Flames sign defence prospect Joni Jurmo to entry-level contract

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Joni Jurmo woke as much as the textual content he’d been dreaming about his complete life.

The Calgary Flames had supplied him an entry-level contract.

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There are a variety of worse methods to have your sleep interrupted, that’s for positive.

“I awakened from the nap and checked my cellphone and my agent had texted me,” Jurmo stated. “I simply went downstairs and advised my mother and father.

“It was an unbelievable second. I’ve been dreaming about this since I knew what the NHL even was.”

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It was a wake-up Jurmo will always remember, and it set in movement a sequence of occasions that can deliver him to Calgary shortly.

He expects to fly from Finland to hitch the Flames’ AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, on Tuesday. He’ll skate with them for the remainder of the season, starting his North American skilled hockey journey.

Evidently, it’s a giant change from the place Jurmo was a number of months in the past.

The 21-year-old defenceman was chosen by the Vancouver Canucks within the third spherical, 82^nd general within the 2020 NHL Draft. He’s stayed in Finland since, skating in 46 video games in Finland’s high division this season. His time was break up between Ilves and Kookoo, and he registered one purpose and 4 assists.

At 6-foot-5, 210 lbs., although, Jurmo actually has the dimensions to be an NHL blueliner, and he was an essential piece of the bundle the Flames obtained in trade for Elias Lindholm once they traded the Swedish centre on the finish of January. In addition they obtained ahead Andrei Kuzmenko, the Canucks’ first-round choose within the 2024 NHL Draft, a conditional fourth-rounder in the identical draft, and defensive prospect Hunter Brzustewicz.

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For Jurmo, the transfer presents a possibility. The Flames dealt away defencemen Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin and Nikita Zadorov this season and whereas they replenished their cabinet of defensive prospects, there’s little question there shall be alternatives obtainable — most likely greater than there would have been in Vancouver.

That’s not one thing Jurmo takes as a right.

“Though there’s extra alternative, it is advisable earn that chance and profit from it,” Jurmo stated. “It’s fairly apparent there’s extra alternative, however the Flames are a tremendous group and I consider I can develop right here as a participant and as a human, additionally.”

The Flames are excessive on Jurmo, with GM Craig Conroy highlighting his measurement, mobility, skating and talents in his defensive zone in a press launch saying the signing.

They’ll get a a lot nearer have a look at him over the approaching weeks with the Wranglers and now have Jurmo signed on for 2 years at $850,000 yearly.

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He turns 22 subsequent month, however like all younger defenceman will possible want just a little time to adapt to the North American recreation.

However there’s an intriguing talent set there.

“My greatest power is my skating, I‘ve been engaged on that actually arduous,” Jurmo stated. “That, mixed with my measurement and my attain I believe is a reasonably good mixture. I’m a reasonably expert man, I’d say, for my measurement and I can ship a superb, arduous first cross and skate out of my very own zone. There’s additionally place to develop my recreation, enjoying just a little less complicated, however I believe my recreation will match effectively with the North American type of hockey.”

daustin@postmedia.com

X: @DannyAustin_9

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