LW Leevi Aaltonen - KalPa, FIN JRS (2019, 130th, NYR)

[Noma]

Leevi Aaltonen has garnered interest in Finnish hockey circles for a couple of years now although he is still just 14 years old. He is now playing his first season in a nationwide junior league and has been ripping it apart from the beginning. Being two years underage he has now 10 goals and 16 assists in just six games, a pace that noone has ever scored in the Junior C - not even older players. Current points per game record is Teemu Pulkkinen's 3.91 scored as a 15-year-old, so Aaltonen is really making a name of himself.

He is listed as 5'7" / 139 lbs but obviously he is still growing. It's still early, but as of now he is by far the most intriguing Finnish prospect from the 2018 or 2019 draft classes.

Leevi Aaltonen's profile at EliteProspects.

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[FinProspects]

C-juniors isnt a place to draw conclusions of any player, especially projections for NHL-career etc, but Leevi Aaltonen has gave all the possible signs thus far that he is worth discussing for: Top player in 01-borns Pohjola Leiri, Finland's top scorer in the Selects tournament, now scoring on par or better than other similar-sized players, e.g. Granlund,Saarela,Pulkkinen etc at the same age.

But him to B-juniors already, and lets see how he performs there.

 

[HockeyHistorian]

He turns 15 in a couple of months, I really hope he'll get some time in junior B this season. He has enough skill and even size for the next level, that much is evident.

 

[apina]

Leevi Aaltonen has garnered interest in Finnish hockey circles for a couple of years now although he is still just 14 years old. He is now playing his first season in a nationwide junior league and has been ripping it apart from the beginning. Being two years underage he has now 10 goals and 16 assists in just six games, a pace that noone has ever scored in the Junior C - not even older players. Current points per game record is Teemu Pulkkinen's 3.91 scored as a 15-year-old, so Aaltonen is really making a name of himself.

He is listed as 5'7" / 139 lbs but obviously he is still growing. It's still early, but as of now he is by far the most intriguing Finnish prospect from the 2018 or 2019 draft classes.

Leevi Aaltonen's profile at EliteProspects.

He isn't two years underage. C-juniors are 15 years old and he is 14.

 

[Orvelo]

He isn't two years underage. C-juniors are 15 years old and he is 14.

There are 16 year olds as well

 

[FinProspects]

If Aaltonen progresses as planned, its going to be rather hectic 2-3 years for him. Probably will make his Liiga-debut in few years time. Its astonishing how quickly these kids develop nowadays. Remember that Puljujärvi played in B-juniors at Aaltonen's age. Fastforward 1,5 years and he was playing in Liiga.

Time will tell!

 

[Orvelo]

If Aaltonen progresses as planned, its going to be rather hectic 2-3 years for him. Probably will make his Liiga-debut in few years time. Its astonishing how quickly these kids develop nowadays. Remember that Puljujärvi played in B-juniors at Aaltonen's age. Fastforward 1,5 years and he was playing in Liiga.

Time will tell!

Have to remember that Pulju has size.

 

[apina]

There are 16 year olds as well

That still doesn't make it u-17 league.

 

[JJTT]

Five points vs Kärpät today. One goal and 4 primary assists.

56 points in 17 games total now.

 

[agent082]

Does they think Junior B is too physical for him? Because just by skill level he should be playing there.

 

[JJTT]

Does they think Junior B is too physical for him? Because just by skill level he should be playing there.

He could probably skate around everyone in B-Juniors too so no.

 

[FinPanda]

7 games and 11+20. Great numbers. I hope he sees some B-junior games this season.

 

[Noma]

7 games and 11+20. Great numbers. I hope he sees some B-junior games this season.

Mikael Granlund scored 31 points in the junior C at the same age than Aaltonen is now. Only he needed four more games to do that than Aaltonen has...

 

[Noma]

Aaltonen has now played 23 games and scored 71 (32+39) points in them.

There's also a year old video of his shooting practice: https://youtu.be/rNQFsJo1fQA?t=26s 123 kph (76.4 mph) is not bad for a 14-year-old.

 

[FinPanda]

Yeah 5 point game (1+4) today when they lost to Tappara 7-5. All primary assists. Impressive since there is only 10 best teams left.

 

[HockeyHistorian]

Aaltonen has now played 23 games and scored 71 (32+39) points in them.

There's also a year old video of his shooting practice: https://youtu.be/rNQFsJo1fQA?t=26s 123 kph (76.4 mph) is not bad for a 14-year-old.

He seems to have a pretty good shot for his age; Sami Niku shot 130 kph just before christmas

For how long will they let him destroy the U16 before he gets to play in the U18?

 

[kelsier]

Based on the points he's certainly playing the wrong league. Then again, has there been instances of 14 year old playing in the U18 (Barkov, Puljujärvi or Laine maybe)? Wouldn't want to throw this kid under the truck to be honest unless he is physically ready, as there's no point risking unnecessary injuries.
Leevi has carved himself a base of followers already while being so young. Imagine the hype on this one should he be from NA.

 

[HockeyHistorian]

Based on the points he's certainly playing the wrong league. Then again, has there been instances of 14 year old playing in the U18 (Barkov, Puljujärvi or Laine maybe)? Wouldn't want to throw this kid under the truck to be honest unless he is physically ready, as there's no point risking unnecessary injuries.

It seems like he has the size to play U18 and he turns 15 in two weeks, so it's not like it would be totally unheard of.

 

[JJTT]

I understand KalPa wanting to succeed in C-Juniors too, but a one 14 year old shouldn't really need to carry the whole team on his back. It's a joke that even if he scores 5 points in a game they still manage to lose.

 

[FinPanda]

3+2 today in a 9-1 win over KooKoo. Yesterday only 1+0 against Blues in a 4-1 loss. Blues is the top team of the league with perfect 5-0 record.

Now 6+10 in only 5 games.

 

[HockeyHistorian]

What could be a better birthday present for Leevi than having him play his first U18 game in Niirala against Blues on his 15th birthday next Sunday.

 

[JJTT]

2+1 today when his team lost 6-3..

Aaltonen has 19 points in 6 games when the next highest scorer in CSM has 13 points in 7 games.

 

[HockeyHistorian]

2+1 today when his team lost 6-3..

Aaltonen has 19 points in 6 games when the next highest scorer in CSM has 13 points in 7 games.

Seriously, they should let him play in the U18 tomorrow on his 15th birthday. I don't think dominating the U16 is that developmental for him, but I guess they have their reasons and should know better than me.

 

[LoveHateLeafs]

2+1 today when his team lost 6-3..

Aaltonen has 19 points in 6 games when the next highest scorer in CSM has 13 points in 7 games.

Not just that. He's scored or assisted on 70% of his team's goals in the CSM and has more points than his linemates combined.

45% in the first round of the play-in

53% in the second round.

Maybe Aaltonen is the only player on his team that can play at this level.

 

[FinPanda]

It's amazing what he has done in the C-jrs. I seriously hope he'll see some B-jrs games.