Finland is now a well-known source of elite talent, with a Finnish player going in the top-three in the last three draft classes. While our recently-profiled Anton Lundell is no Patrik Laine, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, or Kaapo Kakko, he’s likely a top-10 pick this year and another smart, two-way player to add to the NHL ranks.
It’s really easy to overestimate your perception of players who you don’t get to see very often. While many NHL teams explore the North American junior leagues in all its capacity, areas like Finland are sometimes like the “unknown” and can be more intriguing than the known quantity in the CHL or Junior A.