By The Numbers – # 91 Magnus Pääjärvi

Swedish star Magnus Paajarvi is our final player on our season ending series By The Numbers.

Will Magnus Paajarvi improve on his 34 point season?

The definitive answer follows…

NAME: Magnus Pääjärvi

POSITION: Left Wing

DOB: 12 APR 1991 (20)

2010-11 NUMBERS: 15G-19A-34 PTS, (-13) 16 PIM in 80 GP

2010-11 SALARY: $1.525M (includes 625K bonus)m  will become RFA on July 1st, 2013

THE SKINNY

Magnus Paajarvi is another highly touted forward in Edmonton’s card game of prospects.  Paajarvi was the Oilers’ first round choice (tenth overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.  He spent ’09-’10 playing in Timra of the Elitserien, breaking North American ground in 2010-11.

Paajarvi’s 34 points saw him finish seventh overall on the 2010-11 Oilers squad.  If his November wasn’t filled with zeroes, he might have had a shot to lead the team in scoring.  Along with speed, you’ll notice Paajarvi’s puck handling ability is one of his greatest assets.  Paajarvi had some valid question marks about his two way play when the season began.     He’s shown some marked improvement, and will continue to do so.  Durability doesn’t seem to be an issue, as Paajarvi suited up for 80 games last season.

WHAT COULD BE

I’ve got Magnus Paajarvi as the 3LW behind both Taylor Hall and Ryan Smyth to open the season.  Paajarvi averaged just under fifteen and a half minutes of ice time in 2010-11, and I look for that number to go up this coming season.  Somewhat surprising was his shooting percentage (8.3%) in relation to his shot total (180 – second place for Oiler forwards).  If Paajarvi is second in shots on the team again this year, look for his point total to climb steadily.  Paajarvi cracks the forty point mark in 2011-12.  (17G-24A)

What do you think?   How well will Paajarvi perform in 2011-12?

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