Prospect Info: Aleksi Heponiemi (2017, #40 overall), Kärpät (Liiga)

[Chaos2k7]

Keks doesnt scout the Dub.

 

[GrumpyKelly]

He's 180 lbs. More than enough for his size in today's NHL.

More than enough? I'd say more like barely enough. And lacking seriously in strength, I thought he would dominate in the league but he never bulked up.

 

[BB88]

More than enough? I'd say more like barely enough. And lacking seriously in strength, I thought he would dominate in the league but he never bulked up.

Because he's lazy.

 

[Chaos2k7]

 

[Mogo]

Not a fan at all of this pick. Liked our 1rst and 3rd round picks

 

[Chaos2k7]

High IQ player, knows where to be and plays in traffic, another Malgin?

 

[Great8Cam]

Keks doesnt scout the Dub.

Yes, but the kid played in Ilves in 2015-16, so he has probably seen him a lot.

 

[GrumpyKelly]

High IQ player, knows where to be and plays in traffic, another Malgin?

Yeah looks like Malgin. Great vision.

 

[BeezKnees]

TSN pre-draft player comparison was Trocheck lol. Noted his Confidence, good puck control, smart, offensively gifted

 

[Kaako Kappo]

More than enough? I'd say more like barely enough. And lacking seriously in strength, I thought he would dominate in the league but he never bulked up.

How do you know anything about his strength level? Did you know that mass and strength do not necessarily go hand in hand?

 

[Chaos2k7]

 

[FinlandPanther]

Not a fan at all of this pick. Liked our 1rst and 3rd round picks

You never like the Finn picks

 

[GrumpyKelly]

How do you know anything about his strength level? Did you know that mass and strength do not necessarily go hand in hand?

Because he gets ragdolled everytime I watch him? lol

He looks physically immature the same way he did when I first time saw him in the league. Underwhelmed tbh with him nowadays, he really wowed me back in the world juniors and in Chicago.

 

[CaptainScrewy]

Yeah looks like Malgin. Great vision.

Seems like a better version of Malgin, Aleksi is probably the better skater with even better vision than Malgin.

 

[Haj]

This is a good pick.

With the later round draft picks, you should be picking a player that has one definable trait/skill, and develop the player to fill a role.

 

[Dr Beinfest]

Damn... where does he hide the meat and potatoes? Are we sure Tallon made this pick?

Typically, picks past the first or second round are from the scouting team. DT probably actually didn't choose, so much as trust his staff.

 

[I am not exposed]

Typically, picks past the first or second round are from the scouting team. DT probably actually didn't choose, so much as trust his staff.

Is it the same staff as last year?

 

[Skeletorrr]

I remember Carolina picking a same type of guy a few years ago in Sebastian Aho. The only reason he slipped to the second round was his size. If He's got the work ethic and motivation I wouldn't be too worried about his size. He is exactly the guy who I wanted us to pick in the second round.

 

[BoxingRobes]

How do you know anything about his strength level? Did you know that mass and strength do not necessarily go hand in hand?

In (American) Football, weight adjusted measurables are a great, useful tool in evaluating. Obviously a different sport, but the physical nature of it still allows this concept to hold SOME truth.

Kailer Yamamoto is insanely small for the sport, however, still went R1 because his strength measurables, for his size, were off the charts outstanding...so, you know he is going to work in, in the weight room and even at 150lbs or whatever he is walking around in, won't necessarily get pushed around like a rag doll against at least average size NHL players.

I don't know anything about Heponiemi, but he is small, so it is of note here.

 

[letsgrowcactus]

Another pre-draft report

"extremely talented playmaker"
"relentless forechecker"
"His size doesn’t hamper his playing style, as he is quick on his skates and able to create space for himself and teammates. His shiftiness makes it hard for defenders to pin him along the boards, and his on-ice awareness lets him pick out his teammates, even when in full flight. "

Sounds fantastic if he can make it. Risky but with a potentially very high reward.
I like the pick.

 

[I am not exposed]

Another pre-draft report

"extremely talented playmaker"
"relentless forechecker"
"His size doesn’t hamper his playing style, as he is quick on his skates and able to create space for himself and teammates. His shiftiness makes it hard for defenders to pin him along the boards, and his on-ice awareness lets him pick out his teammates, even when in full flight. "

Sounds fantastic if he can make it. Risky but with a potentially very high reward.
I like the pick.

Same.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

In (American) Football, weight adjusted measurables are a great, useful tool in evaluating. Obviously a different sport, but the physical nature of it still allows this concept to hold SOME truth.

Kailer Yamamoto is insanely small for the sport, however, still went R1 because his strength measurables, for his size, were off the charts outstanding...so, you know he is going to work in, in the weight room and even at 150lbs or whatever he is walking around in, won't necessarily get pushed around like a rag doll against at least average size NHL players.

I don't know anything about Heponiemi, but he is small, so it is of note here.

Obviously he needs to get bigger, but he is SO very small, that he will definately get bigger.

 

[Kilipukki]

Excellent pick.

 

[Everything is fine]

Drafting skill. Like it.

 

[RogerRoger]

Great value pick. Very talented he just need to get some juice and hit the gym.