Without Joakim Kemell, Finland lacks the blue-chip prospects of Sweden, Canada, and the USA. With no first-round picks on the roster, the talent disparity between countries becomes obvious fast. Finland still boasts several intriguing prospects with legitimate fantasy hockey upside. After you get done here please check out the rest of the world’s top fantasy hockey prospects in my International NHL Prospects Series.
Finland entered the tournament expecting to challenge for a medal, they did just that. No one expected the wild ending Czechia provided in the bronze medal game though. Hearts were broken, and Finland was disappointed and wondering what could have been.
Let’s dig in…
Fantasy Hockey Prospect Review: Team Finland
Nikko Kokko, G, Seattle Kraken
Drafted 2022, Round 2, 58th overall
At 6’4″, Kokko is a big goalie. The first thing you’ll read about Kokko is his preference to stay up longer than most. The World Juniors was not his best showing, going 1-4, with 3.86 goals against average and an .860 save percentage.
Finland’s defense didn’t bail him out much. It wasn’t the strongest they’ve brought to the tournament.
Kokko is under contract in Liiga for another season. It’ll be 2025-26 before he has the opportunity to begin his career in North America. There’s a lot to like about Kokko’s potential, but there is also a lot to be wary of.
He is likely three to four years away, at a minimum. If you have a deep prospect pool, I would consider adding him. For leagues where roster space is a premium, I would add him to the watch list for a couple of years and see how he develops before allotting a roster spot to him.
Arttu Karki, D, Vegas Golden Knights
Drafted 2023, Round 3, 96th overall
Quite the start to his first OHL season. Karki joined the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds with a bang, scoring 14 goals in his first 16 games. His 16 goals in 26 games are tied for the team lead in goals.
The pace of his game needs to improve for him to take the next real step in his development. Expect another year of junior hockey before transitioning to the AHL.
His shot is his biggest asset. He has the potential to develop into a top-four defenceman who can run a power play.
The timeline for most third-round picks to make the NHL is usually over three years. You might need to act a bit faster in adding Karki though, OHL production gets noticed quickly. Just be prepared for a multi-year wait to see any return.
Jani Nyman, LW, Seattle Kraken,
Drafted 2022, Round 2, 49th overall
At 6’4″, 216 pounds, Nyman is an imposing figure who loves to shoot the puck. Nyman projects to be a volume-shooting goal scorer at the NHL level. There have been some concerns he shoots the puck too much and could stand to develop plays a little bit more.
He is likely, another year, possibly two years from knocking on the Krakens’ roster door. He is more likely three to four years from providing a real impact at the NHL level.
He is only rostered in 6% of Fantrax leagues. Odds are he is sitting on your waiver wire right now. In shallow prospect pools, I wouldn’t claim him yet. The timeline is too far off. In deeper pools, he is worth the stash.
Rasmus Kumpulainen, C, Minnesota Wild
Drafted 2023, Round 2, 53rd overall
Another big Finnish pivot at 6’2″, 200 pounds, Kumpulainen is a long-term project that projects to become a middle-six center, at some point. I say, ‘at some point,’ because Kumpulainen has a similar wait time as Kokko.
The biggest concern with Kumpulainen is his skating. It is one of my biggest flags when looking at prospects. Seeing how his skating and agility improve over the next two years will impact projections and his ceiling.
Kumpulainen is a prospect to monitor at this point. He does have 27 points in his first 27 OHL games, which is a very strong start to his season. His skating will become a more pronounced issue once he turns pro. He’s a good two years from real consideration of drafting or claiming at this point.
Add him to your watch list at this point.
Lenni Hämeenaho, RW, New Jersey Devils,
Drafted 2023, Round 2, 58th overall
Similar to Kumpulainen, Hameenaho needs to add speed and pace to his game.
His style of game will translate easily to the NHL. Coaches love players who excel along the boards and willingly go to the net. This is where Hameenaho lives. He grinds for pucks and gets dirty around the net.
At this point, he projects more as a third-line winger than an impactful top-six forward. There is untapped upside here but at this point, he is a ‘wait and see’ prospect. You would be better off claiming Hameenaho as a free agent once he reaches the NHL (in several years) rather than claiming or drafting him as a prospect now.
Kasper Halttunen, RW, San Jose Sharks
Drafted 2023, Round 2, 36th overall
He’s a big rugged winger who moves well for a 6’3″ 18-year-old. He’s a goal scorer first. His 20 goals in 28 games for the London Knights reinforced that statement. He can score multiple ways, not relying on a single type of shot.
Still raw, Halttunen likely returns to London for a second season before moving to the AHL. He’s an intriguing prospect with legitimate offensive upside, even if the skill set is still unpolished.
Like everyone else listed from Finland’s junior team in this article, he is a multi-year wait. With a safe middle-six floor, Halttunen could develop into a solid, if unspectacular top-six winger.
That’ll do it for my review of Finland. Most of these players could return to the national team next year, which makes them a very intriguing team to watch.
Thanks for reading.
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