Steelers head coach Aaron Fox has confirmed the signing of 29 year old Niklas Nevalainen from Nakkila, Finland.
Niklas is an excellent two-way Defenseman coming off an exceptional year in Norway. He finished 2nd in the League in Defenseman scoring while there. He also had 4 very strong seasons in the Liiga where he put up good numbers while playing a top 4 role.
I believe he plays a very smart Defensive game and will be a great asset to our D core. Niklas skates very well and sees the ice at the highest level. He is excellent on his retrieval’s as we want to play with pace and he will be a guy who should really excel in that style
The fact that he is an offencive defender is an obvious Fox Style signing but I am hoping we have a big brick house stay at home defender lined up also. Looks a great pick up and loved his line about he is a pass first defender mentality.. Offencive defenders can be a great addition, but when they frequently forget there core duties aka.. Ben O'connor you get a player you can love or ate in equal measure..
Looks like a Todd replacement type player listening to Fox and Niklas’ interviews. Niklas said he lost the love for the game a couple of years ago, let’s hope he doesn’t lose the love in Sheffield.
@Jayboy if one of the rumours is to be believed our big ‘brick house’ defenceman could be Ellerby
Looks like a Todd replacement type player listening to Fox and Niklas’ interviews. Niklas said he lost the love for the game a couple of years ago, let’s hope he doesn’t lose the love in Sheffield.
@Jayboy if one of the rumours is to be believed our big ‘brick house’ defenceman could be Ellerby
I hope not has I didnt rate him or his style of play. He obviously knows hockey well enough in his own zone and rarely goes past the blue line but he doesn't use that size very well and a great deal of the time he is missing when a player is open at the back door or hovering around the crease, when he had plenty of opportunity to stick a player on his ass... A big guy with a small player persona.. another BFG for me... no thanks..
He seems very keen to be here which is great. As to being the second highest goalscoring defender in the league I think they mean points rather than goals after looking on eliteprospects. He got six goals and 37 pts in the league. I may be wrong .
Obviously still a handy offensive defenceman. Good luck Niklas.
