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Finnish Prospect Update Thread

Top talents for 2026 Draft in my oppinion after Pohjola and Germany outings.

2026 Draft

C Viljo Kähkönen
C Jiko Laitinen
C Oliver Suvanto
C/W Jeremi Virtanen
W Wilmer Kallio
W Vilho Vanhatalo
W Oiva Juntunen
W Eemil Saari
W Olli Wahlroos
W Janne Karassaari
W Matias Myllyniemi
D Juho Piiparinen
D Samu Alalauri
D Nooa Järvenpää
D Eelis Uronen
D Mici Kasurinen
D Ossi Tukio
G Pyry Lammi

Rasmus Rinne has talent but I'd like to see more passion more energy more footwork from him.

Other potential ones include:
F: Otto Tukiainen, Anttoni Uronen, Milo Nuutinen, Luka Arkko, Tino Kossila, Joonas Rajala, Oliver Torkki
D: Aapo Paavilainen, Niklas Kaarto, Tarmo Kostiainen, Jonne Parkkali, Sisu Somerla, Jesse Poussa, Aapo Kurri
G: Mico Hämäläinen, Vili Varonen

Some touted ones that didn't play and getto see at camp include:
Kasper Kostjukovs, Oscar Hemming, Onni Keltikangas

Notable lateborn 2027 Draft eligibles include:
Lauri Rantanen, Rasmus Miilunpohja, Samuel Strömberg, Max Järventie but none of them are super special.


Couple clips of Kallio for anyone interested. I'll try to do 2-3 more vids
 
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Central Scouting rankings:
A (1st round candidate) : Helenius, Hemming, Kiviharju
B (2nd-3rd round candidate) : Muhonen, Soini, Väisänen

Vinni's stock has plummeted. Ranked as a 6th/7th round candidate.
 
Jukurit said:
Central Scouting rankings:
A (1st round candidate) : Helenius, Hemming, Kiviharju
B (2nd-3rd round candidate) : Muhonen, Soini, Väisänen

Vinni's stock has plummeted. Ranked as a 6th/7th round candidate.
Click to expand...
Nothing surprise in Vinni's case.
Vinni was total sieve in U18 WJC's this year and couldn't catch nothing.
But also Rimpinen didn't impress in Hlinka Gretzky either so lets see which-one goes undrafted in 2024.
 
I've always felt like Vali, Vinni and Vedenpää was a bit like Saros, Husso and Lankinen. Both 95 and 2005 seem to be good years for Finnish goalie prospects.
Question is if Vali will become the better one of them.
 
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@Erikfromfin, what do you think about Lasse Boelius?

I thought he was the best Finnish defenseman. A real PPQB and good skater too. Only 5’11, but if he can grow a little and work on his defense, he could be very good.
 
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Pavel Buchnevich said:
@Erikfromfin, what do you think about Lasse Boelius?

I thought he was the best Finnish defenseman. A real PPQB and good skater too. Only 5’11, but if he can grow a little and work on his defense, he could be very good.
Click to expand...
Jea his right there top Finns and defenders after Kotajärvi. Boelius got late into U16NT system only last spring but has been skyrocketing since. He has good skill level can carry the puck good passer and good moves 2nd power play unit quarterback. He has much more offensive upside than Julius Saari. But I think Kotajärvi is still ahead he impacts and wants to impact game more and has even more offense and physicality and good jump on his first few step. Sadly I didnt pay 80 CAD for the tournament atleast yet so don't know how they done but Boelius right now is firmly in my top5 and even 1st to 2nd round potential if all goes well.
 
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Last draft 15 Finns were selected. Right now I'm on 24 potential draft upside ones for 2024 draft.

2024 Draft

Goalies
1. Eemil Vinni
2. Kim Saarinen
3. Noa Vali
4. Petteri Rimpinen

Defenders
1. Aron Kiviharju
2. Veeti Väisänen
3. Jesse Pulkkinen
4. Niilopekka Muhonen
5. Sebastian Soini
6. Daniel Nieminen
7. Mitja Jokinen
8. Eelis Marila

Forwards
1. Konsta Helenius
2. Emil Hemming
3. Joona Saarelainen
4. Aatos Koivu
5. Tuomas Suoniemi
6. Julius Miettinen
7. Roope Vesterinen
8. Benjamin Rautiainen
9. Heikki Ruohonen
10. Topias Hynninen
11. Santeri Huovila
12. Kasper Pikkarainen


Close but no cigar:
Goalies: Hannikainen, Louhivaara
Defenders: Nykyri, Amhamdi, Junkkari
Forwards: Loponen, J.Keinänen, Väärälä, Sinivuori
 
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Well hey, hey, hey, what do you say? Lambert and Tuomaala selected for the AHL all-star weekend. Imagine if their game just suits NA better? Or just some maturing going on? Whatever the reason this is so funny and exciting because not only does Tuomaala has a good shot but these both guys are probably the fastest Finnish skaters with Kapanen and god knows Leijonat will need some speed in the future.
My dream is that these guys become top6 or better so that we can have 3 superb lines in the nearest future.
I'm really impressed because these prospects were highly touted by some people and then failed badly but they didn't give up and now the trend is upwards.

Well, well, peukut pystyyn and good luck guys!
 
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Anything new to see with Lukko's Tuukka Tieksola? He's in the last year of his ELC with Carolina.

Average numbers with Rauma. Any chance he is tendered a qualifying offer and if not would other teams be interested?
 
Jersey Fan 12 said:
Anything new to see with Lukko's Tuukka Tieksola? He's in the last year of his ELC with Carolina.

Average numbers with Rauma. Any chance he is tendered a qualifying offer and if not would other teams be interested?
Click to expand...
No chance.
 
Pretty interesting, Finland are producing quite the centers or has done so these last 10 years. We just need som D's to come through and pan out. We will be pretty stacked att RW as well.
Also I believe UPL is one of three future goalies together with Saros. Could be a bit underrated because of his stats. He needs to work on recovery, quickness and agility. But he's huge and I like that he seems compact in the net and has some rebound control. Thing is, no goalie would shine this year with the Sabres system and overall defending. Don't believe he's any worse than Hart for an example.
Blomqvist could be a soon riser.

Also, I hope both Laine and especially Robin Salo get traded. Salo is a possible D in a smaller role but he needs to get the opportunity.
Last but not least, Vaakanainen will become a good third pair D. People tend to watch too much at D's offensive ability but Vaakanainen has been a good defender ever since WJC's and seems to have bounced back after his injuries.
My point in writing this is that people tend to believe you will only win best-on-best games with flashy names at D. For every Quinn, EK65 and others, teams need someone to balance it.

Possible centers:
Barkov
Hintz
Aho
(Rantanen is able to play C as well)
Lundell
Luostarinen
Lambert
Kotkaniemi


Possible ones further down the road:
Helenius seems promising
Räty
Pärssinen
Kupari
Kuokkanen could get another look in the NHL perhaps.
Other Helenius as possible future 4th line grinder with his reach? Who knows.
Heponiemi should get another look as well. I would gladly see him and Kuokkanen get a chance with the Flyers for an example. Don't believe they lack talent compared to most players in the Flyers organization.
 
Next 3 drafts theres Kiviharju, Pulkkinen, Väisänen, Kotajärvi, Boelius, Piiparinen, Alalauri
and also guys like Muhonen, Soini, Saari, E.Uronen, Järvenpää lots of potential defenders coming along aswell. Also Max Syrjäläinen getting some early hype havent yet watched him.
 
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2024 Draft

1. Konsta Helenius C/W
2. Jesse Pulkkinen D
3. Aron Kiviharju D
4. Emil Hemming W
5. Veeti Väisänen D
6. Kim Saarinen G
7. Eemil Vinni G
8. Julius Miettinen C/W
9. Sebastian Soini D
10. Joona Saarelainen C/W
11. Mitja Jokinen D
12. Heikki Ruohonen C
13. Kasper Pikkarainen W
14. Aatos Koivu C
15. Niilopekka Muhonen D

Honorable Mentions:
Noa Vali G, Veeti Louhivaara G, Niklas Nykyri D, Daniel Nieminen D, Jimi Junkkari D,
Peetu Kiukas D, Eelis Marila D, Eerik Wallenius D, Elias Huttu C, Benjamin Rautiainen C/W,
Topias Hynninen C/W, Tuomas Suoniemi C/W, Janne Naukkarinen C/W, Matti Butkovskiy W,
Roope Vesterinen W, Tommi Männistö W, Emil Kuusla W
 
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Start of season list before games start today.

2025 Draft

1. Jesper Kotajärvi D
2. Lasse Boelius D
3. Julius Saari D
4. Max Westergård W
5. Jasu Mensonen C
6. Eetu Orpana C
7. Patrik Kerkola G
8. Rasmus Kämäräinen W
9. Veeti Ruotsalainen D
10. Atte Joki C/W
11. Aapo Katavisto C/W
12. Alvar Ervasti D
13. Jere Somervuori W
14. Frans Viita W
15. Jooa Sammalniemi G

Honorable Mentions:
Aaron Paju D, Mitja Jokinen D, Aapo Vanninen C, Elias Huttu C, Rasmus Baggström W


2026 Draft

1. Juho Piiparinen D
2. Wilmer Kallio W
3. Samu Alalauri D
4. Viljo Kähkönen C
5. Jiko Laitinen C
6. Oliver Suvanto C/W
7. Vilho Vanhatalo W
8. Eelis Uronen D
9. Luka Arkko W
10. Milo Nuutinen C/W
11. Janne Karassaari W
12. Pyry Lammi G
13. Oliver Torkki C/W
14. Julius Suominen D
15. Oiva Juntunen W

Honorable Mentions:
Nooa Järvenpää D, Vilmeri Väänänen D, Vertti Svensk D, Mici Kasurinen D, Erno Uusitalo D,
Anttoni Uronen C, Miko Vatjus C/W, Tino Kossila W, Rasmus Rinne W, Roope Hämeenkorpi W,
Oscar Hemming W, Joonas Rajala W
 
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Sorry I know these players aren't young prospects anymore but I didn't know where to post this. A couple of players that could eventually end up being interesting for the national team like Rajala, Manninen and Hartikainen has been through the years are still worth mentioning somewhere. Perhaps not on the same talent level or even reach their success but players that could bring something. From Liiga that is. Players that most likely will play in Europe, at least the older ones.
I believe these ones could be interesting to keep an eye on this coming year or two:
Jami Krannila
Veeti MIettinen
Juuso Mäenpää
Aleksi Klemetti
Tuukka Tieksola
Joni Ikonen
Santeri Huovila
Benjamin Rautiainen
Petteri Puhakka
Kasper Lundell
Matias Mäntykivi

A lot of Kalpa players actually. (Saarelainen is too young and could end up becoming a NHLer, Kumpulainen, Keskinen and others too).
Please feel free to add players and goalies.
 
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Finnish 2007 born players reminds of 88-90 born players for Finland. Lousy. 2006 is deep and 2008 born have some at least mentionable prospects.

Westergård could be decent but I mean he's not even near Ivar Stenbergs potential and others.
So Wheelers take isn't anything new, been long known.
 
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