VILJAMI MARJALA

2025-08-19

Scout: Brandon

Skating:

Marjala’s footwork and upright skating posture allows for mobile ice coverage while scanning the play.

He is adept at using his edges to change up his angle of attack and line of travel when surveying the scene for a target to pass to.

Marjala is a very fluid skater who uses tight curls to change directions while typically staying in the center lane.

He is more of a slippery skater that can fish out narrow lanes to sneak through instead of making grand, explosive efforts.

Passing/Handling:

Marjala makes low danger pass attempts by default, though has the ability to make cross ice feeds through light traffic.

He employs more of a Russian or soccer style of puck movement where he will make lateral passes or even send the puck back to the D to get a different line of attack.

Marjala uses quick stick movements to deflect and parry stick check attempts in order to maintain puck possession.

He is a very confident, heads up playmaker that demonstrates a willingness to engage opposition 1-on-1 to then open up passing lanes with one less obstacle in the way.

When attempting to navigate through traffic, he will drop into a wider stance and use his heels to rudder around and let his hands do most of the work to keep the play alive.

After picking up the puck in his own end and generating a decent head of steam, he can effortlessly meander his way into a zone entry and establish a zone control.

Has a knack for controlling the play from the left half wall while pushing defenders back using the threat of directly engaging them. After creating a pocket for himself, he then tends to draw pressure below the hashmarks before dishing the puck back to point where extra time and space has been created for puck movement above the circles.

Shooting:

By nature of his play style, Marjala is a low volume shooter.

He primarily uses a snap shot with a slight delay in his release. This shot is lethal if left unperturbed in the low slot.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

Marjala is rather calm and unfazed in his actions.

He is quite defensively minded and responsible enough to often fill in for D coverage.

Forechecking:

If floating around the opponent’s end of the neutral zone, Marjala will jump up on the play to activate as the lead forechecking pressure just inside the blue line during a breakout attempt.

If carrying the puck on the zone entry and requiring the use of a dump and chase option, he will try to play the puck to a space on the ice for a teammate and then follow up as a first string of support.

Defense:

Marjala often falls back to a very defensive center position and acts as a 3rd D-man when facing a zone entry.

He will circle down low below the hashmarks in his own zone to pressure the play towards the boards and try to cause a turnover if only indirectly.

Best Asset:

Fluid mobility and calm defensive mind.

Biggest Concern:

Physical resilience and strength.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

Bottom 6 in more of a shut down role with some PK deployment.

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

His natural inclinations to make sure that his own end is covered may curry favour and trust with the coaching staff. This may limit prime offensive deployment as a trade off for keeping the puck out of the net as a prime focus.

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Depth option. AHL journeyman or a return venture to Europe.

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

The reduction in rink size along with the increase in player size and speed when jumping into the pro game may take away some of the comforts that allowed him to find success on the big ice in Europe.

Stylistic Comparable:

His build and posture are reminiscent of Elias Pettersson. His overall play style is closer to that of a defensively responsible Ales Hemsky.

Games Scouted:

2024-09-27

TPS Turku (6) @ Porin Assat (4)

2024-12-28

TPS Turku (4) vs Hameenlinnan Pallokerho (2)

2025-04-24

TPS Turku (2) @ SaiPa (3)