Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of Holly Gunning
- Name: Toni Rajala
- Position: RW
- Shoots: Left
- Height: 5-10
- Weight: 163 lbs
- Birthdate: 1991-03-29
- Eligible for Draft: 2009
- Drafted: 2009
- Hometown: Parkano, Finland
- Acquired: 4th round (101st overall), 2009
- Playing In: Europe
Toni Rajala
Prospect Grade: 6.0 C (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
2006-07: The Ilves U18 forward netted a career-high 18 goals and 44 points through 30 games this season, his first with the team.
2007-08: Rajala played the majority of his hockey with Ilves U20 this season, netting 13 goals and 35 points through 33 games. He appeared in six more games with Finland’s U18 Team, netting three goals and five points at the WJC-18.
2008-09: The forward split the season between Ilves U20 and the clubs top team in the SM-Liiga. In 31 games with the junior squad, he tallied 14 goals and 31 points, totaling another five points (2g+3a) in 21 games with the senior club. He also competed with the Finnish U18 and U20 Team’s, netting 10 goals and 19 points at the WJC-18, along with a Bronze Medal victory, and another three points (2g+1a) in six games at the WJC; he was named to the WJC-18 All-Star Team for his efforts, and took the Best Forward, Best Plus/ Minus (+10), Most Goals, and Most Points Awards at the tourney. Expect to see him make his North American debut with Brandon (WHL) next season.
HF's pre-draft feature on Rajala.
2009-10: Rajala skated for the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings in his first season in North America. Overshadowed by high-scoring teammates like Matt Calvert (COL) and Brayden Schenn (LAK) during the regular season, the diminutive playmaker was Brandon's leading scorer at the 2010 Memorial Cup. In 75 WHL games with Brandon, including playoffs, he scored 30 goals with 40 assists and was +23 with 32 PMs. The host Wheat Kings advanced to the championship game at the Memorial Cup with an overtime win in the semifinals after winning just one of three games in pool play and Rajala scored 2 goals with 5 assists and was award the George Parsons Trophy for sportsmanship. Rajala represented Finland at the 2010 U20 World Junior Championship; scoring 1 goal with 2 assists with a -2 plus/minus in six games for the fifth-place Finns.
2010-11: Rajala returned to Finland to play for Ilves in the SM-Liiga and also skated for Finland at the 2011 U20 World Junior Championship. Rajala played in 44 games as a 19-year-old and scored 9 goals with 13 assists and had a -3 plus/minus with 22 PMs as Ilves finished tenth in the 14-team league. Rajala scored 4 goals and was -1 in six playoff games. In six games for Finland at the junior tournament he had 4 assists and was +1 with 2 PMs.
Talent Analysis
Rajala has quality offensive talent whose best asset might be his elusiveness. He is however, very slight of build. He is a pure skill player who – mentally and physically – always seems to be a step ahead of the opposition. Size and strength are real concerns – and the key issue will be whether he can compete on a nightly basis against some of the bigger and faster players in the NHL. He has shown flashes of being unstoppable at the junior level – both in domestic play and in international competition – and has a strong inner drive to create offense. He is a marvel handling the puck, shoots accurately with a quick release, and is adept at passing and receiving the puck.
Future
In his one season with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings, Rajala showed legitimate offensive flair and had flashes of brilliance, however he would also disappear for stretches--something seen in many other undersized skil forwards. He has spent the past two seasons in Finland playing for Ilves Tampere, in part to satisfy military service obligations, and has been solid but unspectacular at that level.
It is unclear whether he is in the Oilers plans, as they have a number of young forwards at both the NHL and AHL levels, and so he may be viewed as an expendable piece. In any event, he has the look of a career AHL or European pro, and is unlikely to make an impact or even carve out a career at the NHL level.
Stats
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Profile Last Updated: January, 25th 2012
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