LW Kristian Vesalainen (2017, 24th, WPG)

[randomhockeyfan]

I'm happy that the Jets got him, the Finnish invasion in Winnipeg continues .

I hope Vesalainen's next season will be better than the previous one, I regained my hope in him after hearing how poorly Frölunda treated him and seeing him in the U18 tournament. A great pick!

How did Frölunda treat him?

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

I think he's Joel Armia 2.0. Don't see anything more than a 3rd liner there. Controversial opinion I guess.

I think he looks like Armia 2.0 right now. Actually less than that. Armia scored like Laine in his draft year. Armia didn't develop as hoped. It happens. That is no reason to assume Vesalainen won't develop better.

That said, 3rd line might well be the spot for him. There certainly doesn't appear to be a path to the top 6 for him in Winnipeg. He will have to beat out one of Ehlers or Connor. That doesn't look very promising at the moment.

 

[allan5oh]

I agree, let him play a full year in Liiga and see where he's at after that.

As a Jets fan I have no problem with that.

 

[Ippenator]

I think he looks like Armia 2.0 right now. Actually less than that. Armia scored like Laine in his draft year. Armia didn't develop as hoped. It happens. That is no reason to assume Vesalainen won't develop better.

That said, 3rd line might well be the spot for him. There certainly doesn't appear to be a path to the top 6 for him in Winnipeg. He will have to beat out one of Ehlers or Connor. That doesn't look very promising at the moment.

Vesalainen is a clearly better skater than Armia. I think he is also already more physical than Armia was at the same age. His IQ without the puck is definitely at least some kind of a question mark. On the other hand he is playing the next season in HPK (FEL) under a young, smart and emerging coach (Antti Pennanen). So Vesalainen should be in a pretty ideal environment for his development next season.

Vesalainen has a cockier in your face attitude that, if directed in the right way, can make him emerge as an even clearly better player than Armia has become so far. I honestly do believe that he will become a better player than Armia (at least offensively), and in fact at the moment I see his floor relatively close to what Armia is at the moment. Armia is anyway a quite good 3rd or 4th liner in my opinion, and a pretty good PK-specialist, so I believe that Vesalainen could very well be a useful player for the jets in 2 or 3 years.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

The Jets have a history of picking HFBoards darlings who have slipped in the first round (Ehlers, Connor, Veselainen, Morrissey). It's uncanny

Ehlers and Morrissey turned out well for the Jets, so hopefully that trend continues.

 

[MardyBum]

Yeah, it's weird, Armia was such an offensively inclined prospect, and although he'll produce at a better clip with some decent linemates this year, we love him for his PK and ability to strip pucks.

 

[thomast]

Armia was really soft perimeter player at his draft year despite of his huge frame. His ability to forecheck and steal pucks was phenomenal but he was really inconsistent with his play without the puck. I remember watching him in playoffs during his draft year and all i saw him turning pucks over, played on the perimeter and hurt his team with frustration. Armia was high risk high reward type of prospect.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I think they missed an opportunity to get Tolvanen. Would have been sick to have two Finnish snipers like him and Laine. Plus he's a LH shooter, gives you a different look on the PP.

 

[BB88]

I think they missed an opportunity to get Tolvanen. Would have been sick to have two Finnish snipers like him and Laine. Plus he's a LH shooter, gives you a different look on the PP.

They have Ehlers& Connor on the Lw, Vesalainen adds something different to that group.

 

[DatDude44]

Let him take his time and develop. Luv this pick for you guys down the road. So much young talent in your future top 9

 

[bobermay]

The Jets were destined to draft VesaLAINEn.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Jets fans will like reading this. Here is where Redline Report, a draft service that I certainly respect their eye for talent had Vesalainen in their Final rankings.

6. Kristian Vesalainen, LW, 6-3/207, L, 01 Jun 99, Frölunda: Huge, skilled winger had a tough year, but we still believe.

Possible future other bookend on Laine's opposite wing?

 

[seafoam]

I didn't like how he ripped up the U-18's because it looked like he just out-muscled and out-powered everyone, but at the end of the day I felt like he was still a good enough prospect to gamble on in that spot.

 

[Zhamnov5GoalGame]

If he likes the pick at 13 for the Jets then he should be thrilled to get him at 24!!!

 

[thrillhous]

I didn't like how he ripped up the U-18's because it looked like he just out-muscled and out-powered everyone, but at the end of the day I felt like he was still a good enough prospect to gamble on in that spot.

I've watched the U18 games now for a second time and I didn't see what you're describing. There certainly were times when he used his strength/power (which of course is great to see) but just as many times it was finding seams/play-making or blowing past defenders with his excellent skating or slick puck control. My main criticism is that sometimes he tried to do it all going 1 on 2 or trying to get a shot through that had very little chance of getting through. Sometimes he exhibited high IQ and then other times he kind of got tunnel vision.

For those that criticized his numbers this past season keep in mind that despite not getting big ice-time and very little (if any) PP time he put up very good numbers in the SHL as a 17 year old. In fact, looking at the last 20 years he finished with the 9th highest points per game average for a 17 year old (minimum 20 games played). All of the 8 players above him are or were NHL players.

Some had him really high in their rankings (RedLine 6th, McKeens 9th, Pronman 9th, McCagg had him really high but can't find it right now) but most had him in the teens. And when looking at his SHL numbers, his SuperElit U20 numbers from the season prior, as well as his U18 performances I can see why some were really high on him.

It'll be interesting to see how he does this season in Liiga.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

11 points in 18 games in Liiga this year. My Finnish friends, how has he looked? Is he looking like a player that can make the NHL next year?

 

[HockeyHistorian]

11 points in 18 games in Liiga this year. My Finnish friends, how has he looked? Is he looking like a player that can make the NHL next year?

I'd say that he is not ready to make the jump to NHL right away. I think that he still needs a year in Liiga or AHL. However, it's still relatively early. Sometimes these youngsters take huge strides in their development even during the season.

 

[TheFinnishTrap]

He started pretty slow, but has been far better lately. Got injured some games ago, I haven't checked if he's back in lineup.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

11 points in 18 games in Liiga this year. My Finnish friends, how has he looked? Is he looking like a player that can make the NHL next year?

Most likely not. He's got some nice tools, but in my opinion needs to spend more time in pro leagues. String a couple full seasons together, put up some points, play in big situations and then give him a taste of NHL action to for further motivation.

Vesalainen is the type of personality who i think should marinate in the minors, make him put in the work and mature. He can become a good player, but he's not so talented that he'd make the big show without earning it. If you give him too much too early, i could see him becoming frustrated if he doesn't stick right away. Call him up when he's ready.

Just my feel of the player though, maybe others have different insight.

 

[Hockeyisl1fe]

He isn't NHL ready next season, needs more seasoning.

 

[1OApick]

I think thst AHL would be good for Vesalainen. He is suited for smaller rink and could rack up points and get some seasoning as well.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Who would he compare to stylistically a Rantanen lite?

Most draft services had him rated higher.

Bobby Mac at #15 is a good indicator of his talent, Mckeens had him at #9 while FC and ISS had a more moderate view at #17 and #19.

 

[TheFinnishTrap]

Who would he compare to stylistically a Rantanen lite?

Most draft services had him rated higher.

Bobby Mac at #15 is a good indicator of his talent, Mckeens had him at #9 while FC and ISS had a more moderate view at #17 and #19.

I guess Rantanen is an acceptable comparable, not perfect, but a serviceable starting point. I'd say Vesalainen isn't really as cerebral, not as good in the corners and more of a shooter. Rantanen lite is a good way to describe him, as they have some core similarities, but Rantanen, in my opinion, does most of the things at a higher level.

Vesalainen has shown high-end skill in some junior tournaments, but we shall see how it transfers to higher levels. At first it looked like he couldn't bring it to even Liiga, but he has looked better lately.

 

[MardyBum]

Started his season off slow but was on fire lately until he got injured.

 

[Ippenator]

Started his season off slow but was on fire lately until he got injured.

I thought someone wrote here that he was not after all injured, but that there was flu going on in the team and he probably was suffering it too. Does someone know how it really was flu or injury? And if it was injury after all, is he still injured?