Devils lost 12 of 14 Once the puck is off his stick, Niemela puts his head down and motors up ice in search of a gap to exploit or a rush to join. The good news is that these hasty decisions usually involve play off the puck rather than forced passes or rushed shots into a pressing checker. Over the years, U.S. ice hockey has welcomed players from all over the world, and Finland is no exception. Finnish hockey fans will also be able to see NHL talent showcase their skills in Liiga in 2020-21. But it’s a proven variable to account for when discussing draft prospects, and in a draft year with plenty of top prospects on the older side (Lafrenière, Rossi, Lundell, Quinn, etc. Commissioner Gary Bettman last month announced the steps the league and the NHL Players' Association agreed upon to move forward, including the official ending … Four other NHL prospects currently playing well in Finland: Matias MacCelli, F, Ilves. The other standout draft-eligible forward in Finland’s U20 league, Tappara’s Kasper Simontaival finished fifth in league scoring, fourth on a points-per-game basis, and second among draft-eligibles to earn a second-round grading by most scouting outlets. Although he has been used in late and close situations in either end of the ice, Jarventie is not a penalty nor should be considered an above-average checker. Numerous Finnish players have played for NHL teams, including the Colorado Avalanche. Part of this may be tied into his early August birthday making him one of the draft’s younger players, but it elevates the risk of selecting Järventie when there’s a chance his treasure trove of skills don’t end up flourishing. He has a powerful and accurate shot to beat goalies clean from a distance, the nifty touch to create openings in tight, and the size and awareness to be a natural finisher. Additionally, Miettinen is an inside player with excellent lateral quickness and edgework, and when he cuts inside he still gets a lot of mustard on his wrister, especially when going against the grain. Digging a bit deeper on Järventie’s stats, his accomplishments become even more impressive given that he was only being deployed in third line minutes (15:12 per game), and even more surprisingly, deployed as one of his team’s go-to defensive players, with a faceoffs ratio of 45.1% — 50% would indicate he had an equal amount of faceoffs in the offensive and defensive zone, with his percentage being one of KOOVEE’s most defence-heavy. Viro’s one-on-one defense can look technically advanced most of the time, as he keeps his feet moving with proper stick-on-puck technique and body positioning without presenting the opponent with a window to take him inside or out. Coaches Video: Roni Hirvonen ranked between second and third round for the upcoming draft. Viro does not like to give up an inch of ice. It was a strategy that worked well in a league that’s a shade below the QMJHL in comparable difficulty, but he’ll have to continue diversifying his offence if he wants to build on his success. UPDATE TO @NHL RULE 83.1 (OFF-SIDE): Beginning in the 2020-21 regular season, a player's skate will not have to be in contact with the blue line … New ... 2020, 8:00am EST ... We are going to be creating our own World Cup of Hockey type of tournament with players … #NuortenSMLiiga: RW Veeti Miettinen (Ranked No. I see him going no lower than the third round of the draft. 3 overall pick in the NHL draft -- … Center | HIFK, SM-Liiga | 6’1, 185 | 10/3/01 | 31gp-7g-14a-21pts. Weekly Question: How do we feel about the North Division? Maenpaa may be listed at 5-foot-5, but he’s always hounding opponents no matter the situation. The young pivot does not have much flash to his game, but has pretty good hands. He was one of the OHL’s top rookie scorers before an injury forced him out of January’s CHL Top Prospects Game, but Suni has since returned and continues to stand out on a loaded Oshawa roster. His size is ideal, and Suni is strong on the puck along the boards, behind the net, and in open ice. At least Johnny Beecher will have some company among Boston Bruins prospects after all at the World Junior Championships tourney. Of the 690 players onseason-opening rosters, 295 of them, or 42.8%, are from Canada. He also led his team in scoring by 24 points, with Kiekko-Espoo finishing near the bottom of the league despite Miettinen carrying them on his back. We cover all of the major hockey leagues in Finland including the Liiga & the Regular Season of the Liiga to bring you all of the current hockey league table standings for the whole of the 2020/21 2020/21!. He’s constantly picking off passes near the opposing line or intercepting leads via the forecheck. Eemil Viro Granted, he may not be as unique a prospect as his aforementioned Russian peer, but Blomqvist has been nothing short of a brick wall in Finland’s top junior league, albeit for a superior defensive team. We just believe there isn’t as much value to be had this year. The result? As one might expect, Canada still reigns supreme in terms ofwhich country’s players are the most well-represented in the NHL. Hirvonen is in the right place, at the right time, all the time. Naturally, playing with this much aggressiveness will land Viro in hot water. He can also change the angle of the shot to make it even more difficult for the goalie. So here is a list of top 15 tallest NHL players today. Shooting lots is fantastic, and is usually a great indicator for players progressing to higher levels. But scoring at over a point-per-game rate against men is no easy task, with Järventie playing a key role for KOOVEE. Being a professional athlete means dealing with pressure. White Goes Down, Methot Starts a Fire, and More! NASHVILLE (The Draft Analyst) — Finland always produces premier talent for the NHL draft, and this year should be no different. On top of this, Miettinen committed to play at St. His hands are incredibly soft, and having proper stick positioning in conjunction with those mitts and sharp instincts allows him to pick off seam passes and dart up ice all in one motion. With Liiga getting underway this month, seeing if Hirvonen can play centre will add some certainty to his projection and could impact his final draft slot. When it comes to the breakout, Jurmo utilizes quick thinking and a series of deceptive moves to either peel away from a forechecker or trap him with a bank pass. Not only is he aggressive with his pinches and forays deep into the opposing zone, but he also isn’t shy about using his hard shot from just about anywhere. Still, these observations are minor and certainly fixable. In terms of first-round potential, only center Anton Lundell has that solidified, while opinions on the remainder of the group differ from analyst to analyst. So, let’s talk about what isn’t: his skating. Playing alongside Hirvonen for the Espoo Blues, the two were a force to be reckoned with on their way to a finals loss. 1-8, plus a look at Nos. Another noticeable aspect of Viro’s game on or off the puck is his decisiveness — he will make a decision and stick with it. At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Jurmo can be an intimidating presence as he powers through the zone at top speed. Jackets lose 11th in last 15, Normally I'd say give a kid like Wahlstrom a bump, but Lee is their second-leading scorer and captain. NHL Central Scouting was quite low on Miettinen in their midterm rankings (92nd among European skaters, which projects to be somewhere between a fifth to seventh-round pick, if drafted). And with 42 goals, he broke the single-season record as only the second player to hit 40+ goals in a season. Over 36 million posts and growing. He’s expected to play in the Liiga next season for Ilves with Lassi Thomson, where I’ll be curious to watch how his skills come together. Jarventie is able to sniff out the perfect opportunity to motor up ice. It’s an important note to remember as you put Hirvonen’s production against men in the Liiga into context: against his own age group, he’s been a dominant offensive presence. His owns a hard shot that he keeps low but seems willing to acquiesce to forwards for shooting responsibilities. Jurmo has everything you would want in a potential top-pairing defenseman. For a team like the Senators, flush with pucks and in need of elite talent, Simontaival is potentially a bet that you make, putting him on a development plan similar to Mark Stone’s and letting Andre Tourigny and co. work on rounding out his game while he plays junior locally. And that’s unfortunately where we’re ending this week’s honourable mentions. Quiz Stats. Niemela is an effortless skater and accurate puck distributor who can take matters into his own hands when the chips are down in his own end. 2. While scouts noted that Hirvonen is agile, he lacks a top gear and more importantly, two-step separation that might limit his ability to cut-off faster players at the next level even if he’s correctly reading into where they’re going. Blomqvist’s rebound control for any shot towards the lower half is outstanding and even high-danger chances are kept within proximity of stick reach. Six teams have at least five non-Big Six players on their roster. Blomqvist is a calm, poised netminder who stays upright during the majority of his post slides and seems to avoid dropping to the ice via a complete butterfly. 7. Most Finnish analysts that I follow have been surprised at Hirvonen’s treatment internationally, where he didn’t have much of a role at the U17s and U18s last season, and was left out of the U20 team this year when the team decided to roll with 12 forwards and eight defencemen. It’s possible that we’ll see only one Finnish player cross that stage in the first round — although, I’d bet on a number closer to two or three. He isn’t very physical and could stand to use his upper-body strength to his advantage, and you rarely see him on the penalty kill. St. Louis Blues. Unlike the agile Hirvonen, Simontaival doesn’t feature top speed nor is especially agile in his undersized frame. He has spent the entire season with Assat’s top team and is one of the league’s leading minute eaters among rookies. For Miettinen? The 2020 CHL Import Draft featured two players previously selected in the NHL Draft including Finnish forward Henri Nikkanen, picked at number 42 by the Winnipeg ICE, who is also a Winnipeg Jets prospect having been chosen in the fourth round in 2019. Roni Hirvonen The Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets will each have two core players as well. But with Hirvonen moving up to the Liiga this season and Espoo going bankrupt, Miettinen was left to fend for himself on a weak Kiekko-Espoo team, with his 16-year-old brother Verner playing as his new centreman. His dual-threat capabilities when coupled with his constant movement in all three zones makes him difficult to contain, and it even seems as though KooVee designed set plays off faceoffs specifically for him. Arizona drops 6th in last 9 Thought he played it well, so credit to Kokkonen for picking that corner. With a net worth of roughly $200 million, Wayne Gretzky is the wealthiest hockey player in the world, followed by Mario Lemieux ($150 million), Chris Pronger ($75 million); and Joe Sakic ($72 Million). Starting with the stats, Miettinen’s dominance started long before this season, breaking the single-season scoring record in the Finnish U20 league for U18 players, with 61 points in 48 games. Roby Jarventie Current season NHL stats provided … Goalie | Karpat U20, Nuorten SM-Liiga | 6’1, 182 | 1/10/02 | 32gp, 711 saves, 0.929 sv %. He can wire the puck with authority but also serve as a playmaker behind the net, a one-time option from the circle, or an immovable slot present in front. Even from the graph above, it’s easy to see that the Big Six, or the nations of Canada, United States, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, and Russia are the most represented countries in the NHL. A pure sniper with one of the best shot-release combinations in the draft, Jarventie is a well-balanced winger who has spent the majority of his draft year as a top-line winger for one of the leading teams in Finland’s adult-age Mestis. Check out Miettinen’s video-filled scouting report on Future Scope Hockey, as well as Jokke Nevalainen’s Twitter feed of clips from the past two seasons. From 2010 to 2020, the number of registered ice hockey players in Finland increased overall. The McKeen's Hockey staff give Rotoworld their top 50 selections for Tuesday's 2020 NHL Draft. “Hockey sense is the best attribute he possesses, though he is also a very good passer. Although Jarevntie can score goals in a variety of ways, his most impressive skill is the way he slings rockets off his blade within nanoseconds. He’s intelligent, mature, and one of the more polished prospects available. Finnish Hockey Players. His draft-year production ranks 15th over the last decade, and is comparable to first-rounders like Rasmus Kupari and Kasperi Kapanen. #AHL: LW Cole Perfetti (WIN 1st/2020) with the power-play tally that gave Manitoba (WIN) a 3-2 lead over Stockton (CGY) in the 3rd period. It’s the Thursday edition of Links, News, and Notes! Defensively, Suni positions himself properly and uses an active stick. It’s easy to point towards Miettinen’s aforementioned shot or his playmaking abilities — what scoring leader doesn’t possess at least one or both of those qualities? Some highlights from last week. 9. Joel Blomqvist For a more detailed scouting report and video highlights, click here. Anton Lundell As good a skater as Niemela is, he sometimes gets too involved in a given possession and is unable to retreat in time to even out the numbers. #Hockey #HockeyCanada #HCskillscoach #NHL #NHLDraft#HockeyTwitter #NHLDraftPowered by @SportContract pic.twitter.com/HtemZbG5wW. 15 Ryan Getzlaf - 6'4" Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports. Although the Finns don’t have a 2020 draft prospect with the hype of an Aleksander Barkov or Patrik Laine or Kaapo Kakko, the overall depth of the class remains formidable from both the skill forward and two-way defenseman categories. He has an excellent wrist shot which he can release quickly and accurately. The concerns with his game remind me a bit of Jacob Perreault, another fantastic goal-scorer who would occasionally be very inconsistent with his level of play. #U20: Nice look and feed by C Roni Hirvonen to find a cutting Mikko Kokkonen (TOR) and beat Askarov high blocker. DATE PLAYER NAME LEAGUE AUTHOR; Dec 28/20: Raty Aatu: 2253 – Pelicans Jr. vs. Karpat Jr. JR A SM-liiga: by Derek Neumeier: View Report: … Full Carolina Hurricanes roster for the 2020-21 season including position, height, weight, birthdate, years of experience, and college. I’m still just as baffled five months after NHL Central Scouting ranked him as the 72nd best draft-eligible skater in Europe, a placement that typically borders on being drafted late to passed on completely. From a point-production standpoint, Jurmo is not a run-of-the-mill shoot-first defender, but Jokerit’s slew of talented forwards on their high-powered roster limits his opportunities to be creative. Depsite his physical gifts, Jarventie plays a relatively clean game and will only engage in battles when necessary. The number of registered ice hockey players in the season 2019/20 amounted to nearly 71.1 thousand. In odd-man situations, Blomqvist properly angles towards the puck and is confident in his timing and quickness to get across and respond to a pass. General manager Marc Bergevin made an announcement that the player will been loaned out to Finnish team Lahti Pelicans. He handles the puck with ease and is agile in all directions, which helps him run the possession of a power play from the right half wall. Popular Quizzes Today. Hirvonen also plays on the penalty kill and will pressure the points without overcommitting himself. Left-handed Defenseman | Jokerit U20, Nuorten SM-Liiga | 6’3, 190 | 4/19/02 | 36gp-4g-8a-12pts. One thing to consider is that Jokerit’s top line is made up entirely of 19 and 20 year olds, yet he’s equally as dangerous on the second unit and has produced just as frequently despite playing less. When he peels back and recalculates with the time and space he created, Maenpaa will find the best option to sling a tape-to-tape pass, especially trailers and cutters across the ice. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to include women's hockey as an Olympic event in July 1992.. Finland has won three Olympic bronze medals in women's hockey, including the first bronze medal in women’s ice hockey at the Winter Olympic games. A cerebral two-way center with an excellent shot, Lundell is the cream of a relatively thin crop of draft-eligible Finnish forwards. But if there’s one thing you need to know about Miettinen, it’s that he loves to shoot. So each of the 23 players on each of the 31 NHL rosters will be under some strain come January. Finnish captain Anton Lundell, another Panthers first-rounder, hopes to spoil this goalie party in the last two games, of course. Joni Jurmo Photo by Pasi Mennander. Currently suiting up for Tappara U20 … Sports Quiz / Finnish NHL Players in season 2020-2021 Random Sports or NHL Quiz Can you name the Finnish NHL Players in season 2020-2021. by pulchowk Plays Quiz not verified by Sporcle . The fact that he’s listed as a generous 5-foot-9 will certainly scare some teams away, and while he still has plenty of room to build his strength, he does a great job at positioning his body to fend off opponents. It’s this offensive ceiling that have many noting that he’s got some of the highest potential in this draft class if he can put it all together. 2020 NHL Draft Order: Where are your team’s picks? Bruins should have just stayed in bed. Latest articles. I’m sure they have their reasons, but remember that Miettinen not only destroyed one of the toughest junior leagues out there, but also is committed to an excellent college program that develops NHL talent. ), Miettinen can be added to the list. So what’s the deal with Central Scouting, and why do even public scouting sources have him pegged as a 2nd to 4th rounder? Here’s what we like about Hirvonen. All teams have gotten at least some start on preparations for the 2020 NHL draft, which follows the playoffs. Even that might be an understatement. Today’s group of profiles focuses very heavily on short players, and while Roby Järventie is the only player we’re discussing over 5-foot-9, buckle up because he’s probably the most chaotic of the bunch. Moreover, despite being two years younger than any of his teammates, Hirvonen was trusted with top-six minutes from his coaching staff. He’s a smart, versatile player with great anticipation and is dependable in all three zones. The fact is Finland chose Jurmo over Topi Niemela and Eemil Viro to play for the under-19 team at the recent Four Nations in Berlin, where he delivered an impressive performance (3 goals, 3 assists in four games). Broken down even further, most of the Big Six players hail from North America. 2020: 2021: D: 32: 1: 1: 2: 3: 16: 1992-03-31: 32: Markus Hannikainen: 2016: 2019: LW: 91: 8: 7: 15-8: 14: Helsinki: 1993-03-26: 33: Teemu Hartikainen: 2011: 2013: C: 52: 6: 7: 13-10: 16: Kuopio: 1990-05-03: 34: Erik Haula: 2014: 2021: LW: 428: 87: 95: 182: 15: 190: Pori: 1991-03-23: 35: Ilkka Heikkinen: 2010: 2010: D: 7: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: Rauma: 1984-11-13: 36: Ville Heinola: 2020: 2021: D: 9: 1: 4: 5: 5: 4: Honkajoki: 2001-03 … With Yaroslav Askarov getting all the praise, it’s easy to see why a poised and technically-advanced netminder like Blomqvist will get overlooked in the first half of his draft season. #ChampionsGoBeyond pic.twitter.com/DBkAiFS4Nh, — Champions Hockey League (@championshockey) October 15, 2019, 8. Niemela also seems to attempt high-risk passes, albeit with an acceptable completion percentage. Many of the NHL’s tallest players can be found on defence, but their are also forwards, and even goalies who measure well over six feet. He likes to use his speed to attack from the outside before cutting to the net.”. 11. He takes a lot of risks and can be overconfident. It’s obviously something he has no control over, and despite this his numbers still fare really well when comparing him to D+1 players. I’ll be up front about this: I believe Veeti Miettinen is a first round talent, even for a draft class as deep as 2020. Leevi Selänne (F) Texas Jr. Brahmas: NA3HL: 31: 20: 15: 35: 49: 2. Subscribe: https://apple.co/2Q0jHLT. In fact, he’s even adapted it to be a part of his underrated two-way game, also serving as one of his team’s better penalty killers this season. The result is a 14.5% shooting percentage, a sustainable level that you can easily expect to carry over given the quality of his shot. His development route going to the NCAA is an unconventional one, but he’s stepping into a team where he’ll almost certainly be their best player the second he takes to North American ice. Right-handed Defenseman | Karpat, SM-Liiga | 5’10, 156 | 3/25/02 | 36gp-1g-5a-6pts. Slumping teams kept on slumping on the midseason Sunday: Can you name the Finnish NHL Players in season 2020-2021 Test your knowledge on this sports quiz and compare your score to others. pic.twitter.com/D0qlP3eEcX, — Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) November 8, 2019, 4. 2021 NHL Draft: 5 Finnish Players to Watch. Washington Capitals. Pavel Bure ranked 6th with a personal wealth of $70 Million, followed by Marian Gaborik with $64.1 Million. With 73 points in 52 games, Miettinen led the league in scoring by 12 points, placing second in the per-game category right behind D+1 Tuuka Tieksola. Maenpaa is a very responsible checker who presses defensemen on the forecheck and utilizes a quick stick to loot them from behind. And good luck trying to dance around him in a one-on-one scenario — Jurmo closes on rushing forwards in a hurry and will neutralize an entry attempt with either a strong body check or well-timed stick-on-puck. Right Wing | Blues U20, Nuorten SM-Liiga | 5’9, 161 | 9/20/01 | NCAA: St. The thing I love the most is just how obvious it is that Maenpaa can’t wait to get on the ice and that he never loses the desire make his presence felt. He stands firm at his line and will deliver a hard check or shove to opponents who try to bypass him. It’s hard to find fault in a young defenseman who has excelled at every level, although Jurmo is a bit of newcomer on the international scene. Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Blomqvist projects to be a workhorse starter for Finland in the tournament. Niemela is a very good skater who doesn’t hesitate when the opportunity to join the rush presents itself, but he’s also smart enough to read play development and hold his own in low-slot coverage. This bias often comes across as us only seeing the positive traits of European-born players and not seeing some obvious flaws, and vice-versa for our friends in Europe who might not watch a lot of North American hockey, for example. Although he can come across as a finesse forward at first glance, Hirvonen doesn’t mind getting dirty in the corners or knocking an opponent off balance in the low slot. Whichever team drafts Miettinen will know what they’re getting: a volume-shooting, goal-scoring, high-flying Finn who makes the players around him better. Inside his own blue-line he has a good defensive IQ and stick, and even though immature won’t shy away from contesting pucks. Finland Complete hockey facts, including top leagues, players, teams, ... 2020 WC Tournament Cancelled ... Players From Finland In North America # Player Team League GP G A TP PIM; 1. While he’s shown great improvements off the puck this year, he can sometimes get drawn to the puck while chasing along the right-wing boards instead of understanding his coverage, and is prone to being a bit too confident with the puck by passing over some higher percentage plays for the home-run seam pass. It all coalesced into tearing the Finnish U20 league apart as an 18-year-old. Data Provided By the official stats partner of the NHL. It usually takes a snipe to beat him upstairs, especially short-side high. The Hockey Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum dedicated to the history of ice hockey.It was established in 1943 and is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Originally, there were two categories for induction, players and builders, and in 1961, a third category for on-ice officials was introduced. He skates well enough but not exceptionally, has nice vision, and is very good off the puck at finding lanes and creating space for himself and team-mates. The last factor worth discussing is his age — Miettinen is one of the draft’s oldest first-year eligible players, born five days after the cutoff date for the 2019 draft. He spends a lot of time on the periphery but stays in motion and reacts properly to puck travel rather than gaze from a static position. He may not be the biggest kid on the ice, but Simontaival plays with intensity and is always looking to ram his offensive prowess right down his opponents’ throats. But there's pressure. Join me for some #FlaPanthers Left-handed Defenseman | TPS Turku, SM-Liiga | 6’0, 165 | 4/3/02 | 20gp-0g-3a-3pts. While our recently-profiled Anton Lundell is no Patrik Laine, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, or Kaapo Kakko, he’s likely a top-10 pick this year and another smart, two-way player to add to the NHL ranks. The NHL Global Series will be heading back overseas for regular season games in Finland and the Czech Republic during the 2020-21 season. Among other things, the puckers interviewed by ESPN said players used cannabis-containing candies to relax and fall asleep faster. Team Finland: 3 Players to Watch at 2021 World Juniors December 19, 2020 With plenty of young stars like Sasha Barkov, Mikko Rantanen, and Miro Heiskanen climbing through the ranks of the NHL in recent years, it’s clear that Finland is doing something right in terms of hockey development. I think he has serious point-producing potential at the highest levels. The Finnish men's national ice hockey team, or Leijonat / Lejonen (The Lions in Finnish and Swedish), as it is called in Finland, is governed by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association.Finland is considered a member of the so-called "Big Six", the unofficial group of the six strongest men's ice hockey nations, along with Canada, United States, the Czech Republic, Russia and Sweden. 1. Watch: https://bit.ly/3rJplA5 Winnipeg Jets. From a long-term standpoint, Viro has the potential to anchor his own top pairing with a focus on shutting down opponents rather than piling up points. Blues U20 trail Tappara 4-1 pic.twitter.com/qHsS7pKRWI, — Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) September 7, 2019, 6. Going to college still remains his plan for next season, as he’ll continue his education while playing for a team with a history of welcoming Finnish talent. Joel Blomqvist was regarded as the second-best goaltending prospect in the … Against his peers, he can utilize his dangerous anticipation to steal a puck and then drive it to the net himself — a rare skill, let alone from a 5-foot-9 forward — and when he’s not the one shooting, he’s shown some creativity from his passing that flash some higher-end skill.