Finnish Prospect Update Thread

[karhukissa]

It's pretty normal that country as small as Finland is seeing ups and downs. We had an exceptionally good generation, now it's a bit more quiet but it's going to get better at some point. Every little village has a rink, there's also enough coaching knowledge in this country. I'm not worried in a big picture.

If we really want to get to the very top, we should have some association like FHPD (Former hockey player dads). They would find some athletic women to have children with and mold them into future superstars. I mean just look at each of our recent draft classes, you see several kids whose dad's are former players But it also seems that NHL millionaires children don't have enough of that burning desire because they are set for life, Liiga level is good.

 

[Svedu]

There’s plenty of truth to this. It’s crazy because 25-30 years ago, Russia and Finland were all about skill development.

Without getting into the how and why, specifics of how it’s all happened, there was a mass exodus of Russian Hockey coaches to America (mostly) in the mid 1990s, who were committed to individual skill development. That led to the US, Canada and then Sweden, getting away from teaching systems, and going all-in with individual skill development, and basically 1 on 1 hockey.

The vacuum created in Russia, allowed those who believed in “systems win hockey tournaments”, basically took over Russian Minor Hockey for 15-20 years. It’s not that they weren’t developing skills, it’s just the systems became just as, or even more important.. In recent years, Russia is reverting back to more individual skill development.

Finland’s Minor Hockey, from what I’ve always been told through the years, was being run by coaches who always followed what the Russians were doing, and they followed suit.

Finland unlike Russia now, seems as committed as ever, to developing system hockey, at the minor levels. Likely because those in charge feel it’s their best chance to win International Tournaments…. and it might be. In fact, it probably is.

So as fans, and even scouts, we’re not necessarily seeing how skilled some of these kids are, until after they become pro players, are drafted in the NHL, etc, etc. Take a kid like Kiiskinen for example. On no planet should’ve he been a 3rd round pick. His biggest concern going into the 23’ draft? Consistency. That’s the number one reason we hear for many Finnish players. 100% because these kids are playing in systems as much as they do. So as a scout, you can watch an entire game and not see much from any one specific player. So kids get labeled as inconsistent, and some scouts will even start speculating to a physical attribute that could explain the inconsistency we see. Labels that will actually hurt a kid’s draft status, etc.

As for this year’s draft, it’s almost the time of year, we start seeing players making moves up the rankings. It’s not a great year, but we could see 2-3 kids move up the rankings if teams ignore the consistency aspect of things, and attribute it to the systems kids are forced to play.

For scouts, it’s hard though, because we just don’t get enough of some of the Finnish kids playing more 1 on 1 hockey. Guaranteed there’s NHL players in this draft though.

Thank you for this good, detailed and interesting post.

 

[Erikfromfin]

Kinda interesting case this defender Jesse Suopanki has dual Finland/Sweden citizenship. Played in Pohjola camp and for Finland U16 against Germany 1 game but is now playing for Sweden U16 against Finland.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

Kinda interesting case this defender Jesse Suopanki has dual Finland/Sweden citizenship. Played in Pohjola camp and for Finland U16 against Germany 1 game but is now playing for Sweden U16 against Finland.

Oh he's from Tornio.
Haparanda (Sweden) and Tornio (Finland) is basically just one town, you can cross the border without noticing you've done it so maybe he got confused and started playing for Sweden by accident .

I think they have a shared youth team aswell? so a lot could've happened there, there are definitely a lot of Finns that have been raised on the Swedish side.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Been noticing North American fellas seem quite high on Jasper Kuhta. McCagg had him nr1 Finn at 53 and upsidehockey also had him nr1 Finn at 57. Plays on HIFK U20 line with Vanhanen and Somervuori all 3 pretty much equal in scoring. Kuhta has fine size but also late 06 birthday. I don't personally see him that super but would like to hear other peoples oppinions?

Jasper Kuhta played his first SM liiga games in HIFK this weekend vs Ilves and Ässät.
Also Jere Somervuori played vs Ilves and Ässät

 

[FinPanda]

Finland U16 played some games 27-30.12 and won all 4 games with goal difference 38-5. Of course opponents were Slovakia (14-0 W), Germany (13-2 W)), Switzerland (7-1 W) and Czechia (4-2 W) but still cool to see.

Finnish U18 played some games too 27-30.12 and won all 4 games as well against same teams. 5-2 against Czechs, 11-2 against Swiss, 3-0 against Slovakia and 6-3 against Germany.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Just took a look at the Liiga standings and was surprised to see Lukko still leading the league. While most of the top scorers were older forwards including former NHLer Karson Kuhlman (the leading scorer) the 24-year-old Jami Krannila is intriguing.

The Penguins gave him a brief look with their AHL affiliate following his college career at St. Cloud. Are there any clubs considering him as a free agent?

 

[Erikfromfin]

Just took a look at the Liiga standings and was surprised to see Lukko still leading the league. While most of the top scorers were older forwards including former NHLer Karson Kuhlman (the leading scorer) the 24-year-old Jami Krammila is intriguing.

The Penguins gave him a brief look with their AHL affiliate following his college career at St. Cloud. Are there any clubs considering him as a free agent?

Usually these free agents gotto play atleast Euro Hockey Tour or even World Championships before they get contracts from NHL

 

[Thefinnishchamp]

I am starting to really like the 2008 age group. We desperately need right shot defensemen and Piiparinen, Alalauri and Laatikainen all have a lot of potential.

The forward group doesn't have clear cut first rounders but there are several promising players who combine a good skill level with size: Hemming, Vanhatalo, Suvanto, Vatjus, Pakarinen, Torkki.

Now if we could only just pretend that nobody was born in the year 2007 and only draft overagers this Summer.

 

[jonthorp]

I've been following Hämeenkorpi for a while now, and I was really wondering what happened at the start of the season, he just kind of disappeared off the radar. Early on, he was getting very limited ice time and seemed to be playing outside of his strengths. He wasn’t using his body, wasn’t really involved with the puck, and there were a lot of shaky moments in his game. Midseason, he switched teams, and there was a lot of uncertainty and movement around him.

Since the change, though, he has really elevated his game. In his last outing, he played center, and it was like he had been brought back to life. I still see a lot of potential in him because he’s exceptionally skilled with the puck in the offensive zone, reads the play well, and has the size and strength to be a real presence.

Some shifts, he looks like a world-class player, and in others, it seems like he’s completely disengaged. It’s hard to say where his career will take him, he may never make it as a pro, but there’s definitely something intriguing about him.

 

[Erikfromfin]

I've been following Hämeenkorpi for a while now, and I was really wondering what happened at the start of the season, he just kind of disappeared off the radar. Early on, he was getting very limited ice time and seemed to be playing outside of his strengths. He wasn’t using his body, wasn’t really involved with the puck, and there were a lot of shaky moments in his game. Midseason, he switched teams, and there was a lot of uncertainty and movement around him.

Since the change, though, he has really elevated his game. In his last outing, he played center, and it was like he had been brought back to life. I still see a lot of potential in him because he’s exceptionally skilled with the puck in the offensive zone, reads the play well, and has the size and strength to be a real presence.

Some shifts, he looks like a world-class player, and in others, it seems like he’s completely disengaged. It’s hard to say where his career will take him, he may never make it as a pro, but there’s definitely something intriguing about him.

Roope Hämeenkorpi? I remember he had one 5 points U16 National team game last year looked good there but jea kinda disappeared from system.

 

[jonthorp]

Roope Hämeenkorpi? I remember he had one 5 points U16 National team game last year looked good there but jea kinda disappeared from system.

Yes, Roope Hameenkorpi. He was really good during his U16 years as an underager and even last year.

 

[FinPanda]

Can we skip over 2025 draft please? I'm the most excited for 2027 as of now, ofc it can still change.

 

[Erikfromfin]

New list.

2025 Draft

1. Petteri Rimpinen G (OA)
2. Lasse Boelius D
3. Max Westergård W
4. Jesper Kotajärvi D
5. Julius Saari D
6. Atte Joki C
7. Patrik Kerkola G
8. Jere Somervuori W
9. Jasu Mensonen W
10. Jasper Kuhta C
11. Eetu Orpana C
12. Benjamin Rautiainen W (OA)
13. Aapo Katavisto W
14. Onni Kalto W
15. Niklas Nykyri D (OA)


2026 Draft

1. Juho Piiparinen D
2. Samu Alalauri D
3. Oscar Hemming W
4. Vilho Vanhatalo W
5. Oliver Suvanto C
6. Olli Wahlroos W
7. Vertti Svensk D
8. Viljo Kähkönen C
9. Luka Arkko W
10. Max Laatikainen D
11. Wilmer Kallio W
12. Jiko Laitinen C
13. Eelis Uronen D
14. Janne Karassaari W
15. Noel Pakarinen W


2027 Draft

1. Luca Santala C
2. Miska Liljeberg C
3. Max Syrjäläinen D
4. Luukas Kokkonen W
5. Jere Inkinen C
6. Lenni Kokkonen D
7. Roni Kuukasjärvi D
8. Olli Kylmälä C
9. Samuel Heikkinen G
10. Oliver Raimovaara W
11. Otto Joutsen D
12. Samuel Suoniemi D
13. Paavo Laine C
14. Miko Valtatie W
15. Leevi Kantola W


There are some very good smaller players that didn't make list Matias Vanhanen, Julius Suominen, Pyry Lammi and Niklas Borgström. Looking forward late-born Paavo Fugleberg is very talented for 2028 draft I prefer him over Karjalahti who is also decent.

Couple my crappy vids top 07 talents Boelius & Westergård