When general manager Ron Francis announced a two-year deal to retain Eeli Tolvanen in Seattle at this year’s development camp, it elicited loud cheers from the Kraken faithful, and for good reason.

Tolvanen, who was astutely picked up from waivers in December 2022 by Francis, has evolved into a significant contributor to the Kraken’s offensive capabilities in his two seasons with the team.

The 25-year-old Finnish player had a noteworthy career year last year, scoring a total of 41 points (16-25-41). He has consistently scored 16 goals for the Kraken in the past two seasons, which has positioned him among the top Seattle forwards in terms of goals scored per 60 minutes of play, both during 5-on-5 play (.89/60) and on the power play (.98/60).

A few factors contribute to Tolvanen’s impressive scoring abilities. As a 2017 first-round draft pick, he boasts a swift release. According to allthreezones.com, Tolvanen ranks in the top third of the league for one-timers. Sportlogiq also reports that he manages to take 1.85 shots per 60 minutes of play within eight feet of the net, even when under pressure (5-on-5). This, combined with his superior finishing ability (rated as plus-.9 by HockeyViz.com), results in the strong scoring performance we see from Tolvanen.

Also notable is the method in which Tolvanen creates scoring opportunities. Not only is Tolvanen valuable in initiating shot attempts, but he also ensures that the Kraken have multiple chances to shoot at the net. Among the 924 skaters who played in the NHL last season, Tolvanen ranks 59th in collecting rebounds in the offensive zone during 5-on-5 play. And when calculated per 60 minutes of play, only Jordan Eberle collects more rebounds.

Observe Tolvanen as he positions himself at the soft space net front that Detroit has relinquished. The forward expertly places himself in the ideal location to take advantage of the rebound from Vince Dunn’s shot and fires off an attempt from the high-risk area of the ice.

Tolvanen’s success goes beyond simply being in the right place at the right time. Observe how he uses his hockey intelligence to anticipate the rebound’s path, positioning himself to gain an advantage over the Penguin skater. Once Tolvanen seizes control, he swiftly executes a low-to-high give and go with Will Borgen at the top of the zone. Following this, he spins and uses his quick release to get a shot on net.

It’s evident that Tolvanen can impact the scoresheet significantly. Equally important is his two-way play, which helps create those scoring opportunities.

According to Natural Stat Trick, over the last two seasons, among Kraken forwards who played at least 50 games, Tolvanen had the fifth lowest percentage of shift starts in the offensive zone. That means he was frequently part of a group that had to do the work to get out of the defensive zone before getting into position to attack. 

The ability is developed from a few crucial skills. When it comes to hampering opponents’ attacks, Tolvanen is ranked among the top third in the NHL for forechecking pressures per 60 minutes of play, according to All Three Zones. He also delivers the third highest number of hits per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play (8.89) among all Kraken forwards, surpassed only by Tye Kartye and Brandon Tanev, and he doesn’t receive as many hits as he deals out. In terms of giveaway plus-minus, Tolvanen also shows positive figures, with .81 more takeaways than giveaways per 60 minutes.

Tolvanen has demonstrated his capabilities as a reliable two-way player, with both defensive grit and offensive prowess as needed. Despite predominantly playing in a line with Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand during his tenure as a Kraken, he has also shown his adaptability to work well with other players. This includes time on the ice with Matty Beniers and Jaden Schwartz, among others. Notably, his final game-winning play of the season came while teamed with Bjorkstrand and Beniers.

Securing Tolvanen’s services for another two years is exciting, as it will be interesting to see how he will contribute to the Kraken’s future progress.