LD Aron Kiviharju - IFK Helsinki, Liiga (2024, 122nd, MIN) Part2

[Bruce Granville]

At 18/19, there's nothing to learn in the CHL except for bad habits.

NCAA might have been a decent avenue for him if he landed on a good team with a good coach, but Liiga is much better than the CHL at this point.

Yeah, but his language skills are disappointing…not even a hint of good old rallienglanti…

 

[Albatros]

Did you seriously compare 18yrs old 4th round pick
into a stanley cup winner who played 1108 regular season games in NHL? jesus man.

With that injury history what Kiviharju already has
it is a miracle if he plays even 10 NHL games if he ever makes it in NHL.
You're totally out of lunch if you seriously think Kiviharju is next Kimmo Timonen.

At that point Timonen was a 10th round draft pick the same size Kiviharju is now. Joined the league at 23 and never played for the team that drafted him, but all that didn't stop him from dominating the WJC. Not making any predictions about Kiviharju at the tournament, but suggesting that he doesn't have what it takes to do well there is overtly negative. At U18 level he scored more points than any other Finnish defenseman in history, only two Americans (Hutson & York) have more.

 

[Leafshater67]

The goal for him is to learn how to be a defender against men. Being a star against kids is going to do him no favors at his frame. He’s playing in a league where he should be. Maybe he makes it, maybe he doesn’t. This is a 4th round pick after all. Fail to see how playing against lesser competition than he is now factors into it.

You don’t learn much playing limited minutes and being physically outmatched every night in Europe. It gives him a chance to learn the North American game and culture at a better pace. Any good coach will make sure he’s developing in his own end and there’s lots of those in the CHL. He’d have a chance to learn the smaller rink now before he has to go to the AHL which he’s not ready for yet.

 

[Plastic Joseph]

At 18/19, there's nothing to learn in the CHL except for bad habits.

NCAA might have been a decent avenue for him if he landed on a good team with a good coach, but Liiga is much better than the CHL at this point.

This is so false. There are countless examples of players who played CHL at 18/19 and went on to become NHL stars or very good players.

If the player can only take bad habits at this age, it is on them. I've seen it with my own eyes when very good players improve at those ages. Drouin came back to the CHL at 18 and did as you said and learned bad habits. Ehlers came back and made it his mission to be a dominate the league and be a 200 ft player. He was already a top 10 pick before that season and he wasn't too good to play in the league. Players can always improve.

I think there may be some importance to play top mins, all situations etc and be relied upon as a top player in the development of prospects. I certainly don't think he is anywhere close to good enough to say that there is nothing to learn in the CHL.

 

[57special]

This is so false. There are countless examples of players who played CHL at 18/19 and went on to become NHL stars or very good players.

If the player can only take bad habits at this age, it is on them. I've seen it with my own eyes when very good players improve at those ages. Drouin came back to the CHL at 18 and did as you said and learned bad habits. Ehlers came back and made it his mission to be a dominate the league and be a 200 ft player. He was already a top 10 pick before that season and he wasn't too good to play in the league. Players can always improve.

I think there may be some importance to play top mins, all situations etc and be relied upon as a top player in the development of prospects. I certainly don't think he is anywhere close to good enough to say that there is nothing to learn in the CHL.

I agree, but would also say that it depends on the team, and the individual. In Khiviharju's case, staying in Finland rather than going to Sudbury, or Moose Jaw, is is fine.