Joni Ikonen, the highest-ranked 2017 draftee on the list last year, takes a tumble in the rankings after a disappointing season in Finland, a World Junior Hockey Championship where he failed to make an impact against his peers, and, adding to the woes, a knee injury and resulting surgery he dealt with at the start of summer.
Ikonen is a playmaker, and his offensive talent is at the top of the chart. However, he struggled because of his physique and with the adjustment to the pro ranks in Liiga. Head coach Sami Kapanen revealed that at the start of the season, Ikonen was found wanting and needed to improve in many ways.