Leafs prospect's stock is rising; scout projects that he may be ready to come to North America as soon as next season
This season has been a quiet one in terms of noteworthy news for a lot of the Leafs' European prospects - namely Topi Niemela and Roni Hirvonen, who were both selected during the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Producing just 10 and 15 points, respectively, this season hasn't been ideal for either player, but when it comes to Hirvonen, who was thought to be a little further along in his development, 15 points in 35 games seemed somewhat concerning. That is, of course, until Lassi Alanen, Director of European Scouting for Elite Prospects, revealed that Hirvonen's stock is actually rising pretty rapidly right now.
Per Alanen, Hirvonen has been producing at a better rate over the last couple of weeks, has scored in each of his last 3 games and is showing signs of heating up. Alanen also identified Hirvonen as one of the better prospects currently playing in Finland, revealing that he may be heading to North America next season to take the next step in his development. Alanen wrote the following on Saturday:
"If you took just a cursory glance at Roni Hirvonen's Elite Prospects page, it would leave you with the impression that he was having a down year just based on his production � just 15 points to show for 34 games.
Context is needed, though. HIFK is the lowest-scoring team in the entire Liiga as of this writing, making Hirvonen's 15 points comfortably enough the fourth-highest mark on the team. Things are starting to heat up of late too, with the 20-year-old centre finding the back of the net in each of his last three games.
Hirvonen's game remains projectable and well-suited to the pro ranks. He's a crafty off-puck threat around the net, consistently sneaking his way to the net-front with a perfect sense of timing for passes from the boards or behind the net. He's diligent on the defensive side of the puck, too, intercepting passes in the slot and creating steals on the forecheck. There's still room for growth physically and as a skater, but he remains one of the better prospects playing in Liiga and should make his way to North America for next season."
-EP Director of European Scouting, Lassi Alanen, on Hirvonen trending in the right direction
Context is needed, though. HIFK is the lowest-scoring team in the entire Liiga as of this writing, making Hirvonen's 15 points comfortably enough the fourth-highest mark on the team. Things are starting to heat up of late too, with the 20-year-old centre finding the back of the net in each of his last three games.
Hirvonen's game remains projectable and well-suited to the pro ranks. He's a crafty off-puck threat around the net, consistently sneaking his way to the net-front with a perfect sense of timing for passes from the boards or behind the net. He's diligent on the defensive side of the puck, too, intercepting passes in the slot and creating steals on the forecheck. There's still room for growth physically and as a skater, but he remains one of the better prospects playing in Liiga and should make his way to North America for next season."
-EP Director of European Scouting, Lassi Alanen, on Hirvonen trending in the right direction
This is great news for Leafs Nation on A Wednesday. Not only is Hirvonen currently considered one of the Leafs' top 5 forward prospects, but the fact that he may finally be ready to try his luck on the smaller North American ice is a pretty good sign that he's probably not too far off from being NHL-ready.
Hirvonen projects out to be a 3rd liner with potential middle-six upside. While he can play center, he's more likely a winger at the NHL level, given his diminutive stature (5'9, 172 lbs).
Previously on MapleLeafsDaily
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 11 | 80 ANSWERS Leafs prospect's stock is rising; scout projects that he may be ready to come to North America as soon as next season Will Roni Hirvonen be NHL-ready by 2024-25? | ||
| Yes | 36 | 45 % |
| No | 21 | 26.3 % |
| Who? | 23 | 28.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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