After a disappointing result, finishing 5th at the 2023 World Junior Championship in Halifax, the Finns are looking to reclaim glory in 2024 with former Kärpät coach Lauri Mikkola taking the rein’s. Last year didn't go quite as planned after a hard-fought 3-2 loss to the Swedes in the quarter-finals, but with the previous success at the tournament, it has been more of a gold or bust mentality for the Finns. This tournament is going to be quite difficult because Finland finds themselves in a division with both Sweden and Canada, so it’s not going to be an easy road if they want to go far. As always, the Finns are a threat to earn a medal but do they have enough high end talent to bring them to carry them deep into the tournament in Gothenburg, Sweden?
It’s definitely going to be a challenge, the team’s best player is probably going to be top 2024 NHL draft prospect Konsta Helenius who could go as high as top-5 on draft day. But even though Helenius is über talented, he is still a double underager for this tournament. Finland had a potential of 7 returnees from last year's team, however only 5 will be on the team this year after the Nashville Predators chose to keep Joakim Kemell in North America and play in the AHL instead and allegations surrounding Topi Ronni came to light. That leaves Niklas Kokko (Seattle), Otto Salin (LA), Lenni Hämeenaho (New Jersey), Jani Nyman (Seattle) and Aleksanteri Kaskimäki (St. Louis) as the only returning players for this year's tournament. Along with the loss of Kemell, the Finns will also be without top prospect Aron Kiviharju and Islanders 4th round pick Jesse Nurmi, also due to injury’s.
Up front, the loss of Kemell will hurt - the Finns are likely, then to be relying on the aforementioned Konsta Helenius as well as Jani Nyman, Lenni Hämeenaho, Oiva Keskinen, Kasper Haltunnen and Aleksanteri Kaskimäki to provide offense in the top-6. Helenius and Nyman are near point per game forwards in the Liiga - while Columbus 7th rounder Oiva Keskinen as well as New Jersey second rounder Lenni Hämeenaho are also enjoying very good season’s in the league also. San Jose prospect Kasper Haltunnen meanwhile is playing well for London in the OHL, where he already has 20 goals to his name in only 28 games. After that the team has pretty good secondary scoring with undrafted Jere Lassila as well as Minnesota Wild second rounder Rasmus Kumpulainen, and Emil Hemming, who is a potential first rounder in the upcoming NHL draft.
The defense will likely be led by returnee Otto Sahlin who led the Finn’s in scoring from the blueline in last year's tournament with 3 points in the 5 games played. He will be joined by Vegas third rounder Arttu Kärki who has played very well in the OHL with the Soo Greyhounds where he already has 16 goals in 30 games due to his wicked one timer from the faceoff dot, we should see him get some power play action. We should also see Pittsburgh Penguins draftee Emil Pieniniemi as well as Veeti Väisänen, who is a potential first rounder in the 2024 NHL draft. The other roster spots will be filled by 3 of Kalle Kangas, Jesse Pulkkinen, Kasper Kulonummi or Joona Väisänen.
In net, we should see Kokko start but if he falters the Finns have a pretty good backup in Eemil Vinni who could see himself as one of the first goaltwnders taken in the upcoming NHL draft.
Key Players
Konsta Helenius, RW
Helenius is poised to play in his first world juniors and will play a prominent role if Finland wants to go far. Helenius is a super smart winger that competes hard. He does a fantastic job at anticipating play and is always thinking a step ahead. This year Helenius already has 20 points in 28 games for Jukurit in the Liiga which is tied for second on the team in scoring, an impressive feat for a player this junior. The expectations are sky high for Helenius who could go in the top-5 of the 2024 NHL draft in June. Expect him to live up to those expectations and some, as Helenius is the type of kid to thrive under pressure.
Jani Nyman, RW
Nyman returns as the highest scoring player coming back from Finland's 2023 WJC team after having a goal and two assists in 5 games in Halifax last year. This year expectations are going to be much higher for theSeattle Kraken second rounder who is enjoying a very good season for Ilves. Nyman has already racked up 14 goals and 22 points in 28 games this season already in the Liiga, best on the team for any player playing in the league this season. The Finns are going to need his big body and net front presence to show up big time if they want to do well in the tournament.
Lenni Hämeenaho, LW
The New Jersey Devils second rounder returns after playing more of a secondary scoring role for Finland last year as a draft eligible. This year he should be a key component to the success of the team, as he is poised to play a lot of meaningful minutes in the top-6 for this roster. Hämeenaho has enjoyed a strong start to his sophomore campaign in the Liiga, putting up 11 goals and 17 points in 25 games so far this season for Ässät. Lenni is a very smart winger who knows where to be on the ice to make plays, he has improved on his shot and should be a dangerous offensive player throughout the tournament.
Oiva Keskinen, C
Keskinen has seen his stock skyrocket this season after being completely passed over in the 2022 NHL draft. The 2023 Columbus Blue Jackets seventh rounder has really turned heads this season with his play in the Liiga. He has 15 points in 29 games while playing excellent two-way hockey in the process. Keskinen is a playmaking center that sees the ice incredibly well, look for Keskinen to be centering and feeding one of the Finns goal scoring wingers throughout the tournament.
Niklas Kokko, G
Finland's third string goalie at last year's WJC is poised to start in net for Finland this year. The Seattle Kraken second round selection is a big goalie that relies on his positioning more than anything when in the net. He has been the backup for Kärpät this season and has seen 10 games of Liiga action where he has only 2 wins on the season. If Finland wants a chance to medal, they’re going to need Kokko to catch fire immediately and keep up consistency throughout the tournament.
Otto Salin, D
The lone returning defender from last season's WJC team - Salin put up respectable totals on last year's roster totaling 3 assists in 5 games. The Los Angeles Kings fifth round pick is going to have to lead this young defensive corps offensively - Salin is probably the best puck mover on the roster and we should see him manning the first power play unit. Salin is a defender that isn’t afraid to get into the play and is able to use his elusiveness in the offensive zone to make plays. Salin is going to be a key player for this Finnish roster this year.
Aleksanteri Kaskimäki, C
Kaskimäki is the final returning player we’ll be talking about here. He wasn’t able to do much at last season's tournament where he was playing bottom-6 minutes in the games he got into. However, this year should be much different, as he should be a very important player on this team. You should see him wear a letter, and he is going to play some important special team’s minutes. He is a very good skater and combines that with some impressive puck skills and at times an impressive shot. He should be an important piece on this Finland squad.
Emil Pieniniemi, D
Pieniniemi has sort of flown under the radar in terms of prospects, but he is a kid I really enjoy watching. He is a very stout defensive defender that shows real good poise and positioning in the defensive end, and he isn’t afraid to lay the body either. He is good at moving the puck up the ice however the offense may be a little limited. He was a Pittsburgh Penguins third round selection in 2023 and has played the majority of the season so far for HIFK in the Liiga - Pieniniemi should play a key role on the penalty kill for the Finns.
Arttu Kärki, D
Kärki has been a man on a mission so far this season in the OHL - the Vegas third round has been the Soo Greyhounds best defender scoring 16 goals and 30 points so far this season in as many games. His bread and butter is scoring goals from the faceoff dot on the power play on the right side of the ice, teams have struggled to contain him this year from that spot and he is really making them pay because of it. I would like to see him continue to play the same spot on the power play at the WJC. Either way, he should be a very important component to Finland's success this season.
Kasper Halttunen, RW
Halttunen made the move to Canada over the summer to join the OHL, he has had a very respectable start to the season for the London Knights scoring 20 goals and 31 points in the first 28 games of the season. He has a deadly shot, and you don’t want to give him much time, or space or else he’ll make you pay. In the tournament, expect him to play a key role on the power play. He was a San Jose Sharks second round selection in June’s draft and expect him to play a key offensive role for the Finns at the upcoming WJC.
Sleeper
Jesse Pulkkinen, D
Pulkkinen was on no one’s radar’s last year, at all - he was completely passed over in his first year of NHL draft eligibility after scoring only 4 assists in 43 games in Finland’s U20 junior league. Fast forward to this season and Pulkkinen is taking the scouting world by storm thanks to his measurable size, paired with how drastic of a difference a year has made for him. The 6’6” defender is well over a point per game in the same league he got only 4 assists in last year and he has even gotten into some games in Finland's top 2 Mens leagues, putting up respectable totals in both leagues in the process. If Pulkkinen can continue his play from early on in the season, look out for him to be able to be a standout performer on this Finland team.
