rosters for their tandems.
But these prospects won't be ready for a while, giving the Golden Knights time to figure out what to do. Compare that to the defenseman corps, which is noticeably thinner. Sure, there are names like Lukas Cormier and Kaeden Korczak who should be regular lineup pieces. However, there's not much meat to the unit.
However, there's one player that could be a difference-maker in the future. His name is Arttu Karki and he's a Finnish blue-liner with NHL potential. The former third-round pick of the 2023 NHL Draft (96th overall) will play for Tappara in Finland's Liiga next season. Here, he'll play against NHL-ready talent and gain crucial experience to eventually be signed by the Golden Knights.
But what else does the Finnish blue-liner bring to Vegas? What will his trajectory be in the hockey sphere? There's no such thing as a positional surplus, for it can benefit any franchise. That could be the case here if the defenseman corps grow. Here's a look at what could make Karki a solid defender for the NHL team.
Arttu Karki's profile
As mentioned, the Finnish prospect will have professional experience in his home country's top league next season. He hasn't signed with the Golden Knights yet, but spending time in his country helps him. That will help him develop into a more seasoned player, making him into a solid contributor. But that's not the only thing the 19-year-old will bring to the table.
He also has a nice scoring touch to his game. Last season with the Soo Greyhounds (on loan), Arttu Karki scored 21 goals and 24 assists in 59 games. That's an impressive feat which should help him transition into a more offensively-balanced league. The year prior for Tappara's U20 team, he scored 13 goals and 26 assists in 36 games.
In those two seasons, he's grown into a solid distributor, running the offense and dictating the tempo. It's similar to what Shea Theodore has done in his Vegas Golden Knights tenure, specifically with how he runs the power play. If Theodore does leave next offseason, Karki has the potential to ease the pain of losing one of their top defensemen.
What Arttu Karki brings to the table for the Vegas Golden Knights
Arttu Karki's offensive prowess comes from numerous areas. For one, he's strong off the rush, coming in hot on any play. He moves and skates well, possessing decent shooting and puckhandling abilities. All this makes him a potent offensive player, serving as a complimentary piece on the attack.
While the Finnish defensemen does have some great playmaking skills, there are some deficiencies to his game. For example, his pace of play isn't consistent. Sometimes, he'll lag behind the play and come from behind, leaving his team at a disadvantage. That can throw off his teammates on both the offensive and defensive end.
There are also turnover problems that go with his pace of play. He's struggled with staying in the moment and reading the play, resulting in turning the puck over. Managing his gaps on a regular basis will also move him closer to the NHL level.
Luckily, there are two factors that'll help him in his journey. One, he's 19 years old, which allows him to grow his game. Two, he'll transition over to the top league in Finland starting next season. These two factors should help him become an NHL-ready prospect and develop his knack for the game.
Where Karki projects
Currently, Arttu Karki projects to be a second/third-pairing defenseman, with his offensive skills standing out. As mentioned, he could be a future replacement for Shea Theodore if the veteran leaves next summer or sooner. The Finnish prospect can handle the power play well and facilitates the rush great.
However, consistency will be the main thing for Karki. That includes better pace of play, regulating his turnovers, and closing his gaps more. Tweaking his defensive style will also help him grow into his game. He isn't projected to do much in the big leagues now, especially at his young age.
Still, the good news is he has time to grow. He's 19 years old and will start playing in Finland's top league, Liiga, next season. The exposure to NHL-ready talent will help him become a better all-around player, making him more viable in the league. If he can develop consistency in Finland, he can become more than a second/third-pairing player.
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