Team: JYP (Liiga)
Date of Birth: Apr 17, 2004: Jyväskylän mlk, FIN
Height: 5’11
Weight: 176 lbs
Position: Right Wing
Handedness: Right
2021-22 Team: JYP (Liiga)
Introduction
Joakim Kemell has quickly become one of Finland’s top prospects for the upcoming 2022 NHL draft. Kemell was ranked 6th overall in my recent rankings for the draft. Known as one of the best overall shooters in the class, Kemell has played the past few seasons with JYP of the Liiga. In 39 games played, he posted 15 goals, eight assists, for 33 total points, coming second on his team in goals scored. He was later named Liiga’s Rookie of the Year. Kemell also made a strong presence at this year’s World Juniors U18 tournament with Finland, leading his team in points with six goals, two assists for eight points in five games played. Kemell is known to play well on the international stage. He has played many games as one of the youngest players on the ice and continues to shine.
“It’s a pretty decent comparable when it comes to prospects in recent memory. Many of the same issues (shoots from low danger, low engagement at times) plague Kemell as they did Holtz, I think Holtz shot was better overall though.”
– Tony Ferrari, The Hockey News
Offensive Ability
It’s no question Kemell’s best assets of his game are his shot and stick-handling abilities. Once he enters the offensive zone, he becomes an immediate threat to the opposition. Kemell does a great job at carrying the puck through the neutral zone and making decisions as to if he should pass, dump and chase, or quickly maneuver around a defensemen. Kemell can be used as a reliable power-play option on any team, with his hard, accurate snapshot. A lot of his shots and goals come from below the hash-marks, making him an effective player down low.
Defensive Ability
The defensive side is definitely an area Kemell will have to improve as he moves on to the next level. First things first, he isn’t the biggest player on the ice, so he likes to use his stick to check rather than throw the body around. Although he’s not too much of a hitter, Kemell has made some hits against that did not go unnoticed. He is usually good along the wall in the defensive zone at getting pucks out, but does tend to be inconsistent at times. Using his stick to poke at the puck is one of his strong suits, which can make him reliable on the penalty kill. But his lack of acceleration skating wise, he is out beaten to pucks. If he can improve his skating abilities he will be much more effective chasing and poke checking pucks from the opposition. He will also have to improve his quick decision making skills.
Comparison and Conclusion
Kemell still has some work to do surrounding his overall skating ability and decision making. His offensive-side is most-definitely intriguing to scouts, which is why he is ranked high in the first-round by most scouts and reporters. Whichever team takes the swing on Kemell, they will have to be patient and help him round out his game, by getting him with a good skating coach and also helping him add some more muscle to his 5-foot-11 frame. Kemell has the potential to be a top-six winger in the NHL, with the ability to be a threat on the powerplay. Kemell has a stylistic comparison similar to Patrik Laine of the Columbus Blue Jackets.