Welcome to part 2 of my Top 32 Scandinavian players available for the 2023 NHL Draft.
In part 1, we went through my top 16 players out of Scandinavia. Part 2 will cover the final 16 players on my list.
If you are interested in viewing the full list of 32 players from this article, I have posted them on my Twitter: @alfonso7acevedo & Instagram: alfonso.acevedo18.
17. Jesse Kiiskinen (RW) | Lahti Pelicans U20 (U20 SM-sarja) | CSE:13
Jesse Kiiskinen is a reasonably polarizing prospect. It really depends on if you like him or not. Some have him going in the middle second round, whereas others have him landing just within the 3rd, if not just outside. In the 31 U20 games Kiiskinen played this season, he produced 43 points, leading all Lathi Pelicans in points.
Kiiskinen is a good skater with good agility and a good skating base. He has a good stride, but it lacks power. I attribute this to his acceleration which, although good, lacks separation speed, and some added power would benefit it greatly. Kiiskinen can also get in on the forecheck quickly and force the defence to make a quick decision. He has a good passing ability and vision, which he uses to distribute pucks to teammates. He also possesses a good shot and a nice set of hands. Kiiskinen is willing to backcheck and is also willing to be physical. One aspect of Kiiskinens’ game that keeps him from being higher on this list is his lack of consistency. He competes well, but then he’ll have a game where there is absolutely no compete whatsoever.
I really like Kiiskinen, and I think he has the potential to be a good top-6 scoring winger. If Kiiskinen can become a more consistent player game in and game out, he could be a really nice pickup for a team in the late 2nd to early 3rd round.
18. Jimi Junkkari (LHD) | Lahti Pelicans U20 (U20 SM-sarja) | CSE:133
Jimi Junkkari has slowly become one of my personal favourites from this year’s draft crop. He has climbed considerably in my rankings in the past month, and I think NHL teams should give him a good look. In the 35 games he played for Lahti this season, he posted 6 points.
Junkkari is an excellent skater both going forwards and backwards. He has good edges, but his acceleration is something I would like to see him work on. He is also willing to jump into the play and join the rush. The biggest part of Junkkari’s game is his defensive game. He has good gap control and is not afraid to be physical. One aspect of his game I absolutely love is how he makes standing in front of the net an absolute nightmare for opposing forwards. I also like the edge he brings to his game, which can get him in trouble sometimes, but he doesn’t allow it to take his play over. Junkkari also has a good shot which he gets through, but I think it could be harder.
Junkkari is a defenseman that I think every team needs in their system. He’s hard, sometimes even a nightmare to play against, while also being reliable defensively. I see Junkkari as a good top-6 two-way defenseman who is more of a defensive defenseman than one that will put up points. I also see him being a good penalty killer.
19. Arttu Kärki (LHD) | Tappara U20 (U20 SM-sarja) | CSE:37
Arttu Kärki has been one of my personal favourites since the beginning of this season, and although he has slowly fallen in my rankings over the last month or so, I believe he will still be in my second round come my final rankings. In the 36 games he played in the U20 league for Tappara, Kärki scored 39 points and also contributed 7 points in 12 playoff games to help Tappara’s U20 team to the league championship.
Kärki is a good skater both forward and backwards and possesses good edges. He carries the puck up ice well and with a good level of confidence. He is also willing to join the rush. I would, however, like to see him take the puck up ice more often. He also possesses a good set of hands and passing ability. He has a good shot; however, I would like him to add more power to it. Defensively, Kärki has good gap control and does well to keep his man to the outside. I would like to see him use his body more often to get into a position to win puck battles and separate his opponent from the puck.
I see Kärki as a top-4 two-way defenseman who skates well and can lead the rush. I think if a team is looking for a solid defenseman in the 2nd to early 3rd round, Kärki is an excellent option.
20. Topi Vuori (LHD) | Jokerit U20 (U20 SM-sarja) | CSE:NA
Topi Vuori has been one of the best-underrated players in this year’s draft that no one has ranked. Of all the rankings I have kept track of this year, none have Vuori ranked. He was also not on Central Scouting’s final European list. In the 45 games Vuori played this season, he posted 19 points, all assist, for Jokerit’s U20 team.
Vuori is a good skater with good edges and a good skating base. His stride, however, is short and choppy, which reduces the amount of speed he is able to create. His overall acceleration needs work, and his top-speed is below-average. I see potential in his skating, though, and those issues should be relatively easy to fix, thanks to his skating base and the help of a skating coach. Vuori possesses a good passing ability and makes a good first pass. His passing ability can best be seen when he is quarterbacking the powerplay. In his own end, Vuori positions himself well and has a good defensive stick; I also love his penalty killing ability.
Topi Vuori is a player that I would most certainly be looking at if I were an NHL team looking to shore up system depth on the back end. He does a lot right, and he has the potential to be a good top-6 two-way defenseman.
21. Emil Pieniniemi (LHD) | Kärpät U20 (U20 SM-sarja) | CSE:31
Emil Pieniniemi has really improved over the past year, in my eyes. He’s fixed certain aspects of his game that I thought, at the beginning of the year, needed to be addressed. Pieniniemi produced 13 points in 34 games this year for Kärpät U20 in the U20 SM-sarja.
Earlier in the year, I had concerns regarding Pieniniemi’s passing accuracy; however, over the last few months, he has taken great strides in improving it. He has a good passing ability with a good first pass and gets the puck up ice to his teammates well. Pieniniemi is an overall good skater, his stride is good, and he has good acceleration. Defensively he gets into position well and uses his stick well defensively. However, I would like to see him improve his one-on-one defence, as he often defends more with his stick than his body. He has good gap control and a good defensive stick. One aspect of his game that I love is his willingness to block shots.
With the improvements made to parts of his game this season, I’m optimistic that Pieniniemi will continue to improve. I think Pieniniemi could be a serviceable top-6 defenseman who can kill penalties and pitch in a few points offensively.
22. David Edstrom (C) | Frölunda HC J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:67
David Edstrom has been gaining a lot of steam recently in many public rankings in the last few weeks. Although I believe he has a very good chance at playing in the NHL, I’m not sure I’m convinced that he’s better than the players ahead of him on this list. There are also a few players that I do prefer ahead of him. In his 28 games for Frölunda HC’s J20 team, he posted 28 points. He also played 11 games in the SHL.
Edstrom is a good skater with good edge work and acceleration. He could get quicker with his first three steps, and I would like to see him be less heavy in his stride. Edstrom has a good passing ability which he uses well and was noticeable during the games I watched. However, I would like to see him work on his passing accuracy, as sometimes he outshoots his target. At 6’3”, he has a very good frame, but there are times, specifically at the SHL level, where he looks timid to get into the corners and use his frame in the corners, so he will need to get stronger.
Edstrom greatly impressed me in his games in the SHL this season. I believe that perhaps besides Carlsson, Edstrom could be the quickest to the NHL, as I feel he is closer to being ready than anyone else on this list. Overall I see Edstrom as a good middle-6 centerman who plays in all three zones well.
23. Lenni Hämeenaho (F) | Ässät (Liiga) | CSE:8
Although Lenni Hämeenaho spent the whole season in the Liiga, he did not impress me to a level that I felt comfortable placing him higher on this list. Throughout my viewings, he was always good but not great. In the 51 games he played this season, he scored 21 points for Ässät.
Hämeenaho skates well, and he has good edges. He has a good skating base and stride, but they are a little short. His top-speed is also good; however, I would like him to add more acceleration to his skating to get him up the ice quicker. Hämeenaho does need to get stronger on his feet, though that will come with time as he adds more muscle to his frame. I would also like to see him use his frame to his advantage more often along the boards. One thing I really like seeing Hämeenaho do in the offensive zone is getting his stick open for either a pass or a tip on net.
Overall, nothing really jumps out at me about Hämeenaho’s game. When I watch him, I see a steady winger who looks perfectly comfortable at the men’s level. I see Hämeenaho as a solid middle-6 forward who can chip in offensively and potentially help on the powerplay as the bumper man.
24. Felix Unger Sörum (F) | Leksands IF J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:57
I found Felix Unger Sörum a compelling yet confusing player to figure out during my viewings. He does a lot well, but I haven’t seen enough out of him to put him higher on this list. In the 42 games he played this season in the J20 Nationell, he was a point-per-game player posting 46 points for Leksands IF.
Unger Sörum is an excellent skater who accelerates well and has good edges. Although I do feel his acceleration is good, I think that both it and his overall top-speed could improve. His defensive game could also be improved, particularly his defensive support during the breakout. Unger Sörum’s best attribute is his playmaking ability. He has such amazing awareness to find open passing lanes and does an excellent job at getting the puck on his teammates’ sticks. I feel this will be his bread and butter throughout his career. If there is one aspect of Unger Sörum’s game that I would like to see him use more, it’s his shot, which is good.
Unger Sörum is one of those prospects that I think will get taken higher than I have him, as he checks a lot of boxes NHL teams have. Overall, I see him with the potential to be an excellent playmaker who plays in the middle-6 at the next level.
25. Rasmus Kumpulainen (F) | Lahti Pelicans U20 (U20 SM-sarja) | CSE:22
Rasmus Kumpulainen is a very interesting prospect. He is fairly raw and has some areas that need improvement, but he has a lot of potential. Kumpulainen produced 34 points in 41 U20 games this past season for Lahti.
Kumpulainen is a good skater with good edges and a good stride. There are times, however, where I feel he isn’t creating enough power in his push-off. If he can improve this aspect of his stride, he will be a much faster and more effective skater. He does accelerate well, however, and his top speed is good. He carries the puck up ice effectively and is capable of going end to end with good control of the puck. I like his passing ability, but his accuracy still needs some work. He also possesses a long reach which he uses well defensively. Kumpulainen is also a decent faceoff man.
Kumpulainen played center for most of the season this year; however, I think he’ll play more on the wing at the next level. I see him as a top-6 playmaking winger, but there is still some work to be done with his game. Although most rankings have him between the 3rd and 4th rounds, I would not be surprised if he falls beyond that and a team picks him up in the 5th or 6th.
26. Noel Nordh (LW/RW) | Brynäs IF J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:20
Noel Nordh was one of the more frustrating players to watch this season. He never really met my expectations during any of my viewings. In his 38 games played for Brynäs IF J20 this season, Nordh scored 27 points.
Nordh is a good skater with a good stride and good edges. His overall top-speed is okay, but his acceleration will need some work. I love his tenaciousness, but it needs to be more consistent, and I would like to see him do it more often. He has a good shot which he gets off quickly. However, I would like to see him get into open spaces more often so he’s open for a shot. Nordh’s defensive positioning is good, but I would like to see him have a more active stick. He also has a good passing ability which he couples well with his puck protecting ability when looking for an open teammate.
What makes Noel Nordh such a frustrating player to watch is that he has all the tools he needs to succeed. He just doesn’t seem to be able to put them together during a game on a consistent basis. I think once he irons out some of these concerns, he has the potential to be a good middle-6 forward who can score and makes plays.
27. Albert Schioldan (F) | HV71 J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:81
As the second Dane on my list, Albert Schiodan was a nice surprise this season. He really impressed me in my viewings, and I think there could be an argument to have him higher on this list. Schiodan played 43 games for HV71 in the J20 Nationell, posting 13 points.
Schiodan is a good skater whose acceleration and top-speed will need work; however, I don’t see them hindering his play. He also has good edges and a good stride. He is strong on his skates, although I do think he could be stronger at times. He is a good forechecker, and I love how relentless he is when he goes in to force the defensemen to make a quick play. He also has a good passing ability and a good shot. I also like how strong he can be along the wall, and I think once he gains more muscle, he will be very hard to play against. Defensively Schiodan backchecks well, but he could do so with more gusto. I also love how well he is able to lift his opponent’s stick and steal the puck from them.
Schiodan is a smart player who plays the game the right way. There is a lot of room for him to grow, but I see a lot of potential in him. I see Schiodan as a reliable two-way, middle-6 forward who can also play up and down the lineup as needed. I think he is worth a swing in the 3rd, but I think teams may wait till the 5th round or so to snatch him up.
28. Kasper Halttunen (RW) | HIFK (Liiga) | CSE:11
Kasper Halttunen has been the most disappointing prospect out of Scandinavia this season, bar none. Viewed as a first rounded at the start of the season, he has fallen off severally in most rankings as we head into the draft. Halttunen split time between the U20 and Liiga with HIFK this season, as well as 3 games for Kiekko-Vantaa in the Mestis league. In his 27 Liiga games, Halttunen scored only 1 point.
Halttunen is an average skater with good edges whose acceleration and top-speed will need improving if he intends to play in the NHL. Although I think his skating stride is good, they aren’t long enough. Halttunen has a good frame with a long reach and is willing to be physical. He possesses one of the best shots in the draft; however, he seems to struggle to find space to take that shot. I also find he doesn’t try to get himself into open spaces to get his shot off. He protects the puck well, and he excels in the cycle. His defensive play will need work, and I would like to see him backcheck more often.
Halttunen really doesn’t do anything for me. His lack of mobility is a major concern for me, and I feel unless he takes significant strides in both his skating and defensive zone play, he won’t be more than a powerplay specialist. He has the skills to be an excellent player, but as of right now, I feel Halttunen is a good bet to go in the late 3rd to 4th round, but it would not surprise me if he were to fall further.
29. Samuel Sisik (LW) | SaiPa/Ketterä U18 (U18 SM-sarja) | CSE:NA
Samuel Sisik was another favourite player of mine to watch this season. Despite his lacklustre frame, he impressed me immensely with his play throughout the season. In the 37 games he played at the U18 level for SaiPa/Ketterä, Sisik scored 27 points.
Sisik is a good skater who has a good stride with good acceleration. He also has good top-speed. One aspect of Sisik’s game that I love is the no-fear factor that he plays with. He is not afraid to go into the corners and dig the puck out or go to the front of the net, where he tends to take a lot of abuse from defenders. He possesses a good set of hands and has a good passing ability. Although his play defensively isn’t perfect, he has improved over the season, and his defensive positioning is good. I believe he will need to get stronger; however, he has decent leg strength.
Although he only stands 5’8”, I think Samuel Sisik would be worth a pick in this year’s draft. He has a great work ethic and plays with very little fear. He kind of reminds me of Yanni Gourd of the Seattle Kraken. I think if a team is looking for a player who could eventually contribute to their team taking a swing on Sisik would not be the worst thing. I see him as a middle to bottom-6 forward who provides energy to any line he plays on and gets in on the forecheck. In my opinion, the only reason Sisik will go undrafted this year will be due to his size.
30. Dominik Petr (C) | Lukko U20 (U20 SM-sarja) | CSE:80
Dominik Petr has been a prospect that has gone through most of the season looking from the outside in. He’s been good but not great, hence his ranking on this list. He played most of the season in the U20 league with an 8-game stint, in which he scored 9 points, in the U18 league. At the U20 level, Petr scored 1 point in 18 appearances for Lukko U20.
Petr skates well, but his acceleration is in need of some improvement. If he manages to bring it up a notch or two, I think it will bring his game up a level. I would also like to see him improve the power he generates in his stride. Petr is willing to backcheck and does it on a decently consistent basis while also supporting his defensemen during the breakout. He possesses a good set of hands and protects the puck well. I also think he’s a decent faceoff man; however, I’m not sure I see him as a center at the next level, as I feel his game is more transferable to the wing.
Dominik Petr is a prospect that does a lot right, playing a good two-way game and being somewhat responsible defensively. Although he wasn’t supernova at the U20 level, he was dominant at the U18 level. As mentioned, I’m not quite sure I see him as a center, but only time will tell. I could see Petr being a good bottom-6 contributor for any team at the next level.
31. Kalle Carlsson (C) | Örebro HK J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:136
Kalle Carlsson is a player whose brain often thinks faster than his hands or skills allow. He is a very talented player with a good set of skills but just hasn’t yet put it together. In the 44 games Carlsson played this season for Örebro HKs J20 team, he managed 35 points.
Calsson is a good skater who uses his acceleration and good top-speed to get in on the forecheck and force the defenseman to make a quick decision. He also has a good stride and good edges. He has a good shot, but I think his release could be quicker; I also like his one-timer. Carlsson has a good passing ability but needs to work on his accuracy a little more. One of Carlsson’s best attributes I found was his IQ. I can see that when he has the puck on his stick, he has a plan of what he wants to do, but he just isn’t able to execute it. Which, when watching, can be frustrating.
For now, Carlsson is a player who could play anywhere in the lineup as either a center or a winger; I personally see him as a winger. I feel that once Carlsson’s hands catch up to his brain, he could be an excellent playmaker who plays in a middle-6 role at the next level.
32. Jakub Štancl (LW) | Växjö Lakers HC J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:26
Jakub Štancl is a player with a good frame who I think has the potential to do some good things at the next level. He played most of the season in the J20 league for Växjö Lakers HC, where he managed to score 17 points in 35 games. He also appeared in 8 games in the SHL, putting up 1 point.
Štancl is a good skater who gets in on the forecheck well. He has good edges and decent acceleration; however, he will need to add more speed to his skating as it takes him a while to get into full flight. Once he gets there, however, his top-speed is good. I like how he is constantly moving and does well to get himself into open spaces around the ice to receive a pass. He does this exceptionally well in his own end when looking to receive a breakout pass. He also uses his size well to protect the puck. Although he mainly played winger this season, he did take some shifts as a center, and I think he’s a decent faceoff man; however, I see him as a winger regardless.
Štancl is a very promising player with good size and plays a good two-way game. Once he improves his overall acceleration, I think he could be a dangerous forechecker at the next level. I see Štancl as a good bottom-6 winger in the future.
Thank you for reading this two-part article on the Top 32 Scandinavians in this year’s draft. I hope you enjoyed the read!
[…] Part 2 […]