CMJ: Aatos Koivu will be left out tonight (even though he is healthy)

Marc-Olivier Cook
CMJ: Aatos Koivu will be left out tonight (even though he is healthy)
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Before the start of the World Junior Championship, Aatos Koivu mentioned that he wanted to play a big role for Finland.

Saku's son wanted to be used in every way by his coach to show that he had the talent to play with the big boys. But…

But it's really not going according to plan for the Canadiens' prospect so far. Really, really not.

In his club's last game, Koivu spent a grand total of 1:09 on the ice. And it wasn't because he was sick: it was because he wasn't doing the right things on the ice.

Koivu was on the ice for Canada's first two goals of the game, and his coach decided to bench him.

Now… it's getting worse than worse for the main man, because he'll simply be left out of tonight's quarter-final match against the USA.

Yikes.

The 19-year-olds are usually the ones with a major role to play at the World Junior Championships.

That said, Aatos Koivu is 19… and to see him left out today in a really crucial game says a lot. It shows that he still has a lot to learn before moving on to the next level, and it shows that he still has a long way to go in his development.

Is this the end of the world and does it mean he'll never play in the National League?

Not necessarily, no.

But… it does mean that he needs to be more effective on the ice if he hopes to make it in the sun one day. He's got some interesting qualities in his game (and I'm thinking especially of his shot on reception)… but the game is played on 200 feet and that seems to be the problem.

I wonder if he'll have a place in the line-up if Finland goes through to the next round and earns its ticket to the Final Four…


Overtime

– Well done.

– Hehe.

– Holy P.K.!

– It's a big challenge.

– Hello, Kent!

– What do we think?

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