Whether you were watching from Ford Ice Center, or (like me) squinting to make out details through the mesh in the arena over the internet, the Nashville prospects’ penultimate game ended exactly as most of us hoped it would—former first round pick and official Next Big Thing Eeli Tolvanen found space during the 3-on-3 overtime period and sent the game-winning goal rocketing into the back of the net.
The relief was palpable and obvious—from the coaches, to the fans, and to Tolvanen himself. Nashville hasn’t had a forward prospect with this potential since Filip Forsberg was dropped from the heavens above into our laps.