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LW Kristian Vesalainen (2017, 24th, WPG)

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Looked very good vs Slovakia with two goals. Maybe tried to do a bit too much at times but could've easily had few more points with better luck. Shot the puck really well all night, his defensive effort was very good and his skating is great for player of his size. Just needs to move the puck a bit quicker instead trying to do something fancy.

I just can't see him falling out of the first round in such a weak draft.
 
JJTT said:
Looked very good vs Slovakia with two goals. Maybe tried to do a bit too much at times but could've easily had few more points with better luck. Shot the puck really well all night, his defensive effort was very good and his skating is great for player of his size. Just needs to move the puck a bit quicker instead trying to do something fancy.
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I've only seen him play three times now, but I really like what I've seen. I'm not sure about his ability to score at the highest level, but I think he has a really high floor. Should become a strong third-liner at the very least, because he plays with a lot of effort and determination, being a strong power forward with good two-way play.

JJTT said:
I just can't see him falling out of the first round in such a weak draft.
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It's not a weak draft. Yet, I agree he probably won't fall out of the first round.
 
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Zemgus26 said:
He has been really good all tournament, re-establishing himself as a lock as a 1st rounder?
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Absolutely, the kid looks like men amongst boys out there. Didn't watch him much this season and truly clueless why it seemed like such a farce, but he really seems to be ahead of his peers. Granted that the Finns haven't faced any of the big countries yet, but if he can keep this up regardless of the competition, Vesalainen could climb back up to better half of first round. Very versatile and haven't seen any glaring weaknesses.
 
kelsier said:
Absolutely, the kid looks like men amongst boys out there. Didn't watch him much this season and truly clueless why it seemed like such a farce, but he really seems to be ahead of his peers. Granted that the Finns haven't faced any of the big countries yet, but if he can keep this up regardless of the competition, Vesalainen could climb back up to better half of first round. Very versatile and haven't seen any glaring weaknesses.
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Vesalainen's IQ is his biggest weakness. As a prospect, IMO he's basically a poor man's Owen Tippett, they have a lot of similar qualities. Could end up being a "high floor" guy, which might be enticing to some teams.
 
Opak said:
Vesalainen's IQ is his biggest weakness. As a prospect, IMO he's basically a poor man's Owen Tippett, they have a lot of similar qualities. Could end up being a "high floor" guy, which might be enticing to some teams.
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I've heard of "poor man's Puljujärvi" before, so Tippett's a new thing. Vesalainen's isn't a pure goal scorer like Tippett is (who's also touted not to have that great of a two-way game). I'm not sure if your mixing him up with Tolvanen. Haven't seen anything that would set my alarms on about his hockey IQ so far in the u18 (quite the contrary). Then again, while I have limited viewings these aren't the first games I've watched Vesalainen.

We'll see soon enough how he fairs against higher level of competition, which also should expose his ability to make decisions given the faster game play, physically more demanding stretches and generally having less time. Should be interesting.
 
Grant McCagg said:
Re-establishing himself as a lock for the top 15...maybe top ten if this continues.
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if you're playing mostly in the shl and have played in world juniors, you better freaking perform against some latvian leaguer who is your age or younger, i still don't move him until i see him against some legit competition with nhl potential.
 
kelsier said:
I've heard of "poor man's Puljujärvi" before, so Tippett's a new thing. Vesalainen's isn't a pure goal scorer like Tippett is (who's also touted not to have that great of a two-way game). I'm not sure if your mixing him up with Tolvanen. Haven't seen anything that would set my alarms on about his hockey IQ so far in the u18 (quite the contrary). Then again, while I have limited viewings these aren't the first games I've watched Vesalainen.

We'll see soon enough how he fairs against higher level of competition, which also should expose his ability to make decisions given the faster game play, physically more demanding stretches and generally having less time. Should be interesting.
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Yeah. I feel like Vesalainen seems a bit miscast as a conventional "goal scoring power forward" type. Seems to me, when he's really on top of his game as he's showing again now...he's really more of that sort of unusual "playmaking power forward" type. Makes really nice passes at speed, while using his size to create space. Though he obviously can shoot the puck as well.

Reminds me of a Voracek type player when he plays at the top of his game.
 
wings5 said:
if you're playing mostly in the shl and have played in world juniors, you better freaking perform against some latvian leaguer who is your age or younger, i still don't move him until i see him against some legit competition with nhl potential.
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Agreed.

It's fine to move him up a couple spots based on his impressive play through the first 3 games, but 3 games against mostly weak competition shouldn't outweigh a season of mostly disappointing play.

Worth noting that 6 of the top 8 scorers in the tournament right now are Finns. Vesalainen's point totals should be taken with a grain of salt given that his team has averaged 5-6 goals per game through the first 3 games.
 
My short report based on tournament so far:
https://finnprospects.com/player/kristian-vesalainen/

kelsier said:
Absolutely, the kid looks like men amongst boys out there.
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To me that is actually the biggest concern. Sure, he has been dominant in this tournament but I think main reason for that has been because he is physically more mature than the others. That is the advantage that he will lose in time and probably the reason why he hasn't been able to produce a lot of points in pro game.

That being said, I think that he will have future in NHL.
 
wings5 said:
if you're playing mostly in the shl and have played in world juniors, you better freaking perform against some latvian leaguer who is your age or younger, i still don't move him until i see him against some legit competition with nhl potential.
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I agree with this. Just wanted to correct the bolded. He has yet to play in the WJC.
 
Vesalainen reminds me a bit of Jake Virtanen. A player who has proven he can score at the junior level but, if he can't score at the pro level the way he has in juniors, plays a strong, gritty, physical two-way game. Because of that, I think both players have a very high floor but a lot of upside. Perhaps Vesalainen was simply rushed into the SHL like Virtanen was rushed into the NHL when they weren't quite ready, so they ended up playing a very simple game, just making sure to work hard without making mistakes.

I don't think I would pick Vesalainen in the top five, probably not top 10 either, but if I had to make a pick in the 11-15 range, it would probably be him. We don't know if he will start scoring at the pro level, especially in the NHL, but if he does, he could be dominant. And even if he doesn't, you probably still get a great third-line grinder with strong two-way play and a nose for the net.

(I know there have been some issues with Virtanen's work ethic as well, so it's not quite fair to compare the two. But I find their floor, upside and potential player types and development paths very similar.)
 
jnk96 said:
Vesalainen reminds me a bit of Jake Virtanen. A player who has proven he can score at the junior level but, if he can't score at the pro level the way he has in juniors, plays a strong, gritty, physical two-way game. Because of that, I think both players have a very high floor but a lot of upside. Perhaps Vesalainen was simply rushed into the SHL like Virtanen was rushed into the NHL when they weren't quite ready, so they ended up playing a very simple game, just making sure to work hard without making mistakes.

I don't think I would pick Vesalainen in the top five, probably not top 10 either, but if I had to make a pick in the 11-15 range, it would probably be him. We don't know if he will start scoring at the pro level, especially in the NHL, but if he does, he could be dominant. And even if he doesn't, you probably still get a great third-line grinder with strong two-way play and a nose for the net.

(I know there have been some issues with Virtanen's work ethic as well, so it's not quite fair to compare the two. But I find their floor, upside and potential player types and development paths very similar.)
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That's a player Vesalainen will never be.
 
Huffman said:
That's a player Vesalainen will never be.
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What makes you so sure? Did you watch him at the world juniors? He just played a 200-foot game. Aggressive on the forecheck, quick on the backcheck, aggressive stick work, physical. He did everything you'd ask for from a skilled third-liner. When I say "grinder with two-way play", I don't mean a Derek Dorsett, but someone who works his butt off on aggressive forechecks and backchecks, powering through opponents and laying an occasional hit, all while having Vesalainen's skill level.

Vesalainen at the world juniors and now looks like two completely different players. One looked more like Virtanen has in Vancouver, the other wows you with speed, between-the-legs dekes and excellent all-around skill.
 
Vesalainen is nothing like Virtanen. And Vesalainen has already scored more in u-18s than Virtanen did.

News flash: Not every prospect is going to be an impact player in pro leagues at 17 years of age. In fact, the vast majority will not.

This is his age group. Many seem to have forgotten that.
 
ijuka said:
News flash: Not every prospect is going to be an impact player in pro leagues at 17 years of age. In fact, the vast majority will not.
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Actually, the exceptional talent we have lately seen has made many people forget this absolute fact...
 
ijuka said:
Vesalainen is nothing like Virtanen. And Vesalainen has already scored more in u-18s than Virtanen did.

News flash: Not every prospect is going to be an impact player in pro leagues at 17 years of age. In fact, the vast majority will not.

This is his age group. Many seem to have forgotten that.
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He was also barely 17y when the SHL season started.
It could have been a confidence thing that kept going.

I wouldn't raise him into top10/15 with his tourney but I'd absolutely look at him with later 1st round pick if he keeps this play.
 
He will continue to struggle against pro players unless he learns to make quicker and better decisions with the puck. He often goes for the flashy moves and low percentage plays. Those may work against his peers now, but as he plays against bigger players and better teams he won't have the time and space needed to pull them off anymore. I wouldn't get too excited based on his play in this tournament.
 
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