A Huge Step Back for Finland
This years NHL Entry Draft was a disappointment for Finland. Last year 26 Finns
were picked in the draft, this time only 13. Finland will host the next World
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Junior Championships but this time to home time can not show future NHL stars
to the home crowd. Ex-Team Finland coach Hannu Aravirta has to do a lot of work
to bring home that medal Finnish hockey followers already got used to getting.
Looking back the past couple of years the class of 1983 born players has been
the best ever for Finland, at least when drafted players are considered. 5 first
round picks was more than what would be Finland's fair share. Now 1985 born
players have been eligible for only one time now, so they still have time to
get drafted. Players like Teemu Nurmi, Tuomas Santavuori, Mikko
Kuukka and Pasi Salonen should get drafted, but there is still a
long way to go for 1985ers.
Top Finnish drafted player by the year of birth:
1980 Ossi Vaananen 2nd (43rd), Tomek Valtonen 2nd (56th), Mikko Jokela 4th
(96th),
Kristian Antila 4th (113rd)
1981 Jani Rita 1st (13th), Ari Ahonen 1st (27th), Tony Salmelainen 2nd (41th),
Teemu Sainomaa 2nd (62nd), Juha Alen 3rd (90th), Teemu Kesa 4th (100th),
Arto Tukio 4th (101st), Joonas Vihko 4th (103rd), Jaakko Harikkala 4th (118th)
1982 Teemu Laine 2nd (39th), Tero Maatta 2nd (41th), Tuomas Pihlman 2nd (48th),
Tuukka Makela 3rd (66th), Matti Kaltiainen 4th (111st), Olli Malmivaara 4th
(117th)
1983 Kari Lehtonen 1st (2nd), Joni Pitkanen 1st (4th), Mikko Koivu 1st (6th),
Tuomo Ruutu 1st (9th), Jese Niinimaki 1st (15th), Arttu Luttinen 3rd (75th),
Henrik Juntunen 3rd (83rd), Tuomas Nissinen 3rd (89th), Tomi Maki 4th (108th),
Teemu Lassila 4th (117th)
1984 Sean Bergenheim 1st (22nd), Hannu Toivonen 1st (29th), Valtteri Filppula
3rd (95th),
Mikko Kalteva 4th (107th), Jarkko Immonen 4th (110th)
1985 Masi Marjamaki 2nd (66th)
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Two of the selected Finns were overagers and two played in North America. Masi
Marjamaki from Red Deer Rebels of WHL and overage defenseman Juha
Alen from Northern Michigan University were the highest Finns selected.
TPS Turku goalie Teemu
Lassila was the first Finn selected in the second day of the draft,
and also the first player selected from Finnish leagues. Nashville Predators
took Lassila on the 4th round 117th overall. Lassila has been eligible for two
times before this draft but he has been shadowed by other Finnish goalies like
Kari Lehtonen and Tuomas Nissinen. This season Lassila got change to show what
he can do and delivered. Predators made a solid pick with Lassila.
Piispanen was highest selected skater from Finland as expected. However,
Piispanen was not picked up until the 5th round. Columbus Blue Jackets can be
happy to get Piispanen with a later pick. Piispanen has to concentrate on getting
more muscle on his 6'2 frame, but he seems to be able to score goals even with
strength lacking.
In 8th round Ottawa Senators made a pick that very few saw coming. They took
fast winger Ossi
Louhivaara from Finnish 2nd league KooKoo. Louhivaara turns 20 during
the summer but has been mostly unknown before this season. Louhivaara has previously
played for his hometown team Titaanit in Finnish 3rd league but was the rookie
of the year in 2nd league last season. Louhivaara will have to get a lot more
strength to be even consider as possible NHL player, but he seems to be able
to score goals.
Two Finnish defenseman Oskari
Korpikari (MTL) and Niko
Vainio (DAL) were picked in the last round of the draft as expected.
Korpikari progressed in leaps and bound during the season after playing mostly
Junior B hockey the season before. Both players were solid picks in the last
rounds but it will take a long time before their teams can consider signing
them.
Two overagers were selected in this years draft. LA got Tappara forward Esa
Pirnes and Chicago defenseman Lasse
Kukkonen. After leading Tappara Tampere to Finnish championship and
playing in World Championships Pirnes is expected to sign with Kings for next
season. Kukkonen did not make it to World Championship roster this spring, but
the youngest captain in SM-liiga might be ready to sign in summer of 2004 or
2005.
Karpat Oulu winger Juha-Matti
Aaltonen was picked up in the last round of the draft by St. Louis Blues.
During the season Aaltonen was projected to go in middle round of the draft,
possibly even on 3rd or 4th round and he was listed in McKeen's Top-100 during
the year. However, Aaltonen had his worst performance of the year when it mattered
to most: in the Under-18 World Championship in Jaroslavl. That cost Aaltonen
a lot in the draft day. The Former Senators director of player personnel Jarmo
Kekalainen who is nowadays the director of scouting in St. Louis might very
well get a nice late round selection to add to his resume.
Finland has produced so good goalies in last year. Teemu Lassila was picked
this year, but also two 1985 born goalies got drafted though this year class
of goalie was arguably not nearly as good as guys like Ari Ahonen, Kari Lehtonen,
Tuomas Nissinen or Hannu Toivonen. Ville
Hostikka, selected by Flyers, is a very big goalie who covers the net
very well. Stars pick Eero
Kilpelainen is smaller and faster guy. Both of them are going to be
their teams 3rd goalies next season and still have lots of work to do before
they can think of NHL hockey.