'Putting that on myself'

The shot? That, we expected.

Same goes for the explosive footspeed, slick handles and elusive board-work that makes him a threat offensively.

But there was another, edgier side to Topi Ronni that was evident on Thursday - a maturity in his game you would have to assume he picked up dabbling in the Finnish Liiga, against players 10, or even 15 years older.

Before, that might have been too big of jump for the talented Finn.

But not anymore.

"I played 19 games in pro the year before, so that was a big step - definitely the biggest (I've had so far)," said Ronni, shortly after completing an intense, hour-long sweat at Flames Development Camp. "That year, it was pretty much like settling in and trying to figure out the (right) way to play. But as I got more games in, I think I was more comfortable trying to play and do my own things.

"The main thing is when you go to pro and you're on the fourth line - yeah, you don't want to make mistakes. But you still have to play your own game and try to trust your game.

"Basically, doing the same things that you're doing in junior, so that you can take the next step and do the same things (at the pro level)."

Indeed, Ronni was a fixture on the fourth line of Tappara's top outfit, playing limited minutes and finishing the 2022-23 season with only five points (2G, 3A) in 22 regular-season games.

But when it comes to prospect evaluation, the point-and-click datapoints in the public domain can often be misleading. Websites like HockeyDB, while useful, can sometimes paint an incomplete picture of a player's career - especially for one climbing the ranks in the lesser-talked-about European circuits.

Dig a little deeper - or better yet, chat with the player himself - and you'll see how the 6-foot-2, 179-lb. pivot fared against his peers.

"Well, obviously we went on to win the Cup, so that was pretty awesome," Ronni laughed, referencing the U20 title he captured with Tappara's junior squad. "I think it was really important to know how to work in a group and playoffs are a bit different hockey, so learning that and being able to win those games was something that was really important."

The 19-year-old was up with Tappara's pro club, before being sent down to play big minutes, in a key role, in their march to the championship. In all, he recorded 15 points (5G, 10A) in a dozen postseason tilts - and in the process, re-discovering some of the offensive confidence that could wane with a young player skating over his skis.

Surely that experience will pay dividends in the long run.

Ronni certainly hopes so.

And with one of the biggest seasons of his young career on tap, falling back on those playoff teachings and getting off to a good start, now, could become something of a springboard.

The 2022 second-round pick has a busy 'off'-season ahead. After re-acquainting himself with the Flames organization this week, he'll participate in the Finnish U20 national team camp in Vierumäki, Finland from July 20-25, before heading to the World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Michigan, from July 27 to Aug. 4.

Ronni was part of Finland's World Junior entry last winter, going pointless in five outings.

But things are different now.

He's older, wiser, and will hopefully have a half-season's worth of development under Tappara's pro squad when the annual holiday showcase kicks off on Boxing Day.

Needless to say, it's the biggest of big years upcoming for the silky pivot.

And he's intent on making the most of it.

"I'm definitely putting that on myself," he said of earning a middle-six role on the pro team this year. "I definitely want to make that role and try to be better all around. But if I'm not making the third or second line at the start of the season, I just want to grind it out and try to make me as good as I can so I can be that in maybe December or whatever it is."

Oh, and as for the aforementioned 'edge' we saw in Ronni's game at WinSport?

With the towering 6-foot-4, 230-lb. invite Callum Chisholm drawing the ire of many with his punishing physical play during Thursday's workout, Ronni gave as good as he took, with a series of cross-checks delivered to the pants and bringing out the best of best competitors.

Summer skate or not, Ronni is here to make an impression.

"Well, the biggest things to work on was definitely strength and quickness, and my all-around battle against big, strong men," he said. "I was able to do that in Finland playing pro, and I think that's one of the big things I've been (focusing on) and getting better at."