Prospect Info: Henri Nikkanen, C (4th round, 113th overall)

[heilongjetsfan]

Henri Nikkanen vs KalPa U20 | Mar 13 2018

Honestly, I didn't love what I saw. Has good wheels, but seems to have a bit of floppiness in the ankles. I saw him jump ahead on the rush too early, get back to the zone late a few times each and though a bit of cilantro made me start zoning out from time to time, I'm not sure I saw him win a face-off.

He also seemed to fling the puck away immediately in a random direction when under pressure of any kind.

It's one game and maybe he wasn't used to / ready for U20 and I'm really not a great judge, so take it with a grain of salt, but he looks like he's got a very long way before becoming an NHL center. Then again, it's a 4th, so no big deal if it doesn't work out.

 

[DannyGallivan]

Zero expectations, so he certainly won't disappoint me.

 

[Joe Hallenback]

Really that is what you saw?

I saw a powerful skater. A player who was willing to get to pucks first and battle. His defensive game was superb. He backed his team mates up. He created a lot. He was by far one of the best if not the best players on the ice against his peers. His hands were soft, He got to open ice. His faceoffs were not very good.

 

[John Agar]

Really that is what you saw?

I saw a powerful skater. A player who was willing to get to pucks first and battle. His defensive game was superb. He backed his team mates up. He created a lot. He was by far one of the best if not the best players on the ice against his peers. His hands were soft, He got to open ice. His faceoffs were not very good.

Yup...

Saw the same things...

Not very good on face-offs is an understatement...

But otherwise all good...

Very promising pick

 

[Tasteless Beaver]

Congratulations to Henri Nikkanen for making 2021 Finnish WJC team!! Between him and Heinola, I might have to root for Finland (after Canada, of course).

 

[surixon]

Congratulations to Henri Nikkanen for making 2021 Finnish WJC team!! Between him and Heinola, I might have to root for Finland (after Canada, of course).

Looking forward to seeing whatheis game looks like these days.

 

[jetsforever]

Congratulations to Henri Nikkanen for making 2021 Finnish WJC team!! Between him and Heinola, I might have to root for Finland (after Canada, of course).

Nice, might finally get a chance to see his game

 

[jetsmooseice]

Assuming a WHL season gets off the ground, is there any realistic chance of Nikkanen reporting to the ICE?

 

[lanky]

I hope that he wouldn't. His Liiga situation is better for his development imo.

 

[Whileee]

I hope that he wouldn't. His Liiga situation is better for his development imo.

I tend to agree. He's basically playing 1C with his Liiga team at this point, which is a good development opportunity.

 

[mazmin]

I tend to agree. He's basically playing 1C with his Liiga team at this point, which is a good development opportunity.

Me too. He’s in a pretty sweet spot at the moment making money and succeeding as a pro. If it ain’t broke...

That said, if he’s serious about playing in the NHL he may want to consider coming to the WHL Ice the following season as an overager, if Winnipeg can fit him in. That one buffer season in the WHL before joining the AHL would be ideal for a lanky pivot who missed almost a full year of development due to injury. The 2021-22 Ice look to be really good with Lambos, McClennon, Pederson, Geekie, Savoie. I’d like to see Nikkanen get as much experience as possible before playing pro in North America.

 

[Atoyot]

Me too. He’s in a pretty sweet spot at the moment making money and succeeding as a pro. If it ain’t broke...

That said, if he’s serious about playing in the NHL he may want to consider coming to the WHL Ice the following season as an overager, if Winnipeg can fit him in. That one buffer season in the WHL before joining the AHL would be ideal for a lanky pivot who missed almost a full year of development due to injury. The 2021-22 Ice look to be really good with Lambos, McClennon, Pederson, Geekie, Savoie. I’d like to see Nikkanen get as much experience as possible before playing pro in North America.

What would be the reasoning behind playing him in the WHL instead of just letting him play for the Moose? It would be a big step back in terms of quality of competition.

 

[truck]

Me too. He’s in a pretty sweet spot at the moment making money and succeeding as a pro. If it ain’t broke...

That said, if he’s serious about playing in the NHL he may want to consider coming to the WHL Ice the following season as an overager, if Winnipeg can fit him in. That one buffer season in the WHL before joining the AHL would be ideal for a lanky pivot who missed almost a full year of development due to injury. The 2021-22 Ice look to be really good with Lambos, McClennon, Pederson, Geekie, Savoie. I’d like to see Nikkanen get as much experience as possible before playing pro in North America.

There's no reason to believe a year of WHL is better for his development than a year in Liiga. He's free to play on the AHL too. I just don't understand why the WHL would make any sense given the minutes he's getting in a pro league.

 

[rubikscube]

McDavid's in-game top speed was around 41 km. Note this is also an in-game recording.

Oh, this guy is also also the same size as Lowry.

 

[10Ducky10]

Oh, this guy is also also the same size as Lowry.

Lowry has 3 inches and 30 lbs. on him?

 

[Atoyot]

Lowry has 3 inches and 30 lbs. on him?

1 inch and same weight from what I'm seeing.

EDIT: Oh you're looking at HockeyDB, Elite Prospects is more up to date.

 

[10Ducky10]

1 inch and same weight from what I'm seeing.

EDIT: Oh you're looking at HockeyDB, Elite Prospects is more up to date.

Okay, hockey db has him 6' 2" and 180 lbs. and Elite prospects at 6' 4" 209 lbs.

I guess hockey db needs an update.

 

[bustamente]

Big kid who has speed but will that translate to point production in the NHL, few years away I guess to find out.

 

[lanky]

Placed 11th in our prospect poll last month. He's got much more potential than that would indicate.

 

[Whileee]

I'll be interested to see Nikkanen versus his own age group at the WJHC this year. He seems to be making some real strides in his development, but has been playing on a mediocre, low-scoring team in Liiga so it's hard to gauge his development as an offensive player.

 

[sipowicz]

Lowry has 3 inches and 30 lbs. on him?

Now that’s a big one!

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Placed 11th in our prospect poll last month. He's got much more potential than that would indicate.

And when/if he starts to show that at the lower levels, he will rise in our prospect rankings.

 

[mazmin]

What would be the reasoning behind playing him in the WHL instead of just letting him play for the Moose? It would be a big step back in terms of quality of competition.

Although I think it’s unlikely that he goes WHL when AHL is an option I think it’s a better option for his development than the Liga or the AHL. The Liiga can’t offer North American ice, language or culture while the WHL can. Personally I’d rather see Nikkanen play in a guaranteed top-6 role and on the powerplay in the WHL, opposed to a possible bottom six role in the AHL.

Also, aside from what his stat profiles lead one think, there’s no way he’s even close to 200lbs right now. He’s on the thin side and looks lanky. If I’m in charge of developing Nikkanen, I’m putting him in the slow cooker. Let a project pick be a project and bring him to the AHL as a 21 year old with a whole year of success in North America right under the noses of your parent AHL/NHL teams.

 

[snowkiddin]

Although I think it’s unlikely that he goes WHL when AHL is an option I think it’s a better option for his development than the Liga or the AHL. The Liiga can’t offer North American ice, language or culture while the WHL can. Personally I’d rather see Nikkanen play in a guaranteed top-6 role and on the powerplay in the WHL, opposed to a possible bottom six role in the AHL.

Also, aside from what his stat profiles lead one think, there’s no way he’s even close to 200lbs right now. He’s on the thin side and looks lanky. If I’m in charge of developing Nikkanen, I’m putting him in the slow cooker. Let a project pick be a project and bring him to the AHL as a 21 year old with a whole year of success in North America right under the noses of your parent AHL/NHL teams.

Was he a project pick though? I remember him being similar to Kakko and the reason he was around so late was because of injury concerns.

 

[mazmin]

Was he a project pick though? I remember him being similar to Kakko and the reason he was around so late was because of injury concerns.

Correct, and exactly why I feel he should “make up” for lost development time and take the slightly more patient path to the NHL.