FIN: Snickers Challenge 06s

McKeen's Finnish correspondent Mikko Vuori weighs in with notes on 2006 draft eligible players from a recent A-SM junior Snickers Challenge. Among those reviewed are Niko Hovinen, Jan-Mikael Juutilainen and the emerging Eetu Heikkinen.

Niko Hovinen (2006), G

Mammoth goaltender is working his way up slowly but steadily in the Finnish league structure .. has exceptionally quick legs to go along with his hulking frame .. quick limbs make him extremely hard to beat at close range .. shooters struggle to find holes to him, often shooting high or wide or hitting him right in the mid-section .. noticeable flaw is his tendency to go down early and get beaten on accurate shots top-shelf .. impressive puck handling abilities, with accuracy and power on his clears and passes.

Jan-Mikael Juutilainen (2006), C

Talented pivot has been quiet as of late .. crafty playmaker looks to set up his wingers .. responsible at both ends of the ice and performs successfully at the faceoff circle .. under a heavy load, playing for both the Jokerit juniors and the Under-18 team .. showing some fatigue, so he has not been as flashy as we've come to expect.

Eetu Heikkinen (2006), D

Emerging as the top Finnish defenseman for the 2006 draft .. well-built and looks strong on the ice .. fluent skater but lacks some acceleration on the first few steps .. still learning defensive responsibilities, though isn't a pure puck rusher .. impressed the dedication he showed in the defensive end .. took his man out well around the crease .. nice crisp outlet passes in the defensive and neutral zones .. made his SM-Liiga debut earlier this season .. played previously as a forward, so the transition should be gradual.

Joonas Kemppainen (2006), C/W

Tall, versatile two-way forward is all arms and legs .. excellent balance and is very hard to knock off the puck .. however he doesn't initiate contact himself very often .. smooth, good-looking skater without much of a top gear .. good hands on the puck and makes accurate passes .. seems to be lacking some drive on offense, which is a shame considering all that his size promises.

Robert Nyholm (2006), RW

Flashes of power forward potential but is having a rough start to the season .. lacks smoothness in his skating, which explains why he has struggled creating space for himself .. good vision and shows drive on offense .. doesn't have the greatest hands; lack of puck control skills is especially prevalent at full speed .. pretty good wrist shot but lacks accuracy .. once he fills out he could become a solid, honest player.

Jonne Virtanen (2006), F

Massive, 6-6, 245-pound body demands attention .. still only learning to figure out his size and strength .. hits guys but consistency isn't there yet .. good skater for his size with some limitations on his turns and slows down when his shifts get too long .. hands show some promise but he is not an offensive threat .. a project if used properly.