LD Miro Heiskanen - IFK Helsinki, Liiga (2017, 3rd, DAL)

[ChicagoBullsFan]

LD Miro Heiskanen - IFK Helsinki, Liiga (2017, 3rd, DAL)

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=250075

Prospect info
Name Miro Heiskanen
Born 18.7.1999 Espoo Finland.
Height 184cm ( 6'0)
Weight 79kg ( 174 lbs)
Position Defenceman
Shoots Left.

https://prospectshockey.wordpress.c...s to bulk up some as he continues to develop.

Click to read more...

 

[FinPanda]

He is listed 178 cm at leijonat.fi.

He is interesting player, heard a lot of good things about him.

 

[FinPanda]

http://overtheboards.net/scouting-report-1999-finnish-defenseman-miro-heiskanen/

 

[Eyelanders]

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=250075

Prospect info
Name Miro Heiskanen
Born 18.7.1999 Espoo Finland.
Height 174cm ( 5'9)
Weight 63kg ( 139 lbs)
Position Defencman
Shoots Left.

He has excellent hands and offensive awareness, plus the skating ability to carry the puck into the offensive zone and make the right plays
Has an accurate point shot as well and makes solid plays under pressure.
At 5-9, he doesn’t necessarily have the size to make big hits but defends smartly with good gap control.

Yeah, he's a really good player, but you quoted once again from Over The Boards without mentioning the source. Great job man.

Here's the link to the actual article: http://overtheboards.net/finnish-99s-for-the-ushl-draft/

 

[FinPanda]

Finnish U20 league rookie of the year.

 

[JJTT]

Can't believe how under the radar this guy is flying. Could be a first round pick next year. Just wonderful skillset with great skating ability. Always seems to be in the right postion defensively too. Playing in the first pairing and first PP unit at the U18's.

 

[Sputniker]

Can't believe how under the radar this guy is flying. Could be a first round pick next. Just wonderful skillset with great skating ability. Always seems to be in the right postion defensively too. Playing in the first pairing and first PP unit at the U18's.

The lack of size will probably cut his chances to be drafted.

 

[FinPanda]

He is 178 cm at Leijonat.fi.

 

[Sputniker]

He is 178 cm at Leijonat.fi.

EP has some seriously outdated information then, although he could grow up to 180 cm.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

http://www.hifk.fi/uutiset/ifk-kiinnitti-kolme-u18-maailmanmestaria
Miro Heiskanen is signed 3yrs pro contract with HIFK

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

The lack of size will probably cut his chances to be drafted.

Eliteprospects.com has measured Heiskanen 5'10 tall.
Being undersized player isn't obstacle to play in NHL if you want examples look Erik Karlsson and Sami Vatanen (both under 6'0 tall).

 

[kelsier]

The lack of size will probably cut his chances to be drafted.

Heiskanen will be drafted. No questions about it. Whether it will be first, second or third round, that's another thing. Also it's far too early to tell if he grows over 6'0 or remains under.

 

[vaiski]

Eliteprospects.com has measured Heiskanen 5'10 tall.
Being undersized player isn't obstacle to play in NHL if you want examples look Erik Karlsson and Sami Vatanen (both under 6'0 tall).

For a defenseman being undersized is definitely an obstacle but it doesn' t categorically prevent a player's success.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

For a defenseman being undersized is definitely an obstacle but it doesn' t categorically prevent a player's success.

If small size ( under 6'0) really is an obstacle for defenceman to play in NHL then Erik Karlsson and Sami Vatanen should not play in NHL.

 

[Gsus]

If small size ( under 6'0) is an obstacle for defenceman to play in NHL then Erik Karlsson and Sami Vatanen should not play in NHL.

Obstacles are made to be exceeded.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Obstacles are made to be exceeded.

You're right

 

[FinPanda]

2 assists today against TPS in a 5-2 loss. Preseason games of course but nice still.

Anyone know will he play with the Liiga team or will he play some games in juniors?

 

[JJTT]

2 assists today against TPS in a 5-2 loss. Preseason games of course but nice still.

Anyone know will he play with the Liiga team or will he play some games in juniors?

He should play in Liiga. Much better player than Heikkinen and Karjalainen.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

I don't know what plans Törmänen has made for Heiskanen but i think he will bouncing between HIFK's liiga team and A juniors / Kiekko-Vantaa.
If Niemeläinen won't show up HIFK's lineup Karjalainen will be HIFK's 7th defenseman.

 

[AstoriaIceNinja]

If small size ( under 6'0) really is an obstacle for defenceman to play in NHL then Erik Karlsson and Sami Vatanen should not play in NHL.

And that's just Swedes/Finns. Brian Rafalski, Lubo Visnovsky, Torey Krug, the list goes on and on. Size is not a huge deal as long as you have the skills to help the team in other areas as well. This kid seems to have them, so I wouldn't be overly concerned. The size bias for players in scouting is just ridiculous (see Kylington, Hicketts, Quenneville, Girard, Krys, Mete just for the last three drafts) and teams ignore it at their peril; people who can play can play, period.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Miro Heiskanen makes his debut in HIFK's men's team tonight when HIFK facing Esbjerg in their Champions Hockey League game in Denmark.
Heiskanen plays HIFK's 3rd defense pair with Joe Finley.

 

[wloff]

Holy smokes this kid had a great 1st period. Granted, the Danish champions are not very good at all, but it is his first game against men (in a meaningful match, anyway), and he looks right at home. Heiskanen got some PP time and all and he looked like he'd been doing it for years. Got an assist for a PP goal too.

I've only watched him for one period, but he does look like the real deal. IFK's defense is pretty shabby atm so would be nice to see Miro get some playtime in Liiga as well.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Craig Button ranks Miro Heiskanen 18th in his first draft list.
http://www.tsn.ca/craig-s-list-nolan-patrick-stands-above-the-rest-1.566071

 

[MaV]

Heiskanen is a late developer physically plus with the July birth date he isn't among the oldest draft eligible players anyway. I think his size has made people overlook the talent previously, but now things are obviously changing when he is catching up on that. He is now pushing 6 feet and I'd predict that he will be 6'0, 190 when it's time for combine measurements.

I don't think his size will be a problem. He doesn't even shy away from contact, likes to use the body when battling along the boards etc. Of course he is never going to be a physical player on international level so he has the develop the other skills a little more than some bigger guys. However, playing always against older competition as a undersized player forces you to play smart and think quick. That's what Heiskanen does.

The scouting report on the OP seems quite accurate. One word the describe Heikanen's game could be proactive. He seems to want to make things happen on the ice, both on offense and defense, instead of staying back and seeing what happens. He tries to stop the opposition even before they enter the offensive zone and goes for takeaways on defensive zone. Of course this style means some plays can be majorly wrong too. This is the area that needs the most work, experience and maturity.

Like said, Heiskanen definitely likes to join the rush as a third or second man and his slick skating helps a lot on that. I don't see his shot as the biggest strength, but his passing in the offensive zone is very fast. He seems to have the next move always figured out before he gets the puck.

It's not really surprising that he is climbing in the ratings. So far he has played in two U20 tournaments for Finland this season and the coaches have commented positively on his play in most games. For IFK he has suited up for one minor tournament and two CHL games, again getting good reviews in all of those games. He is a player who has fast feet and head and good skills. I think a lot of NHL teams like that these days.

 

[Zaddy]

How does Heiskanen compare to Jokiharju? What are their differences and who is the best of them right now?