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.

 

[Prior]

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.

Or. And hear me out on this.

He can continue to practice, play, and develop where he is against professionals and likely feels more comfortable. Because if he isn’t going to make it at the North American level, this is the league where he is most likely to have a career above all else.

Going to play against kids, age out of that league, and then go back to Finland to relearn that league does him zero favors as I said. Based on the percentage of mid to late round picks, this very well could his landing spot. Best to learn how to be too good for it, if he will at all.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1849115738172277010

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

 

[De Montreal]

6 points in 19 games and +5 is pretty good for a 18 year old dman

how is he looking

 

[Sasso09]

One of the more overhyped pre-draft prospects in recent memory, for sure.

Up there with Aatu Raty, Nick Ebert and Kirill Kabanov.

Here‘s hoping he comes back from injury and finds his game again. But small defenders that can’t skate and haven’t shown progression in a few years scare teams.

The "can't skate" narrative around Kiviharju is hilarious to me.

His skating is fine and won't stop him from being a productive player.

 

[Sasso09]

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.

No, he's comparing them both at 18....... and he's correct. The only thing Timmo had on him was skating, and Timmo ended up being a bonafide 1D

 

[Tube Skates]

Anyone watching? 6 points in his last 5 games. Why the sudden uptick in points?

 

[Svedu]

Anyone watching? 6 points in his last 5 games. Why the sudden uptick in points?

Need more time. Give it the whole season and the WJC's. The kid is not the fastest, biggest nor strongest. He was out for a big time and was probably chocked to struggle the first time in his young career. Understandable and not that surprising. I mean look what injuries made to Nolan Patrick, Puljujärvi, Juolevi, Joni Ikonen, Heinola and Vaakanainen.

He needs one whole really good season in Liiga or two, or one in the AHL after this one if he improves and impresses.
A short goal should be to dominate the WJC's even if that's to much to ask right now perhaps. But at least a good performance is needed for his continuing confidence.

Also if he plays the PP for HIFK? Look at Lehteräs, Vesalainen and others production. That could be a reason as well. Playing with superior players in the league.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

The backlash has gotten out of control. It was likely never to age well. Not to say he’s a lock to be a successful NHL’er, but Kiviharju is a decent hockey player. It takes time after suffering the injuries he’s had to get back into form. Expecting him to light up the WJC18 on arguably Finland’s worst team in a long time at that tournament (this year’s team says hold my beer) was not a fair expectation.

Kiviharju was an obvious faller over time because he’s small and because of his injuries. The small part isn’t really fixable. It is what it is. He can overcome it, but we see this all the time where successful junior hockey players get a lot of hype early on and then as we get closer to the draft we see that the NHL teams don’t value them as everyone else does. The injuries suggest that maybe the consensus should be a little more positive about Kiviharju. Even considering the size obstacle (and skating is part of it also), he was probably going to be like a late first rounder to late second rounder without the injuries and the downfall that came with it. As long as he can recover from them and it doesn’t hurt his ability to succeed going forward, Minnesota likely got very good value where they did. Kiviharju might not have the hype he once did, but I think he has one of the better chances amongst 4th rounders you’ll see to turn into a productive NHL’er.