The Top Ten Finns in the 2017 Draft
So who are the top ten Finns in this years draft? Here is my list which includes 4 first rounders and 4 seconds a pretty good draft for Finland. Who is in your top ten?
1. 11 - Välimäki, Juuso, The Combo Tri-City, WHL D, 62, 200, L, - 58-18-41-59 +3 1.02 PPG
So what do I like so much about Juuso Välimäki to have him rated as the top Finnish-born player in this years draft. Well, when I order a pizza, I always order a combo. When you order Juuso Välimäki, you are getting a combo. You get the combination of size, mobility, intelligence, vision, passing skills and defensive responsibility that brings positive results at both ends of the ice. A point a game d-man with 18 goals in his draft-eligible year positive results, indeed. His shot can still use a bit of work so there is a likelihood of even more positive results in the future. He can be seen in the 10 to 16 range on most lists.
2. 12 - Tolvanen, Eeli, The Shooter Sioux City, USHL LW, 510, 179, L 44-26-17-43 +15 0.98 PPG
Eeli Tolvanen is a player who has proved himself as a goal scorer in the USHL and at the U18 Worlds. It is his shot that sets him apart from most others, the release and the variety, in particular. Add his acceleration and passing skills and you have an excellent offensive asset that should translate to the NHL. While his size may be of concern to some, it is his play without the puck that needs to improve the most for him to be able to translate his junior success to the BIGs. He can be seen in the 7 to 14 range on most rankings.
3. 14 - Heiskanen, Miro, The Skater HIFK, FIN 1 Liiga, D, 60, 170, L 37-5-5-10 -1 0.27 PPG
There is always a player that I like in the draft that some like even more and I cant explain why. This year that player is Miro Heiskanen. What I like about Miro Heiskanen is his high-end skating ability, notable hockey sense, great hands, NHL-ready passing skills and being successful playing major minutes against men in a top professional league. The negatives to Miro Heiskanen are:
- He is of modest size, 60, 170.
- He does not play much of a physical game
- He shot could be upgraded
- He never has produced significant offense
OK, I guess that I have answered my own question. Hopefully, he will see Miro at the U18 Worlds where we can see if he can produce significant offense against his own age group. Miro can be found anywhere between 3 and 23 on most of the major rankings.
4. 27 - Räsänen, Eemeli, Mr. Gigantic Kingston, OHL - D, 66, 205, R 64-6-32-38 -10 0.59 PPG
How can a 66 guy be next to invisible? After all, Eemeli is still a late second or third rounder on most lists. The simple answer is that the Eemeli Räsänen that you had seen before the New Year bears little or no resemblance to the Eemeli Räsänen that you saw in the New Year. Eemeli has been almost a point per game player since January 13, 2017 (22 points in 25 games). However, it is not just the points that have improved as the OHL coaches recently voted him the second most improved player in the Eastern Conference of the OHL. Gone are the days when he looked like a new-born giraffe; gone is the hesitation; gone are the days where he wasnt counted on in key situations. Today, he is the set-up guy for one of the most successful power plays in the OHL, usually combining with fellow defenseman, Stephen Desrocher , and one of the hottest players anywhere, John Robertson. He is still adjusting to his size but if you were to ask Riley Stillman of the Oshawa Generals, he would tell you that Eemeli is already there. The other night, Eemeli was attempting to enter the Oshawa zone with the puck when Riley rushed towards him to deliver a devastating hit. The result: Riley lay crumbled on the ice like he had just been run over by an Abrams tank and Eemeli barely noticed the carnage that he had caused. Yes, Eemeli is still raw but the growth in his game over the last half of the year has been so high that it promises much more to come in the future. At the moment, I am fairly lonely in ranking Eemeli in the first round. We will have to wait and see to find out if I am still as lonely come draft day.
5. 31 - Heponiemi, Aleksi, Mr. Elusitivity Swift Current, WHL LW, 510, 147, L 71-28-56-84 +16 1.18 PPG
Aleksi Heponiemi has the best skill level (mental and physical) of any of the Finnish prospects in this years draft and for my money; at least, it is not even particularly close. However, this prospect has one notable drawback that makes his selection risky in any round he weighs only 147 lb. and is just 510. However, like Mitch Marner of the Leafs in the NHL, he is a player who still succeeds in spite of his size drawback with his skating, passing, shooting and elusiveness. Aleksi reminds me of Artturi Lehkonen of the Canadiens but Aleksi has better passing skills. Yes, he is a risk but so was Mitch Marner and Artturi Lehkonen. Who will take that risk and when I am betting that at least one team will take that risk and bring along some poutine in the first round.
6. 34 - Vesalainen, Kristian, The One Goal Wonder - Frölunda, SWE 1 SHL W, 63, 207, L 26-1-5-6 -1 0.23 PPG
Kristian Vesalainen was the top Finn on many lists at the start of the season. What happened? He simply didnt produce Not in the SHL (just 1 goal), not in the Liiga (also just one goal), not at the World Juniors (yes, one goal), not in the Swedish juniors where he was -7 in 10 games. However, this one goal wonder still possesses the size, the shot and the potential to be a power forward that scouts dream about. Yes, he will fall from his early season rankings but still has the potential to go relatively high late 1st to early 2nd is most likely.
7. 35 - Vaakanainen, Urho, Mr. McSmooth JYP FIN 1 Liiga D, 61, 187, L 40-2-3-5 -4 0.13 PPG
Watching Urho Vaakanainen skate is like watching dancers do the Viennese Waltz backed up by a full symphony orchestra. It is simply poetry in motion. He also makes nice passes that seem to always find the way to where they are supposed to go. However, he does not seem to possess the mental makeup that will ever produce much offense in spite of his high-end physical skills. He also provides more of an active stick than a physical defense. These last two factors tend to indicate that Vaakanainen will likely be more of a bottom pairing guy if he makes it to the NHL. However, anybody who can skate as well as Vaakanainen are a fairly safe bet to make it. Therefore, a late first is possible; an early second is a safe bet.
8. 46 - Jokiharju, Henri, Mr. Wheels Portland, WHL D, 60, 170, R 69-8-38-46 +16 0.67 PPG
With Henri, it is the wheels he is just plain fast. He has good gap control, positioning and an active stick. His passes are fine but his shot good still could use a bit of work. Henri is still just 170 lb. so he needs to add more weight and strength to get a better idea of the finished or is that Finnish product. Henri has the potential to be selected in the late first but the second is more probable.
9. 52 Salo, Robin, Mr. McD Sport, FIN 1 Liiga, D, 60, 185, L 53-1-15-16 -1 0.30 PPG
Why isnt Robin Salo in more conversations about the draft? Most say it is because his skating lacks enough agility. While there is some truth to that statement, I think it may be over emphasized as Robin Salo seems plenty agile enough to play major minutes successfully in Finlands top professional league, the Liiga. His defensive game, however, is up to snuff gap control, positioning and board battles. Not many first-year draft eligible players get to be regulars in the Liiga. Robin Salo is one of those regulars and is starting to bring a more offensive posture to his game by joining the rush more. He may not be an A prospect but he brings a higher likelihood than most to being NHL serviceable for a late second round pick.
10. 72 Ikonen, Joni, Mr. McScore - Frölunda HC J20, SWE J20, RW, 510, 168, R 40-20-19-39 +8 - 0.98 PPG
Joni Ikonen is a boom or bust prospect. The boom is that he is a goal scorer and I love goal scorers. The bust is that he is under-sized at 510, 168 and can be a perimeter player at times. Some have him late second round; others early to mid-third round.
