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Thread: Kristian Vesalainen

  1. #1
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    Default Kristian Vesalainen

    Very good article about Kristian Vesalainen who is very likely going to be a top-5 pick in 2017: http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/kr...he-2017-draft/

    Big kid at 6'3" and 203 lbs, and already played 19 regular season games in the SHL last season as a 16-year-old. And 5 playoff games as well before he went to play at the U18 tournament where he scored 6 points in 7 games. A lot of similarities to Jesse Puljujärvi, and I think he can play in a big role at the WJC this year while still only 17 years old. Kapanen, Rantanen and Hintz are too old while Laine, Puljujärvi and Aho are likely playing in the NHL, so there's lots of room for new faces in the Finnish WJC team.

    He will be a very young 18-year-old at the draft next summer (born on June 1st), similar to Laine and Puljujärvi this year.

    Link to his EliteProspects profile page: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=222125

    It's great to see that Finland is finally starting to produce high-end offensive players. Not sure why they're mostly wingers, though.

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    Default Re: Kristian Vesalainen

    Really the only thing that matters from this article:

    "Though he is developing in Sweden, he’s proud to wear the Finnish national jersey whenever he gets the chance and still prefers Hesburger over Max Burger. There is one more reason Vesalainen doesn’t mind playing in Sweden, however:
    “The girls are a little bit prettier there,” he said."

    Good to see the kid has his head in the right place

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    Default Re: Kristian Vesalainen

    He's a good looking prospect for sure.

    Finland is doing an amazing job developing these days. They won the 2016 U18's with a dirty lineup consisting of seven players born in 1999. They are going to be littering the first round podium at the NHL draft for awhile.

    Urho Vaakanainen is going to be a fantastic defender. He's more polished than Juolevi at the same age.

    Eeli Tolvanen will be a top 10 selection..

    Juuso Välimäki is another standout top defensive prospect for 2017
    Staff Writer for DobberHockey
    Associate Editor/Senior Writer and Scout for DobberProspects - Vancouver Canucks

    Keep on, keepin' on.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Kristian Vesalainen

    Quote Originally Posted by Crazy Joe Davola View Post
    Urho Vaakanainen is going to be a fantastic defender. He's more polished than Juolevi at the same age.
    Vaakanainen got into 25 games in the top professional league in Finland last season. That's pretty impressive for a 16-year-old D-man. He could play the entire season at the same level this year.

    Funny fact #1: Vaakanainen is from the same small city as I am. Probably the best player to come from there.
    Funny fact #2: In English, Vaakanainen would mean horizontal woman.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Kristian Vesalainen

    Finland has been popping out really good players lately (going back to Barkov in 2013 and Teraivanen in 2012). The biggest issue for Finland in international hockey as always been the talent of their D. With Vaakanainen , Välimäki and Juolevi things are looking bright!!
    twitter: @hugotwigg

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    Default Re: Kristian Vesalainen

    Quote Originally Posted by Jouko-Pouko View Post
    Vaakanainen got into 25 games in the top professional league in Finland last season. That's pretty impressive for a 16-year-old D-man. He could play the entire season at the same level this year.

    Funny fact #1: Vaakanainen is from the same small city as I am. Probably the best player to come from there.
    Funny fact #2: In English, Vaakanainen would mean horizontal woman.
    With a name like that, he's bound to be a success!

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